2026 MIDI Innovation Awards Prototype/Noncommercial Hardware
This is for hardware products that are free, are prototypes, or have not yet achieved $250,000 in sales.
This category was designed for startups, non-profits and prototypes so they would not have to compete directly with larger commercial entities.
Click on the entry name for more details
Dog Paw
Dog Paw combines powerful software capabilities with traditional instruments’ feel and expression.
Coloratura
Coloratura is a musical interface that uses electrically wired paintbrushes to create physical art and electronic music at the same time
The Jambourine
The Jambourine Handheld Electronic Musical Instrument and MIDI Controller plays like a tambourine, opening the complete world of MIDI to the wave of a hand
Automatar: Intelligent AI Guitar
The Automatar is an intelligent AI-powered bass guitar born to challenge the ideology of automation through artificial intelligence.
Midulate Mini
Midulate Mini fits discretely on a pedalboard generating continuous streams of tempo-synced MIDI CC messages that turn static effects into dynamic ever-changing modulations.
KNUCON
Brass-knuckle-shaped wearable MIDI controller blending gesture control, pressure sensing, and mic tracking to expand live performance dimensions through multi-channel expressive data.
AptiPlay 8P
AptiPlay transforms simple switches and adaptive controls into a powerful musical instrument, giving people with mobility challenges a new way to create and perform music.
OHLA – “Opto-Haptic Linear Attenuator”
OHLA gives control surfaces the ability to communicate. Light and touch at your fingertips, in real time, so you never look away from your hands.
SPI-1 : The pocket generative music workstation
SPI-1, the pocket generative music workstation, features modular design, gamified creation workflow & zoned touch input for offline AI music production.
Automatar: Intelligent AI Bass Guitar
The Automatar is an AI-powered bass guitar that uses an embedded GPU to vibrate its own strings in response to how its being played.
MIDI2USB Converter
Get started with MIDI 2.0. This open-source converter transforms existing MIDI devices, allowing developers to easily analyze UMP messages, test apps, and build the future.
Opti Deko
Upgrade any MIDI keyboard with Opti Deko. Its high-precision optical sensors capture subtle finger movements, instantly unlocking smooth expression and organic microtonal control.
IMI PlayAlong — Adaptive Musical Interface
A smartphone app and touch-sensitive MIDI controller that lets anyone play real music expressively from the very first note — and progress to concert-level performance.
Bluetooth MIDI Morin Khuur Bow
A wireless MIDI bow with a flexible finger-control system, letting string players perform live digital counterpoint melodies while triggering and controlling effects.
DG-Nova
Play guitar in a new and easy way. Learning in 3 minutes, No Finger Pain, Professional Guitar Emulation.
Sonibaux
Sonibaux is a modular sonic instrument system that fuses body, sensors, and sound into an extensible live performance platform for experimental music.
DiGitarre
DiGitarre is an accessible digital guitar co-designed with disabled children and teachers, enabling intuitive shared classroom music-making through standalone play, colour notation, and adaptable chords.
slim208
slim208 is a compact 208-channel BLE MIDI controller measuring 255.6 × 157.2 mm with 64 potentiometers and 144 tactile switches for wireless modular synth control.
