Hello, World. Meet Colahall.

Although we’re just getting started with Colahall, the idea has been echoing for a long time: What if artists, engineers, and tinkerers had more open, expressive tools for sound? Tools not bound by closed ecosystems, respect user privacy, offer transparent trade, and nurture both creativity and curiosity.

A few years ago, I built a guitar pedal using a Teensy and shared it on GitHub as GuitarFx. It quietly made its way to the right people and sparked many great conversations. Musicians I knew loved the idea: a single pedal where the effect could be swapped out with a firmware update. What they didn’t love? Developing their effects in Arduino C++.

Since then, I’ve been chasing a clear goal: building a guitar pedal hardware and SDK that’s approachable for musicians and tinkerers alike. We will be announcing it sometime later this year, so stick around.

GuitarFx also marked the beginning of my journey into KiCad, and the world of open-source EDA tools. A friend introduced me to KiCad, and I was instantly hooked. From there, I dove deep into hardware, learning from brilliant creators like Phil's-Lab, Ben Eater, and many more. I developed a deep appreciation for the craft of hardware design, and open-source EDA tools.

Hardware, software, firmware, and music all pull at me equally. I can’t pick a favorite. Luckily, my partner, Farhana shares that same passion for music and business. So we thought: why not build something together that blends these worlds?

That’s how Colahall was born.

We’ll be sharing our journey here: prototypes, design notes, DSP experiments, hardware builds, and the occasional stumble along the way. Expect equal parts engineering and audio love.

If you’re into embedded audio, real-time DSP, or just believe in empowering creators with transparent tech, stick around.

Welcome to the noise Colahall.