Written by Lidia Vijga
Electronic music production opened up the world of making music to basically anyone who wants to give it a try. Unlike traditional musical instruments that took forever to learn and master, these modern electronic tools like synths, drum machines, and those DAW software setups let you just dive right in and start creating music instantly. It’s crazy accessible compared to the past!
That openness and ease of entry has allowed so many new artists and musicians who may never have had a shot before to explore their creativity and artistic voices. People who might have been shut out of traditional music-making can now just fire up their gear and let their inspiration flow.
During our childhood, at least in mine for sure, we didn’t have toys that allowed us to compose and record music. Traditional musical instruments were the only option, but as I mentioned already they required a substantial learning curve and at least a few years of music school. The problem was that these music schools only accepted children who were 5 years old or older.
But in the colorful San Francisco workshop, a small team of inventive minds is about to change the childhoods and inspire the next generation of electronic musicians by making music production accessible to kids. This is the home of Playtime Engineering, founded by the husband-and-wife duo Troy and Kate Sheets. Their brainchild? Blipblox – a line of toy synthesizers that’s making waves in both the toy and music worlds.
We feel that if intrigued and entertained, children have the ability to understand the complexity of synthesis, inspiring them to create the music of tomorrow.
Troy Sheets – Co-Founder at Playtime Engineering
Blipblox synthesizers may seem like they are more suited for a playroom than a recording studio, with their chunky rainbow-colored knobs, levers, and flashing lights. However, you should not judge them by their Fisher-Price aesthetics, as these are actually fully functional, professional-grade synthesizers. The beauty of these synthesizers is that they have been optimized and simplified to cater to curious little hands and minds.
“I always thought synthesizers were not just amazing music production tools, but also great toys,” explains Troy Sheets, an electrical engineer who spent years researching and prototyping the concept before launching Playtime Engineering in 2018. “They have spaceship-like control panels, alien sounds and flashing lights, all the sort of things kids love. I was confident that we could create a product that kids could use to design their own sounds and create music in a whole new way.”
The key was stripping away the complexity and maximizing the fun factor. Blipblox synths come loaded with hundreds of preset melodies and beats that start playing as soon as they’re turned on. Big, tactile controls allow kids to immediately start shaping and warping the sounds. Labels are minimal, encouraging experimentation and discovery over rigid instructions.
While easy enough for a kid to pick up and play, Blipblox devices are far from mere toys. They pack an impressive variety of real synthesizer features, including multiple oscillators and modulation schemes, resonant filters, LFOs, and built-in drum machines.
A MIDI input allows the synths to be played with an external keyboard or connected to other gear like drum machines and DAWs. There’s also an audio output for plugging into speakers or recording.
Safety and Age Appropriateness
As highlighted by The Midium, Blipblox is one of the only synthesizers fully certified to international toy safety standards for ages 3 and up. It features durable construction, no sharp edges, and knobs that cannot be easily removed, ensuring a safe play environment. The battery compartment requires a screwdriver to open, preventing accidental access by young children. This focus on safety is a critical factor that distinguishes Blipblox from other electronic music toys, which may not adhere to the same rigorous standards.
What’s next for Playtime Engineering
As electronic music continues to dominate the cultural landscape, Playtime Engineering believes it’s vital to get music-making tools into the hands of the next generation. And they want to continue making the experience as fun and engaging as possible.
“When I started this 3-4 years ago we went with a certain chip technology which was good at the time, but when I look at what is available now and how affordable they are I can’t wait to start working on new products,” says Troy Sheets. “I have some ideas for higher end Blipbloxes, targeted to an older audience and a similar type of product targeted to a younger audience too.”
With Blipblox, kids are able to experience the thrill of producing their own sounds right out of the box, no skill required. But as they experiment and learn, they are building a foundation in electronics, signal flow, and the fundamentals of synthesis – knowledge that could one day help them excel with more advanced tools.
By all indications, Playtime Engineering is succeeding in their mission to bring the joy and power of electronic music-making to kids everywhere.
Blipblox is launching the instrument, sampler, sequencer and sound laboratory for all ages in April on Kickstarter. To support Playtime Engineering and get a notification on the launch day, visit their upcoming Kickstarter prelaunch page.
