We interviewed ProSoundWaves founder, Sebastian Schneider, about creating an app that teaches music production and audio engineering through interactive lessons and 1-on-1 tutoring. Sebastian has been an audio engineer for over 15 years and has dabbled in programming as well. He didn’t have the time to master more programming languages, so he decided to build his app on Bubble instead of developing it from scratch.
What problem does your project solve?
Sebastian Schneider: ProSoundWaves empowers people to learn about music production and audio engineering. We aim to provide an “academy-like” experience that takes people from absolute zero to world-class production through our carefully designed syllabus. What sets us apart is that each student receives 1-on-1 tutoring, which includes individualized feedback on assignments, tips for improving, and more. Halfway through the course, students start working on their own musical production.
How does your app work?
Interactive and fun to use, ProSoundWaves uses what we call a “skill tree,” which is a logical knowledge-tree-like structure that students follow throughout the course: users click on each lesson, watch the video, and complete any associated tasks (quizzes, submissions, etc.), which are reviewed in under 24 hours. If they do not pass, students receive feedback and tips for improvement. When they finish a lesson, new paths open up. By gamifying the experience, ProSoundWaves gives users a sense of accomplishment, which keeps them feeling enthusiastic about what comes nexts.
Tell us a little about your background and how you discovered no-code tools like Bubble.
I have worked in the field of audio engineering for over 15 years, both in the recording studio and as a teacher. Aside from that I have an associate’s degree in electronics, which taught me how to program in Assembly, C++, and other languages. Later, I learned how to code simple HTML websites, which I did on and off throughout the years. With experience in audio engineering and coding, I recognized that there weren’t too many options for studying the discipline online. While I had the concept in my head, I simply didn’t have the time to master more programming languages just to begin working on this project. Bubble provided a fantastic solution.
Why did you build your app on Bubble?
We are a very small team and I was the only one who had previously worked with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, mostly for very simple websites. I did not have the skills to build a complex app like ProSoundWaves. Hiring professional developers to build something of such magnitude was also way beyond our budget. We stumbled upon Bubble and we were absolutely amazed at what we could accomplish so quickly. I absolutely love the idea behind no-code platforms: programming should be demystified and accessible.
What has been your traction or success so far?
We started the project in late 2017 and by mid-2018, we were testing the beta version with our target audience, which went really well. After putting the project on hold in 2019 for personal reasons, I am looking for partners who could help us give the app the promotion it deserves, especially since we do not have any expertise in marketing. I hope to shake up online education by making it less impersonal and fostering more human connection amidst a more physically-distanced world. To give you one example: I have received a personal voice message from a student thanking me for the feedback that I’d given him throughout the course, which is a reminder that I’m making a difference in people’s lives.
What are your future plans for your app?
We would love to start a promotional campaign, polish the UX design a bit (we’ve identified some areas that could be improved), and make a more mobile-friendly version of the app. Later, we would like to enhance the production value of some of the content and add subtitles for non-English speakers, but that would just be the beginning. Our goal is to integrate our system with other e-learning disciplines that require skill development and interactive content, including science and tech.
Learn more about ProSoundWaves: Facebook | Quora | YouTube
About Bubble
Bubble is a leader in the no-code movement. Bubble offers a powerful point-and-click web editor and cloud hosting platform that allows users to build fully customizable web applications and workflows, ranging from simple prototypes to complex marketplaces, SaaS products, and more. Over 400,000 users are currently building and launching businesses on Bubble - many have gone on to participate in top accelerator programs, such as Y Combinator, and even raise $365M in venture funding. Bubble is more than just a product. We are a strong community of builders and entrepreneurs that are united by the belief that everyone should be able to create technology.
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Do you want your app featured by Bubble? Reach out to us and tell us about your app. In addition to this series, we sometimes select our best apps to showcase on our website.
