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Discover the winners of the MIDI Innovation Awards 2023

What is the MIDI Innovation Awards

In 2023, MIDI celebrates its 40th birthday. The universal language of synths, controllers, and electronic instruments, MIDI 1.0 revolutionised music in the 1980s. Now, MIDI 2.0 is poised to unleash a second revolution. Massively extended and reimagined for the computer age, yet fully backwards compatible, MIDI 2.0 opens up endless possibilities for creative developers. 

A joint initiative created by Music Hackspace, The MIDI Association, and NAMM, The MIDI Innovation Awards are now in their third year. The Awards showcase products and projects that are using MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 in fresh and original ways, highlighting the role that MIDI technology has to play in enabling musical creativity.

For 2023, The MIDI Innovation Awards are proud to welcome new partners including Sound On Sound, the world's leading music technology magazine, and Music China, who will provide exhibition space to the winners at their Autumn 2023 trade fair in Shanghai.

Musicians and inventors around the world competed for a unique opportunity to present their ideas on a global stage. The winners gain invaluable help in bringing their products to market. Prizes include an exhibition booth at the 2023 NAMM Show, coverage in Sound On Sound, an opportunity to exhibit at Music China, and significant support from The MIDI Association and Music Hackspace for the development of MIDI 2.0 prototypes.


2023 winners

Commercial Hardware Winner: Exquis

Exquis by Intuitive Instrument is an expressive MPE controller and intuitive software to produce, perform and learn music

Commercial Software winner: Camelot Pro

Camelot Pro by Audio Modeling is one program to rule them all: MIDI patchbay/router, setlist manager, digital mixer, software instrument and effects host, PDF music score display, multitrack audio player

Hardware Prototype winner: HITar

HITar by Andrea Martelloni is an augmented guitar for percussive fingerstyle, using AI to transform the body into an expressive MIDI controller for rich multi-dimensional control of drum synthesisers.

Software prototype winner: Netz

Netz by Max Graf is an immersive mixed reality musical instrument and controller featuring a keyboard-like interface with expressive MPE MIDI that learns your gestures using AI.

Artistic Installation winner: Sound Sculpture

Sound Sculpture by Ryan Edwards, Masary Studios, is an interactive musical instrument, comprised of 25 location-aware cubes. It is a physical sound and light environment that facilitates cooperative sound composition.

2023 finalists

Commercial hardware finalists

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InstaChord IC-31

InstaChord is a strummable MIDI chord instrument/controller. By assigning the Nashville Number method to each buttons, even beginners can play right away.
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Exquis

The expressive MPE controller and intuitive software to produce, perform and learn music
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AE-30 Aerophone Pro

Roland's world-class sounds in a high-performance wind instrument that responds to the dynamics and expression worthy of professional woodwind and brasswind players.

Commercial software finalists

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Beat Scholar

Innovative MIDI sequencer that uses a "Pizza"-like circular interface to give you granular control over any beat division.
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Ivory 3 German D

Breakthrough technology combines the realism of digital sampling with the expressivity of modeling. Limitless tone color featuring all new recordings of a German Steinway D.
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Camelot Pro

One program to rule them all: MIDI patchbay/router, setlist manager, digital mixer, software instrument and effects host, PDF music score display, multitrack audio player

Hardware prototypes and non-commercial finalists

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HITar

An augmented guitar for percussive fingerstyle, using AI to transform the body into an expressive MIDI controller for rich multi-dimensional control of drum synthesisers.
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MusiMoto

MusiMoto is a SW+HW system designed to empower anyone who likes playing MIDI musical instruments to do it while walking, jogging, riding, skating or dancing.
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Abacusynth

Abacusynth is a kinetic synthesizer inspired by an abacus. Its playful interface allows anyone to explore synthesis and timbre, regardless of their musical experience.

Software prototypes and non-commercial finalists

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Hot Licks

A MIDI enabled VST plugin to incorporate a multitude of audiovisual devices into a musical performance.
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Netz

Discover Netz, an immersive mixed reality musical instrument and controller featuring a keyboard-like interface with expressive MPE MIDI that learns your gestures using AI.
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Music Tapestry

Music Tapestry is a new musical analysis technology that visualizes musical performances in real-time and produces a piece of art.

Artistic/Visual installations finalists

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the "Drankorgel" project

The "drankorgel" project is an artistic installation of a MIDI instrument that generates sounds by hitting bottles with spoons and by blowing air over bottles.
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Sound Sculpture

Sound Sculpture is an interactive musical instrument, comprised of 25 location-aware cubes. It is a physical sound and light environment that facilitates cooperative sound composition.

sononyms: Jazz Cerkno & Cerkno Museum archives sound installation

sononyms: an immersive sound installation based on the Jazz Cerkno archives and local objects from Cerkno Museum.

Meet The MIDI Innovation Award 2023 Judges

Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre

Jean-Michel Jarre is a pioneering French composer and performer in electronic music, renowned for his innovative use of synthesizers and spectacular live performances.

Nina Richards

Nina Richards is both an electronic musician and synth hardware designer based in the UK. Nina's been making electronic music for most of her life, in recent years with modular synths.

Roger Linn

Roger Linn is an American engineer, musician, and inventor, celebrated for his pioneering work in electronic music instruments, including the LM-1 Drum Computer and the LinnStrument. 

Michele Darling

Michele Darling is a distinguished sound designer, composer, and educator, currently serving as the assistant chair of Electronic Production and Design at Berklee College of Music.

Bian Liunian

Bian Liunian is a Chinese composer and multi-instrumentalist, pioneering new Chinese folk music through his innovative fusion of traditional instruments and modern technology.

Pedro Eustache

Pedro Eustache is a Venezuelan-born multi-directional soloist and composer, renowned for his expertise in flutes, reeds, and world winds, with a distinguished career in electronic music.


Meet The Hosts

Martin Keary

Martin Keary aka Tantacrul

Martin Keary is a composer and UX designer, and author of YouTube channel Tantacrul.  The channel focuses on video essays about music and visual design, and is known for its combination of surreal humor and informative content on music. 

Look Mum No Computer

Look Mum No Computer

Look Mum No Computer (aka Sam Battle) is a British musician, synth maker, and author of the YouTube channel Look Mum No Computer. The channel focuses on the creation of musical machines, from modular synthesizers to flame throwing keyboards. Look Mum No Computer also runs a museum: This Museum Is Not Obsolete


The MIDI Innovation Awards Founders

The Music Hackspace’s mission is to become the largest platform for learning music technologies. We are passionate about helping musicians develop their programming skills, host workshops led by world experts and enable the community to share knowledge and practices.

Founded in 1901, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music.

The MIDI Association is the non-profit community for both the companies who develop new MIDI specifications and products and the people that create music and art with MIDI. The MIDI.org website is the central repository of information about anything related to MIDI technology, from classic legacy gear to the next- gen MIDI protocols coming soon.


How to take part

The MIDI Innovation awards are open to individuals, artists, and companies who work with MIDI to build innovative products or interactive experiences. 

The 2023 MIDI Innovation Awards categories are:

  • Commercial Hardware Products

  • Commercial Software Products

  • Prototypes and non-commercial hardware products

  • Prototypes and non-commercial software products

  • Artistic/Visual Project or Installation

The MIDI Innovation Awards  welcomes entries from, but not limited to: MIDI instruments, controllers, software, art installation, MIDI peripherals, I/O boxes, lighting systems, automated systems, and more. 

The jury has been assembled to represent the wider music industry and its many facets, including artists, engineers, and innovators. Entries will be judged on four attributes: innovation, inspiring and novel qualities, interoperability, and practical / commercial viability.

All 2023 entries

Commercial hardware products

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Cybery

Meet your cyber matrix controller. Cybery is a compact but versatile pedal manager that helps you keep everything in order.
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ODD Ball

Create, mix and play music by simply bouncing, catching and spinning a ball
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Exquis

The expressive MPE controller and intuitive software to produce, perform and learn music
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Ploytec Boom Kick

Automatic Stomp Box with MIDI Start / Stop / Clock Output for syncing MIDI enabled loopers and software applications
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The Glide

The Glide can play highly expressive melodies, chords, and drum beats with ease by using two simple handheld controllers and basic arm movements.
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J-6 Chord Synthesizer

The J-6 is a pocket-sized chord synthesizer packed with an array of building blocks for creating compelling chord changes, dynamic musical patterns, and song ideas.
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MIDI To DMX Controller

Let your MIDI not only play music, but also control DMX live lighting effects!
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Misha

Innovative Eurorack instrument/sequencer that utilizes a unique, interval-based approach to playing and creating melodies. Make sounds via MIDI, control voltage, or outputting waveforms via audio jack
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Orba 2

Orba is a handheld music device that invites users to play any sound in the world. Its size, sound, and design perfectly combine approachability with possibility.
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DigitAize Smart Violin

DigitAize smart violin is the first digital violin of its kind, a fully integrated solution allowing real-time capture of playing gestures.
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InstaChord IC-31

InstaChord is a strummable MIDI chord instrument/controller. By assigning the Nashville Number method to each buttons, even beginners can play right away.
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BOSS EV-1-WL Wireless MIDI Expression Pedal

The BOSS EV-1-WL provides wireless foot control for anything that can receive CC messages via Bluetooth® MIDI. In addition, USB and MIDI TRS connectivity are offered for wired control of computer music software and standard MIDI devices.
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Percussive Harmonic Instrument (P.H.I.) V2

The Percussive Harmonic Instrument (P.H.I.) Version 2 is an exquisite, ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing digital incarnation of the Caribbean steelpan.
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Anyma Omega

Anyma Omega, a powerful hybrid polyphonic and multitimbral synthesizer based on physical modelling synthesis, allowing to create new sound universes inspired from the real world.
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Jamstik Classic MIDI Guitar

An electric guitar with a digital heart—the Jamstik Classic MIDI guitar is a versatile, 22-fret electric guitar with precise MIDI control.
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AE-30 Aerophone Pro

Roland's world-class sounds in a high-performance wind instrument that responds to the dynamics and expression worthy of professional woodwind and brasswind players.
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NET-MIDI-TA

MIDI Instruments and Wireless Networking for People with Disabilities - PWD
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FP-E50 Entertainment Piano

Grand piano tone and touch meet Roland's legendary synthesizer sounds and advanced vocal effects with interactive accompaniment backing, expandability, and one-step recording with vocals.

Commercial software products

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Visibox

Visibox represents a new category of software which lets performers create immersive shows and control audiovisual elements on-stage using MIDI pedals, pads, or keyboards.
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Camelot Pro

One program to rule them all: MIDI patchbay/router, setlist manager, digital mixer, software instrument and effects host, PDF music score display, multitrack audio player
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Riffler

Riffler, the AI guitar riff generator, allows you to customize and create unique riffs instantly using AI. It outputs MIDI and responds to MIDI control.
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Tritonet

A musical calculator to design harmonic structures
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SuperConductor

SuperConductor is the premier online real-time MIDI performance and collaboration tool offering a fully synchronized and lag-free experience
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Chordjam

The Ultimate MPE Chord Machine. Chordjams is a creative real-time compositional assistant for Windows, Mac and iPad
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SkyDust 3D

SkyDust 3D is a revolutionary spatial synthesizer, which integrates a 3D sound engine with the synth mechanism, allowing musicians to create fantastic spatial music.
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Qithesizer

Meet Qithesizer, a powerful multi-engine hybrid software synthesizer. Designed with wind controller in mind, it combines virtual analog, wavetable, and physical modeling in one.
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Beat Scholar

Innovative MIDI sequencer that uses a "Pizza"-like circular interface to give you granular control over any beat division.
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Hyperion Strings Oktobass

Hyperion Strings Oktobass captures the sound of the deepest concert string instrument in the world sampled in detail with a wide selection of 30+ articulations.

Chord Board

CREATE COMPLEX CHORD SEQUENCES WITH JUST ONE FINGER NO PRIOR MUSIC SKILLS OR KNOWELDGE REQUIRED
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LISTENTO MIDI

Audiomovers has added live MIDI streaming to the capabilities of the renowned Audiomovers LISTENTO software suite, opening a new phase of remote collaboration.
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1ON1 Piano

1on1 Piano is an app that sends MIDI, Video, and audio through a call, enabling users to play each other’s digital instrument with perfect sound.
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Ekwe

Ekwe™, a unique app for music making, brings a new level of ease and accessibility to digital music creation.
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Ivory 3 German D

Breakthrough technology combines the realism of digital sampling with the expressivity of modeling. Limitless tone color featuring all new recordings of a German Steinway D.
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X-FX + X-Translate

A Suite of MIDI-Playable Audio Effects + Real-Time Audio-to-MIDI Conversion
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SWAM ALL IN bundle

SWAM Physical and Behavioral Modeling surpasses the expressive limitations of samplers. With SWAM, MIDI won’t just trigger notes, it will shape your music.
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SmartPitch

SmartPitch unleash new forms of expression by enabling the pitch-wheel to target any notes monophonically and polyphonically, combined with innovative scale features and visualization.
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MoveMusic Control

MoveMusic is a XR MIDI controller that lets you wirelessly control music software with body movement. Build and interact with a 3D instrument you create.
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Vogum

Vogum is a tool for Music Teachers, Influencers, Students and Performers to create engaging lessons and music theory visuals, from 2D to VR.

Hardware prototypes and non-commercial products

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Cravat-o-matic Musical Necktie #C1

A stylish necktie with magical musical powers! It's a wearable musical instrument as well as a MIDI control surface and effect modulator!
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NOPIA - Semi-modular MIDI harmony generator

Nopia simplifies music theory and unleashes creativity by making tonal harmony accessible, helping you develop musical ideas with ease.

Konductor

This is a multi-tool for music production, musical performance, and music education.
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mTuner

Portable device to micro tune any MIDI compatible device, could but extended for a full control
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Abacusynth

Abacusynth is a kinetic synthesizer inspired by an abacus. Its playful interface allows anyone to explore synthesis and timbre, regardless of their musical experience.
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Eviola

The Eviola: A bow-operated MIDI controller conceived by Ben Glover. Until now there has never been a MIDI bow for playing a virtual violin.
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MusiMoto

MusiMoto is a SW+HW system designed to empower anyone who likes playing MIDI musical instruments to do it while walking, jogging, riding, skating or dancing.
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omnikitty chromachord candy bar bass

the omnikitty chromachord candy bar bass is a MIDI chord based instrument that aims to make jazz theory interactable, intuitive, and most importantly - fun!
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4CAST MVP

The MVP is an intuitive and affordable MIDI-controlled hardware solution for time-synced video and lighting, catering to the 90% of performers who can’t afford the equipment and labor traditionally necessary.
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GigWiz

GigWiz transforms your iPhone into a powerful MIDI workstation, expanding the versatility of your MIDI keyboard. Create layered/split sounds with ease, make quick adjustments, and enhance your mobile setup for live performance
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Zen Flute

A MIDI controller deriving pitch from mouth-shape, operating a bit like a mouth theremin
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HITar

An augmented guitar for percussive fingerstyle, using AI to transform the body into an expressive MIDI controller for rich multi-dimensional control of drum synthesisers.
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Optical Mouse Midi Cello

10 solder joints, two old optical mice, two resistors and Arduino UNO make a Cello type flexible Midi Controller.

Software prototypes and non-commercial products

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Pivotuner

Pivotuner: automatic real-time pure intonation and microtonal modulation
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AudioCipher V3

AudioCipher is a MIDI Generator Plugin that turns words into melodies and chord progressions, in your key signature and rhythmic style of choice.
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Netz

Discover Netz, an immersive mixed reality musical instrument and controller featuring a keyboard-like interface with expressive MPE MIDI that learns your gestures using AI.
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GEP Contraption

GEP Contraption is a MIDI controller/synthesizer that enables people without any experience in music to create and manipulate sounds by bodily motions.
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Music Tapestry

Music Tapestry is a new musical analysis technology that visualizes musical performances in real-time and produces a piece of art.
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Hot Licks

A MIDI enabled VST plugin to incorporate a multitude of audiovisual devices into a musical performance.
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spArxx Genesys™

The spArxx Genesys™ Tuning Generation System is a SaaS platform that generates digital tuning output using our exclusive math-based Fractal Tuning algorithms.
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Big Ear: Learn & Make Music

We gamify music learning and composition to make it fun, social and inclusive, with no need for music instrument ( MIDI instrument over USB - optional).
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D1 / Gliders

Simulated environments with delightful interactions that produce MIDI imbibed with natural motion.
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MIDIVal

JavaScript and TypeScript library helping develop MIDI solutions for web, Node.js and mobile devices. Great for both learning MIDI protocol and creating commercial products!
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Apres midi

Our smartphones could be used in so many creative ways. This prototype scratches the surface and makes your digital software sound more analog.

Artistic/Visual installations

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GenuXR

Genu is a first-of-a-kind audio-visual performance. The performer creates live music in VR which drives their environment.

sononyms: Jazz Cerkno & Cerkno Museum archives sound installation

sononyms: an immersive sound installation based on the Jazz Cerkno archives and local objects from Cerkno Museum.
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Telemidi "SHOALZ"

Two musicians located continents apart, co-create a `comprovised’ Electro Dub piece that also generates an immersive, reactive visual feed that can be viewed through a VR headset or an online stream.

RRR: Repurposing ReadyMades for (Re)Habilitation

Transdisciplinary bi-directional informing (from MoMA-to-Wellbeing-to-(re)habilitation) has resulted in creating bespoke adaptable interactive environments playfully motivating empowered creative expression as a supplement to traditional (re)habilitation.
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Sound Sculpture

Sound Sculpture is an interactive musical instrument, comprised of 25 location-aware cubes. It is a physical sound and light environment that facilitates cooperative sound composition.

Semi Automated Electric Guitar

A semi- automated mechanised guitar designed to be played simultaniously by an improvising musicians and a computer.
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the "Drankorgel" project

The "drankorgel" project is an artistic installation of a MIDI instrument that generates sounds by hitting bottles with spoons and by blowing air over bottles.
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Minecraft & MIDI Connections

Live performance projects that involve robust MIDI and data connections between Minecraft and Musical Software/Hardware

List of 2023 entries

MIDI Innovation Awards 2022 Winners

 The 2022 MIDI Innovation Awards featured five distinct categories listed below. The winners were selected by the jury and are displayed in order.