(AUSTIN, TEXAS – Aug. 1, 2019; source: Juice Consulting) – Rhythmo, an Austin-based startup, announces the first mass-produced, DIY, all-in-one midi drum machine kit, the Beatbox. The Beatbox is a tool intended to be self-assembled and utilized to play and create beats; the exterior of the Beatbox is made from recyclable cardboard (for portability and freedom to customize), on which arcade buttons, a joystick and parameter knobs can be attached by the user, promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) concepts for aspiring or established musicians of all ages. The Beatbox only takes one hour to put together, and also comes with an app for the tool which provides samples, the ability to record beats and more, breaking down the barrier-to-entry to producing music all at an affordable price point. For more information, see www.rhythmo.io.

Rhythmo also announces a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the Beatbox launching Sept. 3 where people can preorder the product. While the Beatbox will retail for $150, backers are offered a special discount, which can be obtained by signing up for Rhythmo’s newsletter. For more information about the Kickstarter campaign and for updates on the Beatbox, follow Rhythmo on social media and subscribe to their newsletter. Interested patrons can also enter a contest on Rhythmo’s website where to potentially win a Beatbox; see Rhythmo’s Facebook page for more info.

“The music world is a living thing that adapts to fit the needs of musicians,” said Rhythmo founder Ethan Jin. “A downside of this is that it can cater more towards the experts of the community, making the process more exclusive and daunting to a newcomer. We believe that everyone has the potential to make music and we are dedicated to delivering an accessible way to fulfill that potential. No more overcomplicated software and overpriced equipment. We want to give production back to the people.”

The Beatbox was created in 2017 by Ethan Jin originally as a business model assignment for Jin’s MS in Entrepreneurial Leadership program. However, the endeavor grew from its “for a grade” roots to a startup focused on delivering the best iteration of the drum kit. As a former music teacher, Jin found electronic music production difficult to incorporate into educational programs for amateur musicians: the learning curve is steep and difficult to discover by oneself, equipment isn’t standardized making it confusing to decide what equipment is necessary in the beginning, and price tags aren’t what parents are willing to pay just to get their kids to “try it out.” The Beatbox was designed to allow people to have an affordable beat-making kit to practice on at home. Currently, in the MassChallenge Texas accelerator, the company is launching nationally and the product will be available for preorder in September 2019, shipping out spring 2020.

“That’s part of my inspiration of building the Beatbox, an all-in-one, mini portable studio for aspiring beatmakers, so they can unleash their creativity anywhere, anytime,” said Jin. “Most importantly, as a parent, you get to buy your kids something that you both think is cool. Pretty rare.”

The Beatbox is designed to be put together by hand. The process of building the tool instills STEAM concepts while also providing practical, fun applications after assembly. Rhythmo found that parents have begun to realize the importance of introducing these concepts to children early, and in a more entertaining and stimulating way, so by teaching individuals those concepts and furthering user interaction value after assembly, users are building something of great value whereby they can realize the true importance of STEAM. The Beatbox comes with everything needed to practice and record, including buttons, speakers, a battery pack and even an iOS and Android-supported app containing tutorials, music samples and more. The Beatbox app is designed for users to record and save beats, as well as upload samples to play with. The app is compatible with most music production software, including intro programs such as GarageBand, Ableton, Fruity Loops and more, all within the $150 retail price of the full product.

“The Beatbox was created in a classroom and we hope to see it used to blend arts and STEM education in the classroom in the future, or really wherever you want to take it,” said Jin. “A passion for creating an approachable and affordable tool for people to make music along with hearing from those who can’t wait to get their hands on the Beatbox is really what keeps us going.”