Aerodrums

What Aerodrums does

Aerodrums (legal entity Fictitious Capital Limited) is a Liverpool-headquartered, privately held and bootstrapped hardware company that designs and sells air-drumming instruments and complementary software. Founded by Richard and Yann during PhD studies in a Dublin computer science lab circa 2010 and operating as a 1-10-person team, the company applies proprietary infrared motion-tracking technology — a high-speed sensor plus reflective markers on drumsticks and feet — to translate air-drumming gestures into expressive, low-latency drum sounds. Its product line comprises Aerodrums 1 ($249, PC-tethered, with over 25,000 units sold globally), the recently launched self-contained Aerodrums 2 ($799, with embedded CPU, on-board storage and Meta Quest VR support), and Aered, a freemium drummer-focused notation editor.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer hardware sales through aerodrums.com, supplemented by Amazon marketplace distribution, an Awin-powered affiliate program, and trade-show presence at NAMM and the UK Drum Show, with localized fulfillment from US, UK and France warehouses. Revenue is materially diversified across thousands of individual consumers plus a long tail of professional endorsers (Gergő Borlai, Johnny Rabb, A.R. Rahman's touring ensemble), hobbyists, learners, home-recording musicians and VR enthusiasts; the company has explicitly declined external capital, including a Dragon's Den offer in 2016, to preserve independence. Growth vectors in 2025-2026 center on the Aerodrums 2 platform, the first senior commercial hire, and continued international organic community expansion.

Name

Aerodrums

Legal name

Fictitious Capital Limited

Website

https://aerodrums.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aerodrums is a Liverpool-based, bootstrapped hardware company that sells air-drumming instruments using proprietary infrared motion tracking, serving drummers globally through direct e-commerce and the recently launched Aerodrums 2 and Aered notation editor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Musical Instruments

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers) (MPAIAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Air drumming instruments
• Motion capture drums
• Electronic drum kit
• Drum notation software
• MIDI drum controller

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of Aerodrums instruments (Aerodrums 1 at $249, Aerodrums 2 at $799) and accessories including camera stands, replacement ball kits, foot markers, drumstick markers, pedal attachments, and carry cases
2. Aered Software: Free download with pay-what-you-want pricing model. Groundbreaking drum notation editor for drummers and music producers.
3. Affiliate Program: Commission-based affiliate program powered through AffiliateWindow (Awin) network

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Aerodrums designs and sells air drumming instruments that use infrared motion capture with reflective markers on drumsticks and feet to detect and translate air drumming movements into drum sounds with ultra-low latency. The product line includes the original Aerodrums 1 ($249, requires PC/Mac), the self-contained Aerodrums 2 ($799, no computer required), and the free Aered drum notation editor software. Target customers are drummers seeking a quiet, portable, expressive alternative to traditional drum kits.

Product overview

Aerodrums offers two main air drumming instruments: Aerodrums 1 (original, $249, requires PC/Mac) and Aerodrums 2 (newer, $799, self-contained). Both use motion capture technology with reflective markers on drumsticks and feet to track drumming gestures and generate corresponding drum sounds. The product line also includes Aered, a drum notation editor with pay-what-you-want pricing. A range of replacement accessories is available for both instruments, including drumstick markers, foot markers, camera stands, and pedal attachments. Aerodrums 2 additionally supports VR headsets and can be powered from USB power banks for outdoor use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aerodrums 2 Self-contained air drumming instrument that requires no external computer. Features built-in multicore CPU, high-speed motion capture sensor, and onboard storage for thousands of drum samples. Sets up in under a minute. Supports Meta Quest VR, Bluetooth audio streaming, and MIDI output.
• Aerodrums 1 Original air drumming instrument using PlayStation Eye camera and reflective markers. Requires a Windows or Mac computer to run. Silent to others when used with headphones, highly portable, and as expressive as high-end electronic drums. Priced at $249.
• Aered Drum notation editor designed specifically for drummers. Features WYSIWYG interface, high quality audio playback, PDF export, audio export, ASCII tab import, and fluid pan/zoom. Available on Windows and Mac with pay-what-you-want pricing.
• Aerodrums 1 Camera Stand Optional camera stand for Aerodrums 1 that makes it easier to replicate setup when transporting. Priced at $59.
• Aerodrums 1 Replacement Ball Kit Replacement reflective balls for Aerodrums 1 drumsticks. Priced at $17.
• Aerodrums 1 Foot Markers Replacement foam triangles with elastic loops for foot tracking in Aerodrums 1. Priced at $12.
• Aerodrums 2 Drumstick Markers Replacement reflective drumstick markers for Aerodrums 2. Priced at $19.98.
• Aerodrums 2 Foot Markers Replacement foot markers for Aerodrums 2. Priced at $19.98.
• Aerodrums 2 Pedal Attachment Attachment for connecting Aerodrums 2 reflector to bass drum pedals, compatible with reverse beater style practice pads. Priced at $12.98.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 Aerodrums 1 units sold globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, notable, flagship and minor.

• AffiliateWindow (Awin)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Aerodrums uses the Awin affiliate network to power their affiliate program, allowing publishers to promote Aerodrums products and earn commission on sales.
• Gergő BorlainotableOthersProfessional Hungarian drummer (now in LA) with 300+ album credits. Performed at Intel Developer Forum 2016 opening to 4,000 people. Quote: 'I've played a drum solo to 4,000 people on Aerodrums, it's a legit instrument.'
• Johnny RabbnotableOthersProfessional drummer for platinum-selling band Collective Soul, educational author, and endorser of Aerodrums for recording and performance.
• A.R. RahmanflagshipOthersWorld-renowned musician whose touring team used Aerodrums (with Ranjit Barrot and Sanket Naik) for performances in 20,000 seater arenas.
• AmazonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOriginal sales channel for Aerodrums 1 launch. Product manufactured and listed on Amazon marketplace.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Toontrack: Toontrack produces EZdrummer and Superior Drummer, the dominant software drum samplers that Aerodrums integrates with via MIDI. They are ecosystem partners/adjacents rather than competitors — Aerodrums acts as a MIDI input device for their software instruments.
• Native Instruments: Native Instruments' Kontakt platform hosts Studio Drummer and other drum instruments that Aerodrums supports via MIDI mapping. Like Toontrack, they sit adjacent to Aerodrums as the software-side of the home-recording workflow.
• Steven Slate Drums: Steven Slate Drums produces premium drum sample libraries and virtual instruments used by professional drummers and producers — the same audience Aerodrums targets. Aerodrums provides a MIDI input layer for Slate's software instruments.

Broad incumbents

• Roland: Roland is the dominant player in electronic drums (V-Drums series) and music technology, with massive R&D, distribution, and brand recognition. It is the primary incumbent Aerodrums competes against in the electronic percussion category, though Roland's offerings are physical mesh-head kits rather than air-drumming controllers.
• Alesis: Alesis is an established electronic percussion and drum brand owned by inMusic, offering affordable electronic drum kits that compete on price with Aerodrums 1 ($249). It is a direct competitor for hobbyist and budget-conscious buyers.
• Yamaha: Yamaha's DTX electronic drum series competes directly with Aerodrums in the silent/portable drumming use case. As one of the world's largest musical instrument manufacturers, Yamaha offers deep dealer networks and significant R&D resources that Aerodrums cannot match.

Direct peers

• Pintech Percussion: Pintech manufactures electronic and silent drum products including trigger pads and mesh heads, targeting drummers who need quiet practice and performance solutions — the same core use case as Aerodrums. They represent a niche, drummer-focused competitor.
• 2Box Electronic Drums: 2Box makes electronic drum kits positioned as expressive alternatives to acoustic drums with strong sound quality. Like Aerodrums, it is a smaller, drummer-focused brand competing against the Roland/Yamaha duopoly in electronic percussion.

Emerging players

• EFnote: EFnote is a newer premium electronic drum brand focused on acoustic-feel mesh heads and high-fidelity sound. It targets the same professional/expressive drumming niche that Aerodrums addresses with its air-drumming approach.
• Soundbrenner: Soundbrenner makes wearable music technology (vibrating metronomes, smartwatches for musicians). It is comparable to Aerodrums as a small music-tech hardware company targeting drummers with innovative form factors rather than traditional drum-kit designs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aerodrums
• Instagraminstagram.com/aerodrums
• Xx.com/aerodrums
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aerodrums

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerodrums