The Collidoscope, above, is a hardware synth prototype, created by researchers Ben Bengler & Fiore Martin, that is a ‘musical microscope’ for up to four people.

“Think of Collidoscope as a musical microscope that allows you to zoom into sounds and explore their beautiful peculiarities, and in the next moment, to play and perform your sonic discoveries like a musical instrument,” note the developers

Here’s a video demo:

The hybrid keyboard is a combination between a sampler and a supercollider synth engine. The controls allow for changes to grain size, waveform position, pitch and more.

Collidoscope is designed to be explored in collaboration, and up to four participants can simultaneously collaborate as explorers, sound designers and performers.

via aymat, Centre for Digital Music, Doctor Mix