FL Studio CEO Constantin Koehncke turns to Reddit for feedback and fun

Constantin Koehncke, who has been leading Image Line, the company behind FL Studio, since 2022, shares his views on technology and business in a recent interview. Before joining Image Line, he was the head of Native Instruments, worked in marketing, and spent five years as a freelance music journalist.

Koehncke says he visits FL Studio forums and Reddit every day to keep in touch with users. He believes Reddit remains a place where people passionately argue about niche topics, reminding him of the old internet. While he also uses LinkedIn, he notes the platform is full of AI-generated posts that need to be filtered out.

Regarding tech trends, Koehncke warns that just because something is possible doesn't make it a good idea. He opposes the notion that AI could replace human creativity. "Writing, painting, and making music are some of the most fundamentally human things we do. Technology should give people more ways to express themselves and unlock their creativity — not replace the very act of creating," he says.

He is most proud of creating environments where talented people can focus on building products users genuinely want. His best advice: "Many things can be true at the same time," which helps in solving complex problems.

Koehncke uses AirPods Pro daily for productivity, and his current favorite gadget is the Teenage Engineering OB-4 speaker. He reads long-form journalism from The New Yorker, FT Weekend, and The Economist, stressing that complicated topics deserve more than hot takes.

When feeling stuck, he goes for a walk then writes down the problem, breaking it down to first principles. He also admits to being a failed DJ who now helps others make music — that would be the tagline for his biopic.