So I’ve been kicking around the idea of trying to turn my Wacom intuos3 graphics tablet into an audio performance instrument.  Something like a stylophone or maybe just load up a loop and freak the pitch & time.  Anyone out there who’s done that?  Share your wizardry and I’ll give you some free records.  Cool?  Anyhoo, Main Sequence tells me about Quartz Composer, Controller Mate and a few other developer tools that might help the cause and I stumble upon the Nextbeat NXT-1000 which, coincidentally, is being made by Wacom.  ¡Muy Interesante!

This is Wacom’s first venture into music controllers and I must say it looks pretty cool.  Not sure how hardcore DJ’s will feel about it?  It’s certainly not going to replace 1200’s or Serato.  But, it seems like it could be an awesome performance/studio tool.  I dig the wireless portable control surface.  A) it looks like the Enterprise, and B) it allows one to move freely about the cabin.  Bitchin’.  Nextbeat supports digital formats such as MP3, WAV and AIFF.  Load up tracks or samples via compact flash and hop to it.

No word on availability in the US or how much it’s going to cost.  The site is a bit cryptic and I’ve yet to see any comprehensive demo videos that really show what it’s capable of.  Until then I’ll keep chipping away at my own bootleg version.