Adding instruments: from drone to AI band

On the podcast, I talk with Sandeep about how a frustrated student’s struggle inspired him to create NaadSadhana, a revolutionary AI-driven app that helps singers perfect their pitch in real time. We dive into how his journey—from Microsoft and Google engineer to Apple Design Award-winning musician—shows what happens when art and technology truly harmonize.

Top Takeaways:

🎵 Build for Passion, Not Just Profit
Sandeep didn’t set out to build a business—he built NaadSadhana to help one struggling student. Solving a personal, meaningful problem led to a product that resonated deeply with others. Passion-first can still lead to product-market fit.

🧠 Invent What Doesn’t Exist
No app could help singers practice pitch accurately. So Sandeep built one—then layered in AI to simulate a responsive, collaborative band. When off-the-shelf solutions don’t exist, invent your own, especially if you're the first customer.

🔄 Iterate Like an Artist
Despite winning an Apple Design Award, Sandeep rewrote the app from scratch to add more instruments and complexity. Don’t let accolades freeze you. Treat your product like a living artwork—refine, rebuild, and evolve.

🧘 Stay Human in the Age of AI
Sandeep calls his AI "artistic intelligence." It doesn't replace musicians—it empowers them. He built ethical constraints into the app to keep it human-feeling. Augment people, don’t automate them out of the process.

📣 Word of Mouth Over Paid Ads
NaadSadhana grew organically through teachers, students, and artists sharing it. No marketing team. No budget. Just a product that solved real problems and delighted users. Focus on creating “wow”—and trust the users to spread the word.

🎛 Obsess Over Craft
From psychoacoustics to sub-millisecond latency to modeling physical string vibrations, Sandeep sweats every detail most users will never see. Excellence compounds. When you build with care, it shows—even when people don’t know why.

About Sandeep Ranade: 

🎤 Founder and CEO of NaadSadhana

📱 Sandeep Ranade is a passionate Hindustani classical musician and tech entrepreneur. Combining his deep knowledge of music and cutting-edge technology, he created an app that helps users improve their vocal precision. After a career at top tech companies, Sandeep pursued his passion for teaching and carried it to  NaadSadhana, with a goal of music without barriers. 

👋 LinkedIn 

🔍 Wikipedia

💻 Website

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Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Sandeep's journey from tech to music

[2:15] How NaadSadhana was born out of a need in music education

[5:30] The challenges of developing a music app for vocal training

[9:45] NaadSadhana’s unique approach to vocal tuning and feedback

[15:20] The role of psychoacoustics and signal processing in the app's technology

[22:10] How Sandeep balanced his tech career with his passion for classical music

[28:55] The evolution of NaadSadhana and its growth over time

[35:12] The impact of the Apple Design Award on NaadSadhana's success

[42:20] Sandeep’s thoughts on creating a truly artist-centered app

[48:05] How NaadSadhana fosters better practice habits for musicians

[53:30] The app's influence on the Indian classical music community

[59:40] What’s next for NaadSadhana: expanding features and reaching more musicians