Some kids grew up wanting to drive DeLoreans or throw LightDisks at each other. Some kids wanted to be rock stars and play for the crowds. These instruments combine both of those dreams into one tech-filled bonanza of light and sound.

Technology has always played a big role in the evolution of instruments. The washtub bass became the acoustic bass, which became the electric bass and so on, each one taking and adapting its generation's technology — analog or otherwise — and running with it.

The earliest inventors only had to worry about how to make sound and then how to most efficiently amplify it. Now, technology has led to so many different musical possibilities that it can be hard to figure out what's "next" and what's just a gimmick.

An instrument that can play the weather report? Digital splicers? Interactive musical tables? We've gathered some of the most interesting tech instruments — most of which are so new or niche that they've barely cracked the market.

With that, read on for eight instruments on tech steroids, and let us know in the comments below which gadgets you found most interesting.

1. Otamatone







The OtamaTone is a cute, toy-like instrument. Behind its adorableness is a pretty sophisticated voice simulator. Moving your fingers along the stem changes the pitch, while squeezing its head changes the volume. Unfortunately, the science behind the OtamaTone is probably more pleasing than the sound it actually makes.

2. 1-Bit Symphony







Blurring the line between "instrument" and "album," 1-Bit Symphony doesn't give the user a ton of control. The device literally plays the album as you listen to it. Think of it as a digital, post-modern music box.

3. Tenori-on







The tenori-on is Yamaha's version of the monome, a much sought-after, reprogrammable board with buttons. After setting a time signature, the instrument will play whatever buttons (and their associated tones) are depressed in as it scans from left to right. It's easiest to understand by actually trying it — and while it might be hard to actually get yours hands on one, there is a pared-down, digital approximation you can try right here.

4. Continuum Keyboard







It's easiest to think of this as a variable MIDI-controller. You can assign individual sounds or sets of sounds to the keyboard, which can then be individually controlled by how hard you press, where you press, and by where you slide your fingers once down. It's a clever use of electrical current to change sound from external sources. Judging from the video above, however, it might be a load of work for the casual user.

5. Arduinome







The arduinome is another riff on the monome idea similar to the Tenori-on except with a different pattern to how notes are played. Rather than a straight left-to-right, the arduinome plays in alternating, oscillating patterns that can be individually manipulated and changed. Where the Tenori-on is percussive, the arduinome is a touch more expressive. Same idea, though.

6. Brick Table

The Brick Table is a way of turning data (from weather reports to graphs) into music. Each object has a certain sound pattern and movement associated with it. When they are placed on the interactive map they pick up on different sounds and time patterns to create the surreal soundscapes heard in the video. If you can program, this might just be your thing, but don't expect to see too many Brick Tables at your high school talent show.

7. Lemur







Somewhere between an iPad app and a stand-alone device, the Lemur is touted as a jazz machine, though it seems to share more in common with apps like Ableton. Still, its touchscreen interface allows for the user to manipulate beats, sound and ambient effects to mix and create music.

8. Reactable







One part TRON, one part music jigsaw puzzle, one part Minority Report, the reactable is the most far out addition to the list. A fully interactive table responds to the location and orientation of specially designed objects. Drum cubes can be spun to speed or slow down, and different instrument blocks can be modified by placing and rotating objects in their vicinity. It looks like fun, but can it actually make music? Apparently so. Even Bjork, the oddball laureate of emotional music has one.

9. Kaoss Pad







Anyone familiar with DJing should know what a Kaoss Pad is. The tiny, interactive MIDI-controller from Korg can be used to distort, modify, or generally scramble any music sample you're spinning. As the above video shows, it's also fun to just hit the buttons and see what happens. Just try and forget the vocal sample.

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