Founded in 1969, STEIM (Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music) was an independent Amsterdam-based laboratory dedicated to the research and development of experimental electronic instruments, sound art, and performance. A pioneer in live electronic music, the institution was forced to permanently close in 2020.

Driven by a belief that technology should serve artistic intent—not the other way around—STEIM developed an extraordinary range of bespoke instruments and interfaces. Often balancing somewhere between the ingenious and the absurd, these inventions embodied decades of technical expertise, experimentation, and an unwavering preference for customization over commercial convention.

Rather than attempting to create a complete archive, the publication captures the spirit of an institution whose influence continues to shape experimental music and instrument design.