When I took a look at the Stylophone pocket synthesizer a couple weeks back, it reignited my obsession with electronic sounds. I've been interested for a while, but the devices used to create such sounds have traditionally been out of my price range. Fortunately, manufacturers are looking more toward amateur enthusiasts, so consumer versions of the products are becoming more affordable.

Jen DeLeo pointed me toward one such device that she had seen on ThinkGeek's Web site. The Korg mini-KP is a pint-size version of the company's Kaoss Pad, a MIDI controller used by artists including Radiohead and Brian Eno. The KP has an audio input, so you can hook up a wide range of devices, including MP3 players, CD players, and musical instruments like guitars and synths.

I've spent the better part of the afternoon running Beck and Beastie Boys songs through it using my iPod. In this video, we take you on a brief Paul's Boutique-style tour of the device.

The mini-KP is available for $199.99, through Think Geek.