As a visually impaired producer / musician / artist / DJ / engineer, I constantly face challenges in navigating a world that wasn’t designed for people like me. Getting around the city is already difficult, and reading the labels on rack mount studio equipment proves to be nearly impossible for many of us.

In today’s world, computers are at the core of modern studios. They have high-resolution displays and various accessibility settings. One would think that everyone can benefit from these advancements, but unfortunately, that’s not the case for visually impaired individuals like myself.

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) have come a long way. They are now easier to use, offer extensive functionality, and sound great. Additionally, there is a vast array of third-party plugins available. However, very few of these options are designed with the visually impaired in mind.

Contrary to popular belief, many legally blind individuals, including myself, have some degree of vision. The level of vision varies from person to person, but personally, if I zoom in 300%, I can manage to read some of the labels and text on a high-resolution graphical user interface (GUI). Some companies, such as FabFilter, allow you to resize plugin windows, which is helpful. Although, the screen can become quite small when zoomed in beyond 150%, making it less practical in most cases.

With over 25 years of experience as a musician and being legally blind for the past 6 years, I heavily rely on muscle memory, workflows, and improvisation. Keyboard shortcuts are often the quickest way to achieve tasks within a DAW. However, understanding the limitations and possibilities can be challenging for most visually impaired individuals.

Building upon my experience, I can create scenarios that lead to more efficient workflows. These scenarios can then be used to develop specific training programs, enabling users to maximize the potential of any software-hardware integrated product. Examples of successful integration include Pioneer/Serato, where color-coded buttons on a controller correspond to the Serato software. This synchronization greatly enhances the use of features like hot cues and other button functions.

Now, audio companies have a significant opportunity to reach out to and engage with the visually impaired community, making their products more accessible. This will allow artists from this community to be seen and heard.

Please feel free to reach out and let’s get started.