Optical analog video feedback in a massive, rotating 4K machine

It’s digitally controlled optical goodness: a humble Teensy translates analog knob turns into control of 4K displays, all built into beautiful mahogany enclosures and giant cranks. The result: elegant, precise fractals blossom out of 4K displays by literally tweaking the knobs on the units. Behold, The Light Herder!

C25, from Nonlinear Labs and Stephan Schmitt, is all about performance

It’s not lost on me that the same week InMusic announced its acquisition of Native Instruments, NI’s original founder, Stephan Schmitt was busy showing off new ideas about what a digital instrument can be.

Peter Kirn - May 18, 2026

Casio’s expressive guitar strap controller was inspired by a chopstick case

Surprise! Casio has something unexpected — Dimension Shifter, a spring-powered expressive wireless controller that attaches to your guitar strap. And it was the invention of one employee, inspired by his kid’s school-lunch retracting chopstick and cutlery case.

Peter Kirn - January 23, 2026

Lethelium, a 24-string instrument fashioned from a bicycle wheel

Peter Kirn - December 2, 2025

Noise Surround System makes spatial audio kinetic, mechanical

Peter Kirn - February 27, 2025

Expressive E’s Osmose gestural keyboard instrument arrives, with artist backing

Peter Kirn - January 5, 2023

The Commodordion: 8-bit instrument made of taped-together C64s and floppies

Peter Kirn - October 24, 2022

A bubble wrap-popping organ, by Simone Giertz and team, is sure to be your new favorite thing

Peter Kirn - September 12, 2022

Teenage Engineering’s mixer – FX – audio interface – instrument is provocatively tiny

Peter Kirn - April 25, 2022