Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo 2026 Returns to Greenpoint October 17–18 With 100+ Brands, Headphone Demos, and Synthesis Workshops
New York’s electronic music gear scene has another hands-on weekend on the calendar. The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo 2026 returns to Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, bringing synthesizers, guitar pedals, modular systems, boutique effects, and music production tools together under one roof at 100 Sutton Street.
Organized by The Deli and Delicious Audio and presented in partnership with Three Wave Music, the two-day event is expected to feature gear from more than 100 brands inside a 7,000-square-foot warehouse space. Organizers anticipate more than 2,000 visitors across the weekend, a mix of musicians, producers, sound designers, and gear collectors.
For anyone in the region who wants to try synths, pedals, or modular gear before buying, this is one of the larger boutique-focused gear events on the East Coast, and one of the few built specifically around quiet, headphone-based listening.
What Is the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo?
The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo is an annual gathering built around direct access to electronic music gear. Independent builders and established manufacturers set up demo stations, and attendees move from table to table trying instruments, effects, and modules with the people who designed them standing nearby.
What sets the show apart from a traditional trade show is its strictly in-the-headphones format. Rather than every booth competing through speakers, all demos run through headphones. Attendees can hear the details of a synthesizer patch, a pedal chain, a delay tail, a filter sweep, or a modular sequence without fighting the volume of a crowded convention floor.
That format matters most for products where nuance is the whole point. A boutique reverb, an analog delay, a granular processor, or a wavetable oscillator can lose its character in a loud room. Headphone-based demos make the event more useful for serious listening and leave room for real conversations with builders.
Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo 2026 Dates, Location, and Tickets
The key details for the 2026 Brooklyn edition:
- Dates: Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Location: 100 Sutton Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
- Venue: 7,000-square-foot warehouse-style demo space
- Focus: Synthesizers, effects pedals, modular gear, music production tools, and synthesis workshops
- Format: Headphone-only demos across the entire floor
- Admission: Paid tickets from $5 early-bird to $25 “no crowd” Sunday admission; children attend free with an adult
Tickets and updates are available through the official event site at synthandpedalexpo.com. The Brooklyn stop is part of a wider Synth & Pedal Expo series that also visits other cities, so readers outside New York can check that schedule for a closer date.
More Than 100 Brands Expected on the Floor
Brand variety is one of the strongest draws. Synthtopia reports that the show will feature gear from over 100 brands, and Delicious Audio says the 2026 edition is expected to include roughly 15% more exhibitors than last year.
That growth reflects where a lot of the energy in music technology sits right now. Large manufacturers continue to release major synths, grooveboxes, and effects units, but smaller builders often drive the most inventive work in categories such as:
- Eurorack and modular synthesis
- Experimental and ambient effects pedals
- Analog drive, fuzz, and filter circuits
- Desktop and semi-modular synths
- DIY kits and hand-built instruments
- Noise machines and lo-fi processors
- Performance controllers and sequencers
- Hybrid digital and analog effects
Many of these products are difficult to find on the wall of an ordinary retail store, let alone plug into and try. The Expo puts them within reach for a weekend. Pedal fans who followed the Chase Bliss BAD MOOD launch will recognize the kind of experimental builders the show tends to attract.
Why the Headphone Demo Format Works
Anyone who has attended a loud trade show knows how hard it is to judge music gear on the floor. Pedals sound different when the room is roaring. Synth patches lose detail. Subtle modulation disappears. Conversations with builders get cut off by the booth next door.
Keeping every demo in headphones addresses that problem directly, and it benefits different players in different ways.
Synth Players
Oscillator character, filter movement, envelope shapes, modulation depth, and onboard effects come through clearly, which makes side-by-side comparisons meaningful.
Guitarists and Bassists
Drive pedals, reverbs, delays, modulation, fuzz circuits, and stranger effects can be compared on the same signal without room noise coloring the result.
Modular Users
Patch behavior, sequencing, textures, and signal routing are easier to follow when the only sound in the mix is the system in front of you.
Producers
It becomes possible to evaluate how a piece of gear might actually fit into a recording, live set, or home studio workflow instead of guessing from a noisy impression.
New Intro to Synthesis Workshops
The 2026 Expo is also expanding beyond product demos with a lineup of educational workshops. According to Synthtopia, the schedule will include Intro to Synthesis sessions covering hands-on patch building and modular workflows, led by working artists and builders. A full schedule is expected closer to the event.
This is a meaningful addition. Plenty of musicians are curious about synths and modular gear but feel put off by the learning curve. A structured session can help attendees get comfortable with the building blocks:
- Oscillators and waveforms
- Filters and resonance
- Envelopes and LFOs
- Signal flow and patch cables
- Modulation and sequencing
- Effects routing in a modular context
For beginners, the workshops turn the Expo into more than a shopping or demo event. It becomes a practical place to learn, then walk out onto the floor and apply those ideas at real instruments.
Why This Event Matters for NYC’s Music Gear Community
New York has long had a deep music and technology culture, from studios and clubs to experimental performance spaces and boutique retailers. The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo gives that community a focused gathering point.
Over a single weekend, musicians can:
- Meet independent builders face to face
- Try gear before buying it
- Discover brands that rarely appear in mainstream retail
- Learn synthesis concepts in a workshop setting
- Compare pedals and synths directly against each other
- Connect with other producers and performers
- Support small manufacturers with direct feedback and sales
So much gear discovery now happens through YouTube, forums, and product pages. In-person events still offer something those channels cannot: physical interaction. Attendees can feel the knobs, test the response, hear the device on their own headphones, and ask questions of the people who built it.
Who Should Attend?
The Expo is not only for experienced synthesists. It is useful for a wide range of creators.
Electronic Music Producers
Explore synths, sequencers, samplers, grooveboxes, and effects for studio or live use, and see how new hardware might slot into an existing setup.
Guitarists and Bassists
Try boutique drive, modulation, delay, and reverb pedals along with more experimental stompboxes and signal-chain tools.
Modular Synth Users
Discover new Eurorack modules, patching ideas, and workflow expansions from builders who are often at the table themselves.
Beginners
Attend the Intro to Synthesis workshops, ask basic questions without judgment, and explore gear in a lower-pressure environment than a busy retail store.
Sound Designers
Anyone building textures for film, games, ambient music, or media scoring will find a wide range of unusual sound sources and processors.
Collectors and Gear Enthusiasts
The show is a good place to find one-off instruments and meet brands that sell mostly direct or through a handful of specialist shops.
Ticket Pricing Keeps the Show Accessible
Ticket pricing is designed to stay low. Synthtopia reports that admission ranges from $5 early-bird tickets up to $25 for “no crowd” Sunday admission, with children admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Delicious Audio explains that the small-ticket approach helps keep exhibitor costs down, which in turn makes it easier for independent builders to take part. That detail matters for attendees too. Lower exhibitor costs keep the floor diverse, especially for smaller brands that cannot justify the budget for large national trade shows.
A Strong Moment for Hardware Music Production
The Expo’s return lands during a healthy period for hands-on music hardware. Even as software and AI tools continue to reshape production, many creators are still investing in tactile gear that rewards experimentation.
Current trends on display at events like this include:
- Compact desktop synths and semi-modular instruments
- Hybrid grooveboxes that combine sampling, synthesis, and sequencing
- Boutique guitar pedals designed with synths and drum machines in mind
- Portable mixers built for small hardware rigs
- Hardware sequencers and performance controllers
- Small-format studio setups that fit a desk rather than a room
Recent releases such as the Korg NTS-4 desktop mixer and the Behringer BCR32 controller point in the same direction: affordable, compact hardware that makes it easier to wire several instruments together and play them live.
How to Prepare Before Attending
With more than 100 brands on the floor, a little planning goes a long way.
Bring Headphones You Know Well
The event is headphone-focused, so bring a pair you trust. Familiar headphones make it far easier to judge tone, detail, noise floor, and stereo width. A closed-back design helps block the room.
Make a Short Wishlist
Decide which brands or categories to visit first. It is easy to lose an afternoon at the first three tables and miss the module or pedal that prompted the trip.
Take Notes and Photos
After a dozen pedals and synths, details blur together. Quick notes and a photo of each front panel help sort out standouts later.
Ask Builders Practical Questions
Direct access to makers is one of the biggest advantages of a boutique show. Ask about power requirements, MIDI and CV options, firmware updates, and how the product fits into a typical rig.
Think About the Current Setup
Instead of chasing every exciting demo, ask whether a product solves a real problem in the studio or live rig. That question tends to save money and shelf space.
Why In-Person Gear Events Still Matter
Online gear coverage is valuable, but it has limits. YouTube demos depend on recording chains, compression, presenters, speakers, and editing choices. Product pages explain features but cannot show how a device feels in use.
In-person events fill that gap. They let musicians test gear with their own ears and hands. For synths and pedals, that matters because inspiration usually comes from physical interaction: turning a knob, holding a chord, pushing a circuit into saturation, or stumbling onto an unexpected patch. The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo is built around exactly that moment.
Build Your Setup Around the Gear You Discover
Attendees who come home with a new synth, pedal, or module often find the next bottleneck is everything around it. A few pieces of supporting equipment make it easier to record, monitor, and perform with hardware:
- A USB audio interface with enough inputs for several hardware sources
- Closed-back studio headphones for detailed sound design and late-night sessions
- Studio monitors for accurate playback once a track leaves the headphones
- A compact mixer for combining synths, drum machines, and pedals
- MIDI keyboards and pad controllers for playing desktop and modular gear
- Dynamic microphones for re-amping, vocals, and field recordings
Readers setting up a hardware rig for the first time may also want to read how to use a mixing console and common studio monitoring mistakes before the show. Browse the Circuit Supply music studio department for interfaces, headphones, monitors, controllers, and the rest of a hardware production setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo 2026?
The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo takes place Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026. It is a two-day event, and each day has its own admission.
Where is the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo held?
The 2026 event is held at 100 Sutton Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, inside a 7,000-square-foot warehouse-style space set up for hands-on demos.
How much are tickets for the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo?
Reported ticket prices range from $5 early-bird admission to $25 for “no crowd” Sunday admission. Children can attend free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are sold through the official Synth & Pedal Expo site.
Is the Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo loud?
No. The event uses a strictly in-the-headphones format, so every demo runs through headphones rather than speakers. Attendees should bring a pair of headphones they know well.
Are there workshops at the 2026 Expo?
Yes. The 2026 edition adds Intro to Synthesis workshops covering patch building and modular workflows, led by working artists and builders. The full schedule is expected to be announced closer to the event.
