A three-day expo for hardware synths, modular gear, software, controllers, accessories, and the people who make them. Built community-first, in the heart of Cleveland.
NAESE was built for the electronic sound community to be more than a trade show. We started from one premise: the people carrying this culture forward deserve a room engineered for real conversation, genuine discovery, and connection.
Software is a full citizen alongside hardware. Smaller builders have a real lane through Micro-Maker pricing and the Scholarship program. Jam spaces are official. Music and learning and discussions fill the rooms.
Cleveland is a walkable & welcoming host city with a deep electronic music history, central enough to be accessible to all, vibrant enough to make your visit fun.
NAESE is a weekend designed for people who care deeply about electronic sound and those who support them.
NAESE is a weekend designed to help you explore your sound..
The expo floor is where our ecosystem comes alive. Hardware makers, boutique builders, software developers, major manufacturers, supporters and accessories, all under one roof, all of it touchable. Pick it up, plug it in, turn the knob, ask the person who built it why they made that choice.
Explore the floor →
Programmed for depth, not decoration. Whether you're just finding your footing or you've been patching since before most people knew what a patch cable was, there's a room designed for you. Practical techniques, design stories, creative process, pedagogy, history.
Explore the program →
Performance at NAESE puts the equipment at the center of the experience. From daytime sets to late-night showcases, NAESE features artists who have something to say, and you'll hear it with state-of-the-art sound in world-class spaces. Electronic music treated as the serious, living art form it is.
Explore the performances →
The jam spaces are where everything you saw and learned gets put to work. Community gear, or bring your own. Open pods. No agenda except sound. Music doesn't happen in a showroom; it happens when people start playing, collaborating, and sharing knowledge together.
About the jam spaces →The early-commitment program for the people who said "this should exist" before NAESE had a track record, attendees and exhibitors alike.
Limited slots. Once it closes, it never reopens.
Read about First Signal →A curated scholarship for early-stage and independent builders, paired with a structured Community Underwriter mentorship. Free exhibit space, plus three real, actionable touchpoints with an experienced fellow exhibitor. We built this to ensure the floor reflects the full ecosystem, not just the best-funded, because sometimes the most exciting work is happening in basements and garages, and those makers deserve a real shot at the spotlight.
Apply / mentor →Award categories recognizing meaningful contributions to electronic sound — Rising Signal, Most Impactful Technology, Legacy with Integrity, Best New Module / Standalone / Software, and People's Choice. Curated, credible, and earned, not pay-to-play. Winners receive a custom trophy, a spotlight moment at the banquet and expo closing, and recognition across NAESE channels. The awards are designed to celebrate the people and products that are pushing the culture and community forward in real ways.
See the categories →Two lanes. Tier sponsorships for brands that want to help make the overall expo happen. Feature sponsorships for brands that want to own a specific moment: the Welcome Reception, the Jam Spaces, the Workshop Rooms, and more. Sponsorships authentically integrated into the experience, more than just a banner ad. A real opportunity to support the community and get in front of a highly engaged audience — and an audience that cares as deeply as you do.
Sponsor packages →For Year 1: First Signal, badge quantities are capped to ensure the highest-quality Expo for attendees and vendors.
// PRESS BADGES ARE COMPLIMENTARY AND APPLICATION-GATED · TOUCH PRESS
Get NAESE updates — First Signal openings, schedule announcements, performer reveals, and Cleveland tips. No spam, no resale, easy unsubscribe.