It’s nice to have two such worthy contenders in this category — and a treat that they’re both category-benders. The SynthTable, as its name implies, is a nifty next-level controller that has the soul of a synthesizer but is driven by the turntablist’s preferred interface — steel wheels. The Instrument 1 uses an iPhone or iPod to power a sophisticated digital instrument with a luxe handcrafted wood body and impressively sensitive touchpads.
Best Musical Invention
(Tie) Black Cat Sylvester’s SynthTable/Artiphon’s Instrument 1
Photo: Michael W. Bunch
