Audible Genius
Audible Genius is a private edtech company that develops interactive, videogame-style music training software (Syntorial and Building Blocks) for beginner-to-intermediate digital musicians, serving 30,000+ students and 50+ schools/universities via direct online subscriptions and one-time licenses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Audible Genius does
Audible Genius is a private music education technology company founded in 2011 and domiciled in Springfield, Virginia, that develops interactive, video-game-style training software for digital musicians. Its core products are Syntorial (synthesizer sound-design training via ear, covering subtractive, wavetable, and FM synthesis through 199 interactive lessons and dedicated lesson packs for commercial synths such as Xfer Serum, Massive, Sylenth1, Vital, and u-he Diva) and Building Blocks (music theory, composition, beatmaking, and ear training taught inside a piano-roll/DAW-like interface). Supporting products include Studio (an in-browser composition environment bundled with Building Blocks), MIDI Recipes (tutorials on MIDI techniques), and Primer (a standalone VST/AU version of the proprietary Syntorial synthesizer for use in third-party DAWs).
Underlying the products is a custom-built educational technology stack comprising a proprietary subtractive synthesizer (Primer / Syntorial Synth) with three oscillators, FM, oscillator sync, multiple filter modes, ADSR envelopes, LFO, unison, ring modulation, and effects, and an interactive DAW-like interface that allows users to recreate drum patterns, basslines, chord progressions, and melodies by ear. The platform runs on Mac, Windows, and iPad with progress-syncing across devices via Dropbox integration for iPad users.
The business model combines direct-to-consumer self-serve sales through owned e-commerce storefronts (audiblegenius.com and syntorial.com) with monthly subscriptions, prepaid annual subscriptions, and one-time perpetual licenses (with bundle discounts); an affiliate program via Push Lap Growth paying up to 50% commission; volume licensing for educational institutions; and a 40% discount for qualifying students and teachers. The company reports 30,000+ total students, 50+ institutional customers including University of Chicago, University of the Arts of Helsinki, BIMM Music Institute, and University of Toronto, and 1,000+ public ratings, operating with a team of 1-10 employees and no disclosed external funding or institutional investors.
Audible Genius firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Audible Genius
- Legal name
- Audible Genius LLC
- Website
- https://audiblegenius.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Audible Genius is a private edtech company that develops interactive, videogame-style music training software (Syntorial and Building Blocks) for beginner-to-intermediate digital musicians, serving 30,000+ students and 50+ schools/universities via direct online subscriptions and one-time licenses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Audible Genius industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education Software
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Education & Practice Software (Ear training, tutors, metronome tools) (MPAIAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF), Online / Virtual Music Instruction & Platforms (EDAMANAI), Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB)
Keywords
Where Audible Genius is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Audible Genius business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Monthly Subscription: Automatically renewing monthly subscription for access to Syntorial and Building Blocks courses on Mac, PC, and iPad.
- Annual Subscription: Prepaid annual subscription billed once per year with the same access as monthly.
- Pay Once, Use Forever (One-Time Purchase): One-time fee per course or as a bundle for lifetime access. Upon first course purchase, users also receive full access to the Audible Genius Studio for as long as purchased courses remain available. Bundle discounts are available.
- Affiliate Program Revenue Share: Partners earn up to 50% commission per referral through the affiliate program, with a tiered commission structure. Commissions range from $10.5 (Syntorial upgrade at 30%) up to $95 (full bundle at 50%).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Pay Once, Use Forever (Individual Course) |
| Subscription | Annual | Educational Discount |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Affiliate Commission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Audible Genius product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Audible Genius develops and sells interactive, video-game-style music production training software. Its two flagship courses are Syntorial (learn-by-ear synthesizer sound design) and Building Blocks (music theory, composition, beatmaking, and ear training delivered inside a DAW-like interface). Supporting offerings include the Studio music creation environment, MIDI Recipes tutorials, and the Primer VST/AU synthesizer plugin, with cross-platform access on Mac, PC, and iPad.
Product overview
Audible Genius is an educational technology company offering a suite of music production courses and software tools. The core portfolio includes Syntorial (award-winning synthesizer training with 199 interactive lessons) and Building Blocks (interactive music theory and composition training), both using video-game-style pedagogy for ear training. Supporting products include Studio (built-in music creation environment), MIDI Recipes (tutorials), and Primer (VST/AU plugin version of the Syntorial synthesizer for DAW use). The company serves 30,000+ students across 50+ schools and universities, with courses available in English and Japanese on Mac, PC, and iPad platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Building Blocks: Interactive video-game-style music theory and composition course teaching drum patterns, basslines, chord progressions, and melodies directly in a DAW-like interface
- Syntorial
- Syntorial 2
- Studio
- Primer
- MIDI Recipes
Products and services
- Syntorial
Quantifiable outcome
- 5x faster learning compared to disjointed YouTube tutorial approach
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Audible Genius
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Audible Genius technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Audible Genius partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SteinbergcoreSteinberg (maker of Cubase DAW) is listed among trusted organizations using Audible Genius courses. Steinberg is a key DAW vendor, and Audible Genius courses are designed to be applicable to their software environment, demonstrating technical integration and co-marketing.
- UbisoftminorUbisoft is listed among trusted organizations. The nature of the relationship appears to be co-marketing or institutional use of Audible Genius products.
- PlayStation StudiosminorPlayStation Studios is listed among trusted organizations. The relationship appears to be institutional/cross-industry co-marketing.
- Push Lap GrowthcorePush Lap Growth is the affiliate management platform powering Audible Genius's Building Blocks affiliate program, providing partner dashboards, tracking coupons, affiliate tools, and payment processing. Over 100 affiliates promote Audible Genius products through this platform.
- Xfer RecordscoreSyntorial's Serum Lesson Pack provides dedicated training for Xfer Serum synthesizer. Syntorial teaches users to recreate sounds on Serum via tailored lesson content, preset packs, and guided challenges integrated into the Syntorial course.
- Serum (Xfer Records)coreSerum lesson pack is a flagship content partnership. Syntorial provides a dedicated lesson pack specifically designed for Serum, including tailored presets and guided patch recreation challenges for the popular wavetable synthesizer.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Audible Genius competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skoove: Interactive piano lesson app with subscription tiers, ear training, and AI-driven feedback. Comparable as an interactive, subscription-based music education product combining ear training with structured curriculum.
- Yousician: Subscription-based interactive music education app teaching guitar, piano, bass, and ukulele through gamified lessons. Directly comparable as a consumer-facing, interactive music-learning platform using a similar learn-by-doing methodology.
- Soundfly: Online music education platform offering in-depth courses on production, theory, and songwriting with subscription and mentorship tiers. Comparable as a digital-music-producer education service targeting the same intermediate producer audience.
- Pianote: Online piano education platform offering structured video lessons, song tutorials, and live coaching on a subscription basis. Comparable in delivering paid, structured music lessons via a self-serve digital platform.
- MusicGurus: Online platform hosting video courses on instruments, production, and music theory, often taught by pro musicians. Comparable in offering structured, paid digital music production and theory education to consumers and institutions.
- Groove3: Library of in-depth video tutorials for music production software (DAWs, plugins, mixing/mastering). Comparable as a paid training resource for digital music producers, though delivered via passive video rather than interactive exercises.
- Fender Play: Fender's subscription-based online lesson platform for guitar, bass, and ukulele. Comparable as a leading subscription music education brand using structured, video-led curriculum targeted at beginner-to-intermediate musicians.
Broad incumbents
- Native Instruments: Major music software/hardware company whose products (Massive, Komplete) are referenced in Syntorial's lesson packs. Comparable as an incumbent in the synth/DAW ecosystem whose product adoption drives demand for synthesizer training.
- Ableton: Maker of Ableton Live, a leading DAW, with its own certified training program and learning resources. Comparable as a broader music-tech incumbent whose ecosystem Audible Genius's courses integrate with and partially compete with for producer learning mindshare.
Others
- Plugin Boutique: Major retailer of music production plugins and educational bundles, including deals with synth makers. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that bundles and distributes music production software and related learning content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Audible Genius social profiles
Digital presenceAudible Genius financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Audible Genius leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Audible Genius funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Audible Genius M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Audible Genius
What does Audible Genius do?
Audible Genius develops and sells interactive, video-game-style music production training software. Its two flagship courses are Syntorial (learn-by-ear synthesizer sound design) and Building Blocks (music theory, composition, beatmaking, and ear training delivered inside a DAW-like interface). Supporting offerings include the Studio music creation environment, MIDI Recipes tutorials, and the Primer VST/AU synthesizer plugin, with cross-platform access on Mac, PC, and iPad.
Is Audible Genius a public or private company?
Audible Genius is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Audible Genius founded?
Audible Genius was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Audible Genius based?
Audible Genius is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Audible Genius make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Monthly Subscription is the primary driver. The others are annual Subscription, pay Once, Use Forever (One-Time Purchase) and affiliate Program Revenue Share.
Who are Audible Genius's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skoove, Yousician, Soundfly, Pianote, MusicGurus, Groove3 and Fender Play. Broad incumbents are Native Instruments and Ableton. Plugin Boutique is listed as an others.
Does Audible Genius have an API?
No public API is recorded for Audible Genius.
What industry is Audible Genius in?
Audible Genius's product category is Music Education Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAJ, Music Education & Practice Software (Ear training, tutors, metronome tools), with a secondary code of EDAMANAF, Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship. Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.