Some of the most intriguing curiosities at the NAMM Show can be found deep down in the subterranean exhibit Hall E. This show hall is generally populated by newer and smaller companies that may not be as established as giants like Avid or Yamaha, but these companies can often be some of the most innovative. Exciting instruments like the Video Guitar from Visionary Instruments and the world famous Reactable lurk in the basement of the Anaheim Convention Center, as well as some nifty new controllerist gadgets. Here are two that stood out.

Part DAW, part controller, the Rhizome could be the best of both worlds.

Rhizome SXE/LE

So it has a lot of knobs, pads, buttons and screens, but the Rhizome’s approach to control is really its most interesting feature. Most controllers control functions within a software DAW, you map a knob on your controller to a knob on your screen. The Rhizome sort-of is the DAW, or in other words, a controller with the software and computer built into it. I can definitely see the appeal of simply turning on a groove box and making music right away without having to plug in a bunch of cables and devices.

The KS-1974 multi-touch controller runs customizable control software.

KS-1974

If you were sad to see the Lemur go, then the KS-1974 might fill that void for you. Yes, you could probably do the same thing on an iPad with Touch OSC, but the KS-1974 is big and beautiful. It has much more screen real-estate and sexy wooden sides. It looks like a piece of serious music equipment. The Emulator software is also completely customizable to fit any software program you want to control with it. But if the KS-1974 isn’t big enough for you, then you might want to try Smithson Martin’s Monster!