At Music China 2025, the homegrown instrument brand HOTONE drew widespread acclaim from musicians and enthusiasts alike, thanks to its unique design language and thoughtful technical innovation. In an exclusive interview, Yin Dingfeng, HOTONE’s Marketing Manager, reflected on the brand’s journey over the past decade, emphasizing its unwavering commitment to a core mission: “to ignite endless creative inspiration for musicians through meticulously crafted, innovative product design.”He also spoke about HOTONE’s continuous efforts to bridge the worlds of professional musicianship and passionate amateur communities.
Providing musicians with innovative creative tools has always been at the heart of HOTONE’s product philosophy. In 2025, the brand launched Verbera, a digital convolution reverb pedal that goes far beyond mere feature stacking. Instead, Verbera stands as a concentrated showcase of HOTONE’s technical prowess—and has been honored with the 2025 “Recommended New Product” Award.
“Using our self-developed convolution algorithm, we’ve integrated complex reverb effects—previously only achievable in computer software—into a compact hardware pedal for the first time,” explained Yin Dingfeng. “This not only allows musicians to instantly access hundreds of authentic spatial reverbs during live performances and rehearsals, but more importantly, it also offers a range of imaginative, virtual reverb tones that spark new creative possibilities.”The launch of Verbera exemplifies HOTONE’s signature approach: turning musical inspiration into tangible tools through hardcore technical innovation.
HOTONE’s products not only serve creators—they’ve also captured the attention of world-class artists through their exceptional design, leading to deep collaborative partnerships. Yin Dingfeng shared a vivid example: internationally acclaimed guitarist Cory Wong had spontaneously included a HOTONE pedal on his personal effects board—without any prior sponsorship or outreach. “When we found out, we reached out simply to gather user feedback,” Yin recalled. “To our surprise, that initial conversation blossomed into a joyful and productive collaboration.”Cory not only expressed genuine enthusiasm for the product but also offered detailed, professional suggestions for refinement. The two sides quickly aligned on a shared vision—and soon co-created an artist signature edition pedal together.
“This journey has been profoundly meaningful for us,” Yin Dingfeng said. “It’s not just about launching a co-branded product—it’s about our design philosophy and professional-grade quality being validated by a world-class artist. More importantly, through ‘co-innovation,’ we’ve embedded the creative logic of a top-tier musician directly into the product itself.”He emphasized that this evolution—from user feedback to deep co-creation—is a vital source of continuous innovation for HOTONE.
While deeply rooted in the professional market, HOTONE has also keenly observed the increasingly diverse interests of younger consumers. How do you attract a new generation of music enthusiasts? HOTONE’s answer is clear: step boldly into the cultural spaces they already love.
This year, HOTONE launched an officially licensed collaboration product with GIRLS BAND CRY, a popular Japanese anime series produced by Toei Animation that centers on an all-girl band. Based on HOTONE’s portable Bluetooth amplifier, the co-branded device serves dual purposes: it functions as a professional-grade tool for instrument practice, while also delivering high-quality audio for everyday music listening.
“Today, many young people are not only passionate about music but also deeply immersed in anime culture,” Yin Dingfeng explained, sharing the inspiration behind the collaboration. “This band-themed anime has become a cultural phenomenon with immense popularity.”
“Through this cross-genre partnership, we hope to introduce HOTONE—a professional musical instrument brand—to a new generation within the very contexts they already know and love. Whether it’s their emotional connection to the anime or their genuine love for music, we want this product to deliver meaningful emotional value. And from that spark, naturally invite them into the world of professional music gear.”
When asked about HOTONE’s goals for participating in Music China, Yin Dingfeng emphasized the importance of connection. “Music China is a rare and invaluable platform where we can engage directly with distributors and end users,” he said. “We’re deeply eager to gather the most authentic, real-time feedback and market insights through face-to-face conversations. Every comment from our users serves as a vital compass guiding our future product improvements and innovations.”
From breakthroughs in in-house R&D that push the boundaries of audio technology, to co-creating with world-class artists to earn professional validation, and now to crossing into anime culture to resonate with a new generation—HOTONE is building a cohesive brand ecosystem. This ecosystem is deeply rooted in professional craftsmanship, yet boldly embraces cultural diversity. At its core, innovation remains the constant melody—and connecting every music lover and creator stays true to its founding promise.
