Soundtrap

Online freemium music and audio editor
Soundtrap AB
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic, podcast
FoundedApril 1, 2012; 11 years ago (2012-04-01)[1]
FoundersBjörn Melinder, Fredrik Posse, Gabriel Sjöberg, Per Emanuelsson
Headquarters
Stockholm, Sweden
Key people
Per Emanuelsson (CEO)
ParentSpotify
Websitesoundtrap.com

Soundtrap is a freemium online cross-platform digital audio workstation (DAW) for browsers that allows users to create music or podcasts.[2][3] The DAW is operated by Soundtrap AB, which was bought by Spotify in November 2017.[4] Soundtrap is offered in 15 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Swedish, with the latter four being added in 2017.[5][6]

The DAW includes inputs for external instruments, an instrument player, a way to input and export MIDI files,[7] collaboration features,[8] Patterns BeatMaker (introduced in 2017)[9] and a built-in autotune provided by Antares Audio Technologies.[10]

History

Soundtrap developers at the 2015 MTFCentral Hack Camp.

Soundtrap and Soundtrap AB were founded April 1, 2012[1] in Stockholm, Sweden by Björn Melinder, Fredrik Posse, Gabriel Sjöberg, and Per Emanuelsson, who believed that it was too "complex to make music" and who wanted to create a studio with collaboration and “a full production environment where you can do professional-sounding podcasts, collaboratively done on the web.”[11] Soundtrap Studio was launched in beta in 2013. The next year, it was featured at Google I/O.[12][13] In 2016, Soundtrap raised $6 million in their Series A round of financing.[14]

Soundtrap's logo from 2013 to 2017.

In November 2017, Spotify acquired Soundtrap, with Soundtrap stating that the move was a "culturally, creatively and strategically" great fit.[15][16][17][18] The company had revenues of 900,000 kronor, making it one of Spotify's most expensive acquisitions.[19]

In 2018, Soundtrap won the EdTech Awards for the Arts, Music, Creative Solutions Category.[20][21] The next year, it offered unlimited projects for the free tier without having to upgrade to a better plan.[22][23][24][25]

Programs

Soundtrap
Developer(s)Soundtrap AB
Initial release2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Operating systemmacOS, Windows, ChromeOS, Linux, iOS, Android[26]
Available in15 languages
Websitewww.soundtrap.com

Soundtrap is split into three programs: Soundtrap for Music Makers, Soundtrap for Storytellers, and Soundtrap for Education.

Soundtrap for Education

Soundtrap for Education was introduced in 2015,[27] being showcased in 2016 at the Future of Education Technology Conference as a way for teachers and students of all ages to explore creative sound making in a safe and secure environment as well as at home.[28][29] The program is COPPA, GDPR and FERPA compliant and is compatible with Google Classroom[30] and Soundtrap for Storytellers.[31]

The program was named "The Best Website for Teaching and Learning" in 2015 by the American Association of School Librarians[32] and was featured on Google for Education's "Creative Apps for Chromebooks" in 2016.[33] It was also given by Common Sense Media, saying that the dashboard was easy to use and that the "extensive video tutorials and support features facilitate use of this tool to its fullest potential."[34]

In March 2020, Soundtrap for Education was made free for the fall semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[35][36] That same year, it was named the "Music Education Solution of the Year" by EdTech.[37][38][39][40][41]

Soundtrap for Storytellers

Soundtrap for Storytellers was introduced on May 24, 2019 as a way for people to create podcasts.[42][43][44][45] The program includes a transcript feature which can record and automatically transcribe a voice, a tool to edit the transcript, and a tool for managing shows and episodes as well as directly upload podcasts to Spotify.[46][47][48] Then in October 2019, the transcription feature was expanded to include French, Spanish,[49] German, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese[50] and Swedish.[51][52] The program also has a way to remotely interview guests and to create your own jingle.[53][54]

The program was created to help podcasters with editing, transcribing, remote interviewing, and adding sound effects, as well as having one platform to create podcasts with.[55][56][57] According to the CEO of Soundtrap AB, Per Emanuelsson, Soundtrap for Storytellers "helps teachers differentiate instruction for students of all abilities within one classroom, giving students a compelling way to channel their thoughts and perspectives."[58][59][60]

Soundtrap for Storytellers has been described as the "Google Docs of podcasting."[61]

Soundtrap for Music Makers

Soundtrap for Music Makers was introduced in 2020 and has more features than the free tier, including Auto-Tune, more instruments, and sounds from Splice and Freesound.[62]

References

  1. ^ a b "Soundtrap AB". Startup Ranking.
  2. ^ "Soundtrap". Stockholm Design Lab.
  3. ^ "Soundtrap". San Francisco Unified School District.
  4. ^ "Spotify just bought a DAW, online studio Soundtrap". RouteNote. November 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "Soundtrap Expands Music and Podcast Platform to Four New Languages in 57 Countries". edCircuit. May 26, 2017.
  6. ^ "Soundtrap Expands Its Successful Cloud-Based Music and Podcast Recording Platform to Four New Languages in 57 Countries". audioXpress. May 29, 2017.
  7. ^ Kimber, Aoife (June 14, 2017). "Soundtrap First to Enable Import and Export of MIDI Music Files to Music Scores Using only a Browser". Business Wire.
  8. ^ "Soundtrap – The Free in-browser DAW Review". RouteNote. July 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Our Latest Release: Patterns – Beatmaker". Sountrap. November 24, 2017.
  10. ^ "Getting Started with Auto-Tune and Soundtrap". Antares Audio Technologies.
  11. ^ Quah, Nicholas (May 14, 2019). "It's a (Sound)Trap!". Hot Pod News.
  12. ^ "About Soundtrap". Soundtrap.
  13. ^ "Soundtrap". Stack Overflow.
  14. ^ O'Hear, Steve (October 10, 2016). "Online music and audio recording studio Soundtrap scores $6M Series A". TechCrunch.
  15. ^ Perez, Sarah; Lunden. Ingrid (November 17, 2017). "Spotify acquires online music studio Soundtrap as it goes after creators". TechCrunch.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Carlsson, Sven (November 17, 2017). "Spotify köper svenska musikbolaget Soundtrap". Di Digital (in Swedish).
  17. ^ Carlsson, Sven (November 17, 2017). "Spotify köper svenska Soundtrap, som i fjol värderades till över 200 miljoner kronor. "Fantastiskt", säger Soundtraps vd Per Emanuelsson". Di Digital (in Swedish).
  18. ^ "SPOTIFY ACQUIRES 'ONLINE RECORDING STUDIO' SOUNDTRAP". Music Business Worldwide. November 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Magdirila, Phoebe; Gubagaras, Mark. "Spotify faces $1.6B suit; Mediahuis completes TMG stake acquisition". S&P Global.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "2018 – Finalists & Winners". EdTech.
  21. ^ Allen, Meredith (April 12, 2018). "Soundtrap Wins the 2018 Edtech Award Arts, Music, Creative Solutions Category". Soundtrap.
  22. ^ Sawers, Paul (June 26, 2019). "Spotify's Soundtrap offers creators unlimited free storage for songs and podcasts". VentureBeat.
  23. ^ Ha, Anthony (June 26, 2019). "Spotify-owned Soundtrap adds unlimited storage to the free tier of its recording software".
  24. ^ Stassen, Murray (June 26, 2019). "SPOTIFY'S ONLINE PODCAST AND MUSIC STUDIO SOUNDTRAP LAUNCHES NEW FREE TIER". Music Business Worldwide.
  25. ^ Kolodziejczak, Clément (June 27, 2019). "hSoundtrap, le studio en ligne de Spotify, supprime sa limite de cinq projets gratuits". Clubic (in French).
  26. ^ "Browser support". Soundtrap.
  27. ^ Treija, Ieva (October 11, 2016). "Online music and audio recording studio Soundtrap introduces education version and secures € 5.4 million funding". EU Startups.
  28. ^ Schaffhauser, Dian (January 19, 2016). "Soundtrap Releases Education Edition for Online Music Collaboration". THE Journal.
  29. ^ "SOUNDTRAP IS CHANGING MUSIC EDUCATION". SouthEast Education Network. October 21, 2016.
  30. ^ "Soundtrap For Education". The American Music Teacher. 65 (5): 6. 2016.
  31. ^ "Soundtrap for Education Podcasting". Synnex. September 28, 2019.
  32. ^ Habley, Jen (June 29, 2015). "AASL Announces 2015 Best Apps & Best Websites". Knowledge Quest.
  33. ^ Kimber, Aoife (June 27, 2016). "Soundtrap Selected for Google for Education's "Creative Apps for Chromebooks" Program". Business Wire.
  34. ^ Powers, Melissa. "Soundtrap". Common Sense Media.
  35. ^ Adavis (March 24, 2020). "Soundtrap for Education Offers Extended Trials to Support Schools". Soundtrap.
  36. ^ "Soundtrap Offers Extended Free Trial to Support Distance Learning". eSchool News. April 8, 2020.
  37. ^ "EdTech Breakthrough Award Winners". EdTech.
  38. ^ "Soundtrap Named Music Education Solution of the Year". the Learning Counsel.
  39. ^ "Soundtrap Named Music Education Solution of the Year". EIN Presswire. June 24, 2020.
  40. ^ "Soundtrap Named Music Education Solution of the Year". edCircuit. June 24, 2020.
  41. ^ "Soundtrap Named Music Education Solution of the Year". EIN Presswire. June 24, 2020.
  42. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers Helps Podcasters Take Their Shows to the Next Level". Spotify. May 24, 2019.
  43. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (May 14, 2019). "Spotify-owned Soundtrap launches cloud-based podcast creation and recording tool". VentureBeat.
  44. ^ Washenko, Anna (May 14, 2019). "Spotify pushes further into podcast creation with Soundtrap for Storytellers program". RAIN News.
  45. ^ Perez, Sarah (May 24, 2019). "Spotify-owned Soundtrap launches a podcast studio in the cloud". TechCrunch.
  46. ^ O'Brien, Terrence (May 14, 2019). "Soundtrap for Storytellers is Spotify's latest play for podcasters". Engadget.
  47. ^ Carman, Ashley (May 14, 2019). "Spotify-owned Soundtrap wants to make editing a podcast as easy as using Google Docs". The Verge.
  48. ^ Locker, Melissa (May 14, 2019). "Spotify's new Soundtrap for Storytellers makes it even easier to start that podcast". Fast Company.
  49. ^ González, Gabriela (October 31, 2019). "Soundtrap for Storytellers, la herramienta de creación de podcasts de Spotify ya es capaz de transcribir en español". Genbeta (in Spanish).
  50. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers, a nova ferramenta de criação de podcasts, é lançada mundialmente". Terra (in Portuguese). May 14, 2019.
  51. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers, Podcast Creation Tool Now Launches Transcription Service in French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese, and Swedish". Business Wire. October 31, 2019.
  52. ^ "Soundtrap Adds Translation Feature In Five More Languages". InsideRadio. October 31, 2019.
  53. ^ Thorpe, Jen (May 26, 2019). "Soundtrap for Storytellers Helps Make Podcasting Easier". Podcaster News.
  54. ^ Betts, Will (May 15, 2019). "Soundtrap for Storytellers is a browser-based podcasting studio". MusicTech.
  55. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers Offers Podcast Tools". Radio World. June 12, 2019.
  56. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers launches globally". MUSIC:ED. December 13, 2019.
  57. ^ Ulukan, Gözde (May 15, 2019). "Spotify bünyesindeki Soundtrap, podcast düzenlemeye yardımcı olan "Storytellers" özelliğini tanıttı". Webrazzi (in Turkish).
  58. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers podcast creation tool introduced". the Learning Counsel.
  59. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers, New Podcast Creation Tool Launches Globally- Classroom-appropriate Version to Be Made Available to Schools". Associated Press. May 14, 2019.
  60. ^ "Soundtrap for Storytellers, New Podcast Creation Tool Launches Globally". audioXpress. May 16, 2019.
  61. ^ Solsman, Joan (May 14, 2019). "Spotify launches the Google Docs of podcasting". CNET.
  62. ^ "Soundtrap by Spotify Lets You Record, Edit, and Collaborate With Anyone, Anywhere". Futurism. July 29, 2020.
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