The Roland - SPD-S: Sampling Pad is the latest version of the Octopad - this time with 9 pads in 3 rows of 3, with the top 3 really looking like they were intended for cymbal triggering. The Roland site has a very good demo video by Johhny Rabb on sampling with the SPS-S; he uses it in a number of different ways and I think underlines that depth of experimentation and knowledge of possibilities leads to really interesting (you might not like his music, but he sure does do some cool stuff) outcomes, and really works the potential of the technology. Music Technology is mostly used at it’s most simple level, so check out the video….
Roland also have some hand percussion controllers and a trigger to MIDI interface

I have no involvement with the Roland company.

we have all experimented with Piezo drum triggers, taking the amplitude trigger from the littl piezo taped to the drum skin and using that to trigger samples - electronic drum sounds or what ever else takes your fancy. Well ddrum have some high quality Acoustic Drums Triggers which have rave reviews and can be adapted to any exisitng acoustic drum. Worth checking out….

Roland also make the RT-10 triggers

and I am sure there are many others out there - drop my a comment with other suuggestions

Also Check out

The Pulse EP-1 Electronic Practice Pads
The Pintch RS-r triggers
And the Pulse Red Hot RD-5 which are only US$9.99 at the moment or $39.99 for 5

Check out Miya Masaoka’s Laser Koto in Wired magazine.

She gets some nice sounds out of it, although the technology and how it is applied is hardly innovative, but hey, it a Koto, that’s different and the comination of sensors and acoustic instruments continues to develop in interesting ways, especially through STEIM

The doods at NYU have been developing some very cool, large multi-touch interactive sufaces and applying them to a range of creative outcomes. NYU’s Multi-Touch Interaction Research certainly shows potential. I have seen the interface at a conference, and can vouch for the spedd of responce seen in the video.

The musical genes locked away behind all those serious engineering faces at CSIRO have been let loose on a T-Shirt interface for Air Guitar. yes you read that CORRECTLY - clearly enjoying themselves far to much to be receiving government salaries Check it out.

They say: ‘Freedom of movement is a great feature of these textile-based interfaces,’ he says. ‘Our air guitar consists of a wearable sensor interface embedded in a conventional ’shirt’, with custom software to map gestures with audio samples. It’s an easy-to-use, virtual instrument that allows real-time music making, even by players without significant musical or computing skills. It allows you to jump around and the sound generated is just like an original mp3.’

These little componium music boxes are absolutley exquisite, and allows you to create your own tunes. You can purchase blank paper rolls and mark out your own music.

This page has some very bizarre musical robots called Mubot . You can take a listen to them playing classical music on acoustic instruments, but don;t take your check book - I don’t think they are worth signing up for a deal just yet

Active Robots also have an interesting although limited range of Sensors & Transducers

Haken Audio have developed a fabulous new interface which we have added to the UWS interface lab - the Continuum Fingerboard offers 3 dimensions of travel allowing pitch, amplitude and timbre to be continuously tracked for up to 10 points (fingers) at once