Meet Dog Paw

The playable grid instrument.

64 weighted, pressure- and bend-sensitive keys. A full standalone sound engine. Deep MPE and studio I/O. Dog Paw brings acoustic feel and expression to a new generation of instruments.

Pre-order Hear it in action
  • 64 weighted keys
  • Standalone sound engine
  • Full MPE
  • Studio & modular I/O
  • Developer SDK
The playable grid instrument.
Hear it

Hear it in action

This is what expressive, weighted grid playing actually sounds like. New sound demos and playing clips posted regularly.

Dog Paw demo

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From the press

What people are saying

You're no longer choosing between expression and versatility—you get both.
Magnetic Magazine • Best of NAMM '26
A dynamic playing experience that's never been seen before in the realm of digital music tools.
Attack Magazine
It only takes a few seconds to hear that Dog Paw offers expression and dynamics you won't get from typical pad controllers.
Bedroom Producers Blog
Dog Paw is more than just a product ... [it] could reshape the way music is played.
Altwire
Why Dog Paw

Built to be played, not just triggered.

Weighted Keys

Unlike rubber pads, our patent-pending keys provide physical resistance and depth, offering the expression of a piano or violin on a grid.

Standalone Sound

Powered by an internal Raspberry Pi. No laptop needed. Plug directly into speakers and start playing with the on-board sound engine.

MPE & MIDI

Full Polyphonic Expression. Control pitch, timbre, and volume individually per key. Integrates seamlessly with your DAW or hardware synths.

Customizable

Open architecture. Run community-built apps or write your own scripts to completely change the instrument's behavior.

Extensive I/O

Stereo balanced 1/4" audio in and out, headphone out, MIDI I/O, two pedal inputs, 6 CV ports, USB, and ethernet. Whatever your setup, Dog Paw connects to it.

Built to Last

Metal chassis and solid construction, designed to handle live performance and touring. A studio workhorse that's equally at home on stage.

Under the hood

Specifications

Keys
64-key weighted grid (8x8), per-key RGB, pressure & bend sensing
Sound engine
Onboard polyphonic synthesis
Controls
7" touchscreen + 6 button encoders
Expression
MPE — per-note pitch bend and pressure
Audio I/O
Balanced stereo line in/out, stereo headphone out
Control voltage
6 CV ports (4 in/out + 2 out)
MIDI
5-pin DIN in/out + USB
Pedals
2 sustain/expression inputs
Network
Ethernet, USB
Compute
Raspberry Pi CM5
Enclosure
Powder-coated metal
Customizability
Build your own apps with our SDK
Pre-order

Reserve your Dog Paw

$1,500

Pay over time with Shop Pay

Pre-orders placed before the first production run ship in that batch. Lead time and price both rise once it closes.

Pre-order now

Still considering? Join the list and we'll warn you before it closes →

  • 1-year warranty
  • 14-day returns
  • Cancel anytime before shipment

See the product page for the latest shipping timeline and full pre-order terms.

Behind the build

Follow the road to production

We post dev progress every couple of weeks as we finish the production-ready build. Dig into the full story on our Kickstarter, or hang out with other players and get support in our community.

Read the dev updates Join the Discord
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Dog Paw is the world's first weighted grid instrument. Unlike traditional rubber pad controllers, our patent-pending weighted keys provide physical resistance and depth similar to a piano, offering unprecedented expression and dynamics for grid-based playing. Oh, and it has on-board sound as well!
Yes! Dog Paw has its own custom sound engine powered by a Raspberry Pi 5. You can plug directly into speakers or headphones and start playing immediately, no laptop required.
MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) allows you to control pitch, timbre, and volume individually for each key. This means you can bend one note while holding others steady, or add vibrato to individual notes in a chord - just like acoustic instruments.
Absolutely. Dog Paw integrates seamlessly with all major DAWs including Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Bitwig, Reaper, and more. It sends standard MIDI and MPE data, making it compatible with virtually any music software.
Dog Paw works with your setup! It has stereo 1/4" audio in & out (balanced), stereo 1/8" headphone output, MIDI DIN in/out, two sustain/expression pedal inputs, 6 CV ports (4 in/out + 2 out), two USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port.
Dog Paw features a 64-key grid (8x8) with our patent-pending weighted keys. Each key is individually pressure- and bend-sensitive and supports full MPE control for maximum expression. Each key's color is controllable with individual RGB LEDs.
Yes! Dog Paw features open architecture. You can run community-built apps or write your own scripts to completely change the instrument's behavior. The Raspberry Pi inside gives you full access to customize sounds and layouts.
Yes. Dog Paw is built with high-quality materials including a metal chassis designed to withstand the rigors of live performance and touring. We've designed it to be both a studio workhorse and a reliable stage instrument.
Each Dog Paw includes the instrument itself, power supply, quick start guide, and access to our comprehensive online documentation (coming soon).
No! Dog Paw can be configured with different scale modes that make it easy to play in-key, even without traditional music training. However, the instrument is also powerful enough for experienced musicians who want full chromatic control.
The onboard sound engine includes a variety of synthesizer patches, from classic analog-style leads and pads to modern digital textures. You can also load additional sounds or connect to external synths via MIDI.
Yes! Dog Paw includes MIDI output allowing you to control hardware synthesizers, drum machines, and other MIDI-compatible gear. MPE data can also be sent to compatible hardware synths.
Dog Paw comes with a 1-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects. We also offer a 14-day return policy for unused units in original condition. See our full warranty terms for details.
Orders placed now are part of our first production batch. See the product page for the latest shipping timeline; later and international orders may have a longer lead time.
Yes! Join our Discord to get support from our team and other Dog Paw enthusiasts.