These EasyPic development boards and programmers look cool enough just sitting there, however once programmed they can be used for PIC exploration or development of complete prototypes. Everything you need is already there, LCD, buttons, LEDs, ADs and DAs, PIC, software, and cables. Basically these can be used for a variety of musical applications including synth prototyping with the DA converters, sequencer building because boards have several rows of push buttons as well as LCDs and LEDs for note readouts. Drum machines and possibly even samplers can be built to utilize the memory card storage. Basic models start at around $169 from Circuit-ed.com however some places may have them even cheaper, but without extra parts like the LCDs and PICs.