This video captures experimentation with the Madrona Labs Soundplane at Decibel 2011, the first public demonstration of the new instrument.

The Soundplane is designed to give 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 also 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.

Pricing and availability are to be announced.