High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Xylosynth is a MIDI mallet controller invented by Will Wernick of Wernick Musical Instruments based in Leicester in the United Kingdom. Will began the process in the 1980s when he was commissioned by a band called Drum Theatre to design a sculptural mallet percussion instrument for a video they were making. This became the first Xylosynth. Since quiting his job as a Metrology Engineer in the mid-nineties to devote himself to the project, Will has designed and built several versions of the Xylosynth and each one has pushed the boundaries of the instrument further. The heart of the Xylosynth is its real hardwood keys which give the player an expressive and natural feel unlike any other MIDI mallet controller. The Xylosynth has been embraced by jazz and contemporary percussionists and is in use in several professional musical productions throughout the world. Players include David Friedman, Safri Duo, SNAILBIRDFISH and Anthony Kerr.