We are Bela, an instrument design company built on research
Bela creates tools and instruments for working with sound, touch and physical interaction. Our work brings together engineering, instrument design and open-source development. We build technology for musicians, artists, engineers, educators and researchers who need digital systems to respond with precision and immediacy.
The company grew out of a group of friends and colleagues in London, originating from a research group at Queen Mary University of London, the Augmented Instruments Laboratory. That background continues to shape how we work: we approach instrument design as an engineering challenge, a creative practice, and a space for experimentation.
Three areas of practice #
Tools #
We design open hardware and software for real-time sound and sensing. Our systems are instrument-grade and reliable, yet accessible to ambitious makers and professional engineers alike. Discover our tools.
Instruments #
We build expressive instruments that apply our own technologies, exploring new forms of musical control and interaction. More about our instruments.
Research & Development #
We support others through consultancy, prototyping and open-source contributions, working with artists, instrument makers, universities and industry partners. Learn about our consultancy services.
A long-lasting, open approach #
Bela is a small, independent company committed to reliability and openness. Over the past decade, our hardware has been used in thousands of projects: custom instruments, installations, research tools, performance systems and commercial devices. Bela-based work has appeared on major stages, in leading museums, and within fields ranging from vehicle sound design to hearing-aid research.
We continue to develop new tools and interfaces with the same priorities that shaped our beginnings: responsiveness, robustness and a commitment to open development.
Want to get in touch with the team? We would love to hear from you. Please visit our contact page.
