Since the multi-use controller Monome first came out a few years back, it’s slowly gained a cult following thanks to its design.
If you’re unfamiliar with the device, the Monome is an interactive and adaptable MIDI interface that takes advantage of open-source software to manipulate any number of musical parameters.

With a grid-based design, the programmable buttons function as a drum machine, looper, slider or pretty much anything else you’d want to configure. In fact, the Monome’s multi-touch interface was around long before the iPhone and some versions even have a built-in accelerometer, adding a whole new dimension to music-making capabilities.

For either Strat-lovers who dabble with electronics or strictly laptop rockers, it’s become an asset in the digital music world. Because it requires a bit of athleticism on the part of the musician, it livens up otherwise uneventful electronic performances where artists just press play.