Yamaha is a world leader in the manufacture and supply of professional audio products and solutions for a wide range of applications. These include installed and live sound reinforcement, immersive and acoustic enhancement, professional conferencing and systems for hospitality, corporate and education facilities. With a worldwide presence, Yamahas subsidiaries and its dealer networks provide comprehensive local services, backed by a global Yamaha support policy. | Brands:Yamaha, Bosendorfer, Steinberg, Line 6, Ampeg | Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, the world-leading music and sound company based in Hamamatsu, Japan. The Yamaha team is committed to helping everyone progress, express and connect through music and sound. We offer innovative, finely crafted, award-winning products for your entire musical journey including pianos, brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, electronic keyboards, guitars, drums, professional and home audio equipment.
Waldorf
For more than three decades, Waldorf Music has been synonymous with innovation, craftsmanship, and sonic excellence in the world of synthesizers. Since its founding in 1989, the German brand has shaped electronic music with a legacy built on creativity and cutting-edge technology. Waldorf’s story began with the revolutionary Microwave, a wavetable synthesis-based instrument that reinvented the legendary PPG Wave series — one of the most sought-after high-end synthesizers of the early 1980s. This groundbreaking release redefined the landscape of sound design, offering a bold alternative to the prevailing dominance of Japanese and American synthesizer manufacturers at the time. Building on this legacy, Waldorf continued to push boundaries with a series of iconic instruments. The Wave synthesizer set new standards for power, expressiveness, and intuitive design, while the Q Series introduced in 1999 elevated the concept of Virtual Analog (VA) synthesis to new heights. Entering the new millennium, Waldorf successfully bridged hardware and software innovation with the launch of its first virtual instrument, the PPG Wave 2.V, continuing a tradition of digital excellence that lives on in acclaimed software such as the Nave advanced wavetable synthesizer. Waldorf’s hardware achievements are equally renowned. The Blofeld synthesizer, available in both desktop and keyboard formats, became a modern classic, offering an exceptional balance of power, design, and affordability. Other celebrated instruments, including the Zarenbourg electric piano, the compact Rocket synthesizer, the 2-Pole analog filter, and the Streichfett string synthesizer, further showcased Waldorf’s versatility and dedication to sound innovation. The company also embraced mobile music-making by bringing Nave to the iPad, transforming portable devices into sophisticated wavetable synthesizers. Today, Waldorf continues to honor its heritage while forging ahead with new technologies and designs that inspire musicians worldwide. With the release of M, the company revisits its roots, blending the timeless sound engines of the original Microwave and Microwave II into a new-generation hybrid wavetable synthesizer. Alongside modern masterpieces like the Quantum flagship hybrid, the Iridium keyboard and desktop models, and the FPGA-powered Kyra, Waldorf remains at the forefront of musical expression. The brand’s expansion into the Eurorack modular format and continued software development reflect its commitment to innovation, flexibility, and artistic freedom. Waldorf Music stands as a true pioneer in electronic instrument design — a brand that bridges past and future, analog warmth and digital precision. Every instrument they craft embodies the spirit of discovery, offering musicians not just tools, but gateways to new worlds of sound.
The MIDI Innovation Award Winners
The MIDI Innovation Awards, established in 2021, celebrate groundbreaking advancements in MIDI technology. Organized collaboratively by The MIDI Association, NAMM, and Music Hackspace, the awards highlight innovative products and projects that utilize MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 in novel ways, emphasizing MIDI’s role in fostering musical creativity. This year we had a record number of entries. The 121 entries are presented below. The awards are open to individuals, artists, and companies working with MIDI to develop innovative products or interactive experiences. Categories include: Commercial Hardware Products Commercial Software Products Prototypes and Non-Commercial Hardware Products Prototypes and Non-Commercial Software Products Artistic/Visual Projects or Installations NEW: Best MIDI 2.0 product (across all categories) Winners gain opportunities to present their innovations on a global stage, with prizes such as exhibition spaces at major events like the NAMM Show, and Music China. They also receive support from The MIDI Association for developing MIDI 2.0 prototypes. The MIDI Innovation Awards are also proud to work with partners including Sound On Sound, the world’s leading music technology magazine, contributing prizes and press coverage for the competition.
The MIDI Association
The MIDI Association is the global non-profit 501(c)6 trade organization that connects the companies who develop MIDI products and new MIDI specifications with all the people around the world that create music and art with MIDI.
Synclavier Music, LLC.
Synclavier is a legendary name reborn. First introduced in the late 1970s, the original Synclavier changed music forever—defining the sound of modern digital synthesis and shaping countless iconic records across film, pop, classical, and experimental music. Today, Synclavier lives on as a forward-looking music technology company, blending historic innovation with modern workflows for today’s composers, producers, and performers. Our instruments are built around the authentic Synclavier sound engine—renowned for its depth, clarity, and expressive power. From FM and additive synthesis to sampling and resynthesis, Synclavier delivers a sonic palette that is both uncompromising and endlessly musical. This is not emulation. It’s the real thing—refined, expanded, and made accessible for modern studios and stages. Current products like Synclavier Regen bring the legendary engine into a compact, studio-friendly form, while our software instruments extend the Synclavier sound into DAWs worldwide. Every product we build is designed with intent: precision sound, tactile control, and longevity—crafted for musicians who value depth over trends. We are actively developing the next generation of Synclavier instruments, including new performance keyboards, hardware interfaces, and an expanding ecosystem that points toward the future of the Synclavier platform. Each step forward honors the past while pushing boldly into what’s next. Synclavier is for artists who demand more: More clarity. More control. More character. More musical truth. Whether you’re discovering Synclavier for the first time or reconnecting with a sound that helped define an era, welcome to the next chapter of a true original. Legendary sound. Modern form. Synclavier.
Stylophone
Dubreq Stylophone – Creators of the Original Pocket Synthesizer and Unique Sound Since 1968.
Studiologic
Founded in 1986, Studiologic emerged with a clear vision: to bring together music and technology in a way that empowers the musician’s touch. Their first product, the STUDIO 88, marked a milestone in digital instrument design and paved the way for a legacy of innovation. Over the years, Studiologic has maintained an unwavering commitment to the musician’s experience — focusing on the feel, ergonomics, and intuitive control of their keyboards, interfaces and instruments. The brand’s history tracks a deliberate progression of ideas: from the flexibility-enhancing SL-990 XP and SL-990 PRO (introduced in 1998) to the VMK Series (2003), designed for superior touch control; then onward to the Numa line — notably the Numa Nano (2008), a mere 10 kg professional hammer-action keyboard, and the Numa Piano and Numa Organ (2009) which extended Studiologic’s expertise into dedicated musical instrument territory. Studiologic’s timeline reveals the brand’s evolution: by 2012, the SL88 Grand and SL88 Studio controllers brought premium keyboard mechanisms and immersive touch-configuration features. The 2015 Numa Compact 2 and its successor, the Compact 2x, emphasized compact design without compromising on sound-engine power or MIDI control capabilities. In 2019, the Numa X Piano arrived with a powerful new sound engine, built-in four-track digital mixer, USB audio interface, and the best-in-class touch feel — a clear sign of Studiologic’s dedication to both performance and portability. Today, Studiologic refuses to treat musical instruments like mere consumer electronics. Instead, they place the user-experience at the heart of their design philosophy — ensuring that each instrument feels musical, responsive, and intuitive. Under the mission statement of Marco Ragni (CEO), the brand emphasizes four key pillars: the best touch through superior keyboards; exceptional design for ergonomic, effortless control; leading-edge mechanics and sound technology; and high-quality products offered at the right price. Studiologic’s core values reflect this mission. Their keyboards are engineered not only for precision and durability but for an inspiring, expressive playing experience. The design aesthetic is minimalist and functional, crafted to make the musician’s workflow seamless. Audio engines, interfaces and internal mechanics are developed to meet professional needs while remaining accessible. The result is a product line that spans from robust stage pianos to compact controllers — all built with the same DNA of “musician-first” innovation. What sets Studiologic apart is this marriage of tactile performance and technological advancement. Whether you’re a touring keyboardist, a studio producer, or a hybrid performer blending hardware and software, Studiologic offers tools that feel like musical extensions of your fingers and mind. The brand doesn’t compromise — the quality of touch matters, the fluidity of control matters, and sound quality matters. Yet, they also believe these things should be available at a price that makes sense. With decades of heritage, a clear design philosophy, and proven product longevity, Studiologic continues to build instruments that serve musicians honestly — instruments that are born to make music.
Sound Semiconductor
Brands:Sound Semiconductor, FatKeys, ProCircuit | Sound Semiconductor makes high-performance integrated circuits for music creation that are used by blue-chip brands. Let us support your next development! | We’re veteran musicians and technologists who are passionate about developing high-performing integrated circuits for music creation.
Rossum Electro-Music
Purveyors of Fine Synthesizers
Roland
Roland’s Pro A/V Division supplies the commercial and performance audio/video industries with application specific equipment. Our products address applications for events, venues, installations, clubs/casinos, theaters/performing arts centers and rental and staging venues. The company has offices worldwide. | Roland Corporation is a leader in electronic musical instruments, including keyboards, guitar products, electronic percussion, amplifiers, professional video and audio gear. With over 50 years of innovation that continues to shape the sound of modern music, Roland sets the standards in music technology for the world to follow. DIGITAL PIANOS From classic-styled instruments that provide the authentic look and feel of traditional pianos to mobile instruments designed for professional use on stage, Roland’s digital pianos deliver top-level touch and tone plus unmatched education and technology features. KEYBOARDS, SYNTHESIZERS & DANCE/DJ Roland offers a full range of keyboards, synthesizers and electronic music production products that lead the industry in sound quality, performance features, and ease of use. With models to suit the needs of players from beginning to professional, Roland keyboards are among the most popular in the world. ELECTRONIC DRUMS & PERCUSSION Roland’s revolutionary electronic percussion instruments offer a family of products that rule both studio and stage, while a wide range of other innovative instruments meet the recording, performing, and practicing needs of all types of percussionists. GUITAR PRODUCTS Roland manufactures a comprehensive line of popular guitar products under the Roland and BOSS brand names. Cutting-edge gear choices in this category includes the famous BOSS compact pedal lineup. PRO AUDIO/VIDEO Roland Pro A/V, a division of the Roland Corporation, is dedicated to providing solutions in support of audio and video professionals demanding excellence in both performance and functionality. Through the development and support of video and audio products, we endeavor to improve workflow and maximize creative possibilities in a variety of markets. | For more than 50 years, Roland’s innovative electronic musical instruments and multimedia products have fueled inspiration in artists and creators around the world. Embraced by hobbyists and professionals alike, the company’s trendsetting gear spans multiple categories, from pianos, synthesizers, guitar products, drum and percussion products, DJ controllers, audio/video solutions, gaming mixers, livestreaming products, and more. As technology evolves, Roland and its expanding family of brands, including BOSS, V-MODA, Drum Workshop (DW), PDP, Latin Percussion (LP), and Slingerland, continue to lead the way for music makers and creators, providing modern solutions and seamless creative workflows between hardware products, computers, and mobile devices.