SynthAccess: First Steps Towards Improving Synthesizer Accessibility for Blind Musicians

Stefanie Koseff, Madeline Mau, Moira Zhang, Ciarra Black, Jason Wallach, Izabella Rodrigues, Punya Aragula, R. Luke DuBois, and William Payne

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

The SynthAccess project improves the usability of analog synthesizers in learning and performance for blind and low vision users. Many analog synthesizers could be made accessible because their controls can be physically operated without requiring digital screen navigation. However, a consistent lack of access considerations across these devices makes analog synthesizers especially difficult for blind and low vision learners. In this work, we focus on the layout and signage of a synthesizer lab, adaptations to existing devices such as braille labels, patch diagram overlays, 3D-printed knobs, speech synthesizer software, and resources to allow others to adapt additional equipment. Through an iterative co-design process with a blind music technologist (who co-authored this article), we share resources for adapting synths along with design considerations to promote analog synthesizer accessibility more widely.

Citation

Stefanie Koseff, Madeline Mau, Moira Zhang, Ciarra Black, Jason Wallach, Izabella Rodrigues, Punya Aragula, R. Luke DuBois, and William Payne. 2026. SynthAccess: First Steps Towards Improving Synthesizer Accessibility for Blind Musicians. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.20784173 [PDF]

BibTeX Entry

@inproceedings{nime2026_54,
 abstract = {The SynthAccess project improves the usability of analog synthesizers in learning and performance for blind and low vision users. Many analog synthesizers could be made accessible because their controls can be physically operated without requiring digital screen navigation. However, a consistent lack of access considerations across these devices makes analog synthesizers especially difficult for blind and low vision learners. In this work, we focus on the layout and signage of a synthesizer lab, adaptations to existing devices such as braille labels, patch diagram overlays, 3D-printed knobs, speech synthesizer software, and resources to allow others to adapt additional equipment. Through an iterative co-design process with a blind music technologist (who co-authored this article), we share resources for adapting synths along with design considerations to promote analog synthesizer accessibility more widely.},
 address = {London, United Kingdom},
 articleno = {54},
 author = {Stefanie Koseff and Madeline Mau and Moira Zhang and Ciarra Black and Jason Wallach and Izabella Rodrigues and Punya Aragula and R. Luke DuBois and William Payne},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.20784173},
 editor = {Benedict Gaster and João Tragtenberg and Anna Xambó and Tom Mitchell},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {June},
 note = {},
 numpages = {10},
 pages = {458--467},
 title = {SynthAccess: First Steps Towards Improving Synthesizer Accessibility for Blind Musicians},
 track = {Paper},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2026/nime2026_54.pdf},
 year = {2026}
}