2023 finalists
Commercial hardware finalists
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.
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.
Commercial software finalists
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
Beat Scholar
Innovative MIDI sequencer that uses a "Pizza"-like circular interface to give you granular control over any beat division.
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.
Hardware prototypes and non-commercial finalists
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.
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.
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.
Software prototypes and non-commercial finalists
Hot Licks
A MIDI enabled VST plugin to incorporate a multitude of audiovisual devices into a musical performance.
Music Tapestry
Music Tapestry is a new musical analysis technology that visualizes musical performances in real-time and produces a piece of art.
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.
Artistic/Visual installations finalists
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.
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.
Meet The MIDI Innovation Award 2023 Judges
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 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 (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:
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Commercial Hardware Products
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Commercial Software Products
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Prototypes and non-commercial hardware products
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Prototypes and non-commercial software products
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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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MIDI To DMX Controller
Let your MIDI not only play music, but also control DMX live lighting effects!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cybery
Meet your cyber matrix controller. Cybery is a compact but versatile pedal manager that helps you keep everything in order.
Ploytec Boom Kick
Automatic Stomp Box with MIDI Start / Stop / Clock Output for syncing MIDI enabled loopers and software applications
Commercial software products
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.
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.
Vogum
Vogum is a tool for Music Teachers, Influencers, Students and Performers to create engaging lessons and music theory visuals, from 2D to VR.
Beat Scholar
Innovative MIDI sequencer that uses a "Pizza"-like circular interface to give you granular control over any beat division.
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.
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.
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
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.
Chord Board
CREATE COMPLEX CHORD SEQUENCES WITH JUST ONE FINGER NO PRIOR MUSIC SKILLS OR KNOWELDGE REQUIRED
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.
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.
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.
Chordjam
The Ultimate MPE Chord Machine. Chordjams is a creative real-time compositional assistant for Windows, Mac and iPad
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.
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.
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.
Ekwe
Ekwe™, a unique app for music making, brings a new level of ease and accessibility to digital music creation.
SuperConductor
SuperConductor is the premier online real-time MIDI performance and collaboration tool offering a fully synchronized and lag-free experience
Hardware prototypes and non-commercial products
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
mTuner
Portable device to micro tune any MIDI compatible device, could but extended for a full control
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!
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!
Optical Mouse Midi Cello
10 solder joints, two old optical mice, two resistors and Arduino UNO make a Cello type flexible Midi Controller.
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.
Software prototypes and non-commercial products
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.
D1 / Gliders
Simulated environments with delightful interactions that produce MIDI imbibed with natural motion.
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.
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).
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.
Music Tapestry
Music Tapestry is a new musical analysis technology that visualizes musical performances in real-time and produces a piece of art.
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.
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!
Hot Licks
A MIDI enabled VST plugin to incorporate a multitude of audiovisual devices into a musical performance.
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.
Artistic/Visual installations
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.
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.
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.
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.
GenuXR
Genu is a first-of-a-kind audio-visual performance. The performer creates live music in VR which drives their environment.
Semi Automated Electric Guitar
A semi- automated mechanised guitar designed to be played simultaniously by an improvising musicians and a computer.
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.
Minecraft & MIDI Connections
Live performance projects that involve robust MIDI and data connections between Minecraft and Musical Software/Hardware
List of 2023 entries
