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 is designed around the community, not around the floor plan. Most trade shows treat exhibitors as inventory and attendees as throughput. We start from the opposite premise: the people carrying this culture forward deserve a room engineered for real conversation, genuine discovery, and continuity across days.
Software is a full citizen alongside hardware. Smaller builders have a real lane through the Micro-Maker Scholarship. Cleveland is deliberate, central enough to be accessible versus a coastal city, vibrant enough to make your visit interesting, and a deep history with electronic music.
NAESE is an intentional weekend for people who care deeply about electronic sound and those who support them.
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 isn't an afterthought. It's part of the program. From daytime sets to late-night performances, NAESE features artists who have something to say and formats designed for genuine listening. 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 stop shopping and start playing together.
About the jam spaces →The early-commitment program for the people who said "this should exist" before NAESE had a track record. Permanent recognition as Year-1 First Signal, attendees and exhibitors alike. Limited slots, locked Year-1 pricing, exclusive Year-1-only swag. 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. Reduced-cost exhibit access plus three real touchpoints with an experienced exhibitor. Built so the floor reflects the full ecosystem, not just the best-funded.
Apply / mentor →Six categories recognizing meaningful contributions to electronic sound — Rising Signal, Most Impactful Technology, Legacy with Integrity, Best New Module / Synth / Plugin, People's Choice, and Lifetime Achievement. Curated, credible, and earned. Not a popularity contest.
See the categories →Two lanes. Tier sponsorships for brands that just want to be in. Feature sponsorships for brands that want to own a specific moment: the Welcome Reception, the Charging Lounge, the Jam Spaces, or the Workshop Rooms. Values-aligned. Never NASCAR.
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 · SEE PRESS
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