Madrona Labs’ Randy Jones has announced that he’ll be demoing the upcoming Soundplane instrument at Seattle’s Decibel Festival, scheduled for Sept 28-30, 2011.

According to Jones, Soundplane gives performers ‘intimate control’ over computer-made sounds. The Soundplane detects a wide range of pressure on its hardwood surface, from a light tickle to very firm pressure, and sends that information over a USB connection.

It can be configured as either a 150-note keyboard with x, y and pressure sensing on each key, or as one continuous pressure-sensing surface.

The Soundplane is designed to go beyond the capabilities of existing MIDI keyboards.

It transmits x, y and pressure data for every key, continuously, at 12 bits of resolution and about 1000 samples per second, letting players move beyond the ADSR envelope model of synthesis and articulate each note individually, as on an acoustic instrument.

At Decibel 2011, festival goers will be able to spend time with a Soundplane prototype. The demonstrations will be in the Fred Wildlife Refuge, at 127 E. Boylston, from noon to 5 pm, Wednesday September 28 through Friday September 30.

Pricing and availability for the Soundplane will be announced during the festival.