This is an entry for a MIDI controller for software music production. The contest is held by Livid Instruments and the winner will be decided July 30th 2010. Cross your fingers!  Livid Instruments is a really cool company that has all the parts for one crafty individual to design their own controller. So the circuit board, the buttons, sliders, and knobs are all provided by them and you solder it together in a box with a top plate.  If I win this contest I would receive all the parts from livid to make my own box for free. That would subsidize the cost of not knowing how to solder. I think I would need to go get one of those junior science kits and some YouTube videos before I start.