Events: FX Hackathon - an event for pedalheads and effect enthusiasts
FX Hackathon Overview
The FX Hackathon combines analog and digital effects tinkering combined with an effects showcase with various pedal makers and audio effects designers—it’s a public event whereby students work in small teams with coaches (musicians, faculty, and professionals from pedal/effects communities) to create interesting audio effect devices alongisde a pedal showcase, a pedal repair station, and more! The event is sponsored by The Les Paul Foundation and run by the WPI's RATLab (the Electric Guitar Innovation Lab and the Interactive Music Systems Lab) and a growing community of friends and companies that like making unique sounds!
Saturday, April 5th 2025
10am - 3pm in Alden Hall
↳ For Attendees:
And it's not just hacking! All day long, FX Hackathon 2025 will feature a pedal and effect showcase, hands-on electronics DIY/tinkering activities in our Soundgarden™ (powered by CopperSound Pedals), a Learn-to-Fix-Your-Broken-Pedal Station —, and many interesting individuals and companies who would love to talk with you about sounds! Our 2025 event will include Electronic Audio Experiments, Aviate Audio, Cosmodio Instruments, Small Bear Electronics, Synth Cube, and others! Demo unique pedalboard rigs designed by Stompbox Sonic, play a mythical SynthAxe, and hear performances by guitarist Andy Pitcher and harpist Emily Hopkins ! Come by, hang out, try stuff, make noise, and be fun—open to the public (feel free to bring an instrument and headphones)!
↳ For Hacker Participants:
Undergraduate students of all majors and experience levels are invited to
participate as hackers using both digital and analog development tools—only a love of audio and an interest in learning about
effects processing are required! Apply using the link below and we will form teams. Have fun, learn stuff, and make sounds!
What is the FX Hackathon (in 30 seconds)???
This video summarizes what this event is all about
...at our previous FX Hackathons
This video describes some of the hacking taking place
This video describes the effect showcase
Parking and Getting Around
Free parking is available in WPI's West Street lot and parking garage and the event location on campus is in Alden Hall pictured here and mapped here . Food is available a short walk from us in the Campus Center
.2025 Project Personnel and Collaborators
-V.J. Manzo, Founding Director and PI of the RATLab
-Ryan McKenna, WPI alumnus and Research Associate for the RATLab
-Planning support by all of the event partners including CopperSound Pedals, Aviate Audio, Andy Pitcher, Emily Hopkins, Stompbox Sonic, and Electronic Audio Experiments.
-Our Soundgarden™ and the analog effect development for hackers is powered by CopperSound Pedals
-The digital effect development for hackers is powered by Aviate Audio
-Our FX Testing Rig and related tools are maintained by a team of contributors in our lab
-Our hardware and software-to-hardware integration is based on the work of Electro-smith using the Max programming environment developed by Cycling '74 .
-Hackathon Coaches & Helpers Scott Barton , Izzy Tonelli-Sippel , David Ibbett , and WPI almnus Jeff Duquette
-Technical assistance and expression device development by WPI almnus Gia Serano The Les Paul Foundation
-Keynote presentation/demo/performances by Andy Pitcher and Emily Hopkins
-All of the many WPI students who have helped us run this event including the Lab RATs Tony Amico, Leagsaidh Collis, Ava Mattimore, Mikey McCafferty, Nico, Sarah Meaney, Syrena Prytko, Sam Forrero, Evan Smith, and Eric Tomaino , and the Student Music Association.
-Photography by Matt Burgos