instrumentom

Instrumentom is a neologism used to describe a class of modular, programmable musical instruments that integrate hardware modules with software synthesis and control systems. In this sense, an instrumentom is not a single instrument but a framework for building and interconnecting sound-generating and control components to form customized instruments.

Typical instrumentoms comprise a hardware core (microcontroller or processor board), modular input devices (sensors, joysticks, touch surfaces), output stages (DACs, speakers, or audio interfaces), and a software engine for synthesis, sampling, and effects. The architecture emphasizes open interfaces and configurability, often supporting MIDI, CV/gate, USB, and network protocols to connect with other devices and digital audio workstations.

Practitioners use instrumentoms in live performance, installation art, and education to experiment with gesture-based control, sonification, and performative interfaces. The approach encourages reusable modules and mappings so artists can repurpose hardware for different musical contexts, reducing the barrier to creating custom instruments and enabling rapid prototyping.

The term instrumentom combines instrument with the suffix -om, a pattern seen in various coined terms to denote a tool or device. It does not denote a standardized category in established taxonomies, and its meaning can vary by community. The concept appears mainly in design discussions, experimental music circles, and speculative literature on future instrument design. See also modular synthesizer, human-computer interaction, and digital signal processing.