Image Line CEO Constantin Koehncke hits the FL Studio forums and launches a subreddit every day to connect with his users.

If you’re a music maker of some age, then you’ve probably come across a twisted copy of a little app called Fruity Loops. These days it’s called FL Studio, and Constantin Koehncke, is the man responsible for shepherding the best digital audio workstation (DAW) of today. As CEO of Image Line, the company behind FL Studio, Constantin oversaw the launch of many AI-powered features such as body recognition and its Gopher chatbot.

Before taking over Image Line in 2022, Constantin was head of Native Instruments, where he led the transition to digital services, did a stint in advertising, and was a freelance music journalist for half a decade. Through it all, he tries to keep his ear to the ground, hanging out on the FL Studio forums, reading Reddit every day, and constantly reminding himself of FL Studio’s humble roots.

What is your most important tool (analog or digital, app or hardware)?

AirPods Pro. Phone calls, podcasts, walks, flights, and, arguably, listening to music. They are the only piece of technology I have all day. If I lose them, my productivity drops by about 40 percent.

What’s one thing you wish you could change about your phone?

New UI for iOS contacts. Apple somehow took something that used to require two obvious taps and turned it into a collection of mysterious UI elements that I’m always afraid to click on. Am I getting older, or is the iPhone getting a little worse for being a phone?

What sites have you pinned to your tab bar?

Mainly internal dashboards, product documentation, stats, FL Studio forums, and Reddit. Checking yourself every morning has become muscle memory.

How many tabs do you have open right now?

Thirty-four in two windows. They are organized, however, which is an important difference. One browser window is work (multiple tabs), the other is everything else (multiple tabs). No day ends with open tabs. Tab Zero means I can finally sleep.

What social media do you use the most (if any)?

Reddit is the only place I still happily scroll. It’s not perfect, but it still feels like the old internet: people arguing about incredibly niche topics because they genuinely care, mixed with some genuinely funny nonsense. I also spend a lot of time on YouTube and Substack — the best for learning and staying up-to-date.

LinkedIn comes with a CEO job. It’s helpful once you’ve learned to sift through AI-generated thought leadership about what being a father has taught someone about B2B business sales. You know the type: One sentence. For each category.

What is your happiest place on the internet?

Long-term journalism. I New Yorker. FT Weekend. The Economist. Anyone who still believes that a complex topic deserves more than a hot take and an icon.

What’s your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?

Maybe not yet, but definitely right now: my Teenage Engineering OB-4 speaker. Classic industrial design inspired by Dieter Rams’ philosophy of “weniger, aber besser” (less, but better). The built-in handle means I can carry it from room to room, which has recently made it a go-to listening device for my daughter.

What tech trend do you wish would end?

Just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

The idea that replacing human intelligence is somehow an admirable feat misses the point entirely. Writing, drawing, and making music are some of the most important things we do as humans. Technology should give people more ways to express themselves and unlock their creativity – not replace the very act of creation.

What creation are you proud of?

Creating spaces where talented people can focus on building things that users really want and love.

What is the best advice you ever received?

“Many things can be true at once.”

We live in an economy that is primed for positivity, angst, and instant ideas. The truth is often ugly. Admitting that is a much better start to solving problems than pretending everything has an easy answer.

What do you do when you feel stuck?

Go for a walk, then sit down with a blank piece of paper and write down the problem. Breaking it down by first principles works surprisingly often. Some usually resolve themselves after coffee.

What was the last piece of physical media you purchased?

Chronicles of DestructionMF DOOM history (I’m a fan). Somehow I’ve never been able to get into ebooks, so I keep buying paperbacks.

What do you think you should spend on?

Sports equipment. In my case, a Standard Pfadfinder steel bike.

What would be the tagline of your biopic?

A failed DJ turns to helping other people make music a career.

What was the last GIF or meme you used?

This comes up from time to time, and I just sent it to someone else. It’s funny because it’s true. Music owes a lot to Didier “Gol” Dambrin for founding FL Studio.