Expressive E is making its Osmose MPE keyboard (comparatively) extra inexpensive by ditching the synthesizer and making it a easy MIDI controller. The brand new Osmose CE is available in two sizes, 49 and 61 keys, for $999 and $1,199, respectively. Now, $999 is fairly costly for a MIDI controller, nevertheless it’s far lower than Osmose’s $1,799 beginning worth. It’s even a reasonably whole lot when pitted in opposition to its closest competitor, the $1,399 Roli Seaboard 2.
For these unfamiliar, the Osmose is without doubt one of the most unusual synths in the marketplace. It appears like an ordinary piano-style keyboard, however its keys transfer forwards and backwards, permitting you to coax mild bends out of it such as you may on a violin or guitar. Plus MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) means every be aware can have its personal velocity and timbre, making it probably the most expressive keyboards in the marketplace. Hans Zimmer even turned to an orchestra of Osmoses to attain Dune 2.
For Osmose CE, Expressive E is placing apart the concept Osmose is a standalone synthesizer and constructing tighter integration with desktop software program, together with a brand new Ctrl-e suite that collects over 900 presets designed to focus on the keybed’s capabilities. Osmose CE additionally has tighter DAW (digital audio workstation) integration, supplying you with some management over Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, and Logic Pro straight from the keyboard.
Expressive E plans to deliver the brand new software program options of the Osmose CE to the unique Osmose synth in a future firmware replace. However present homeowners will even get entry to the Ctrl-e suite, to allow them to begin exploring the brand new presets.