![]() ![]() The thing is, most MPE instruments until now have been a bit alien looking. This might sound like a minor detail, but it's a feature of many instruments - especially stringed ones - that can't be recreated on a traditional keyboard. On an MPE device, each note can be bent individually. If you play a chord then move the pitch wheel, all the notes bend simultaneously. Here's a simple example: On a traditional synth or MIDI keyboard you'll find a pitch wheel. And it allows for the control of multiple parameters of individual notes simultaneously. MPE has been around for some time now, but it's only starting to go mainstream. Part of the power of this new keyboard lies in its embrace of a technology called MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE). And I was able to immediately feel my way through pitch bends on the keys. The Osmose feels solid and satisfying to play. None of these changes feel awkward or poorly thought out, nor do they negatively impact the feel of the key bed. Importantly though, all of this feels natural. So a light brush on the top of the key triggers a chime while pressing down fully brings up a choir. And as you can see in the demo video, you can use different levels of pressure to control not only the response of a single instrument but also trigger multiple sounds based on how you play. Press it further and you'll engage the aftertouch. There's an initial zone where you control the volume of the note. Just the lightest touch can trigger a note. And those 24 voices can be divided up as well into layered or split modes - meaning that either a key can trigger two sounds simultaneously or the two halves of the keyboard can play different sounds.Įach key essentially has two stages of vertical movement. It can track up to 24 notes simultaneously across its 49 full-size keys. It might not seem like a huge deal at first, but if you're coming to the keyboard from another instrument, moving your hands to create vibrato feels natural. This allows you to add vibrato to a note simply by shaking a key back and forth. Essentially, the keyboard allows for the control of each individual note in three dimensions - meaning you can not only push down on the key but also move it from side to side. It is, just like the Touché, a little hard to explain in words. It's built around a proprietary technology called Augmented Keyboard Action (AKA). The heart and soul of the Osmose is its keyboard. While it looks rather unassuming and perhaps even a tad boring, it hides some powerful features inside. What's exciting though is that Expressive E took what it learned from the Touché and built its first standalone synthesizer: Osmose. It's hard to explain, so maybe just watch this demo. They're essentially expression pedals with four degrees of motion that you control with your hand. But its Touché and Touché SE are unique in the way they allow musicians to control and sculpt their sound. It's a small French startup with just a couple of niche musical devices under its belt. ![]() Flexible connectivity in the form of four CV outputs, MIDI In/Out and a USB port then allows you to connect to hardware devices, PCs and laptops.Expressive E isn't quite the household name that, say, Korg is. ![]() The rest of the device is then controlled via a robust encoder with LEDs and a pair of buttons. Underneath the wooden top is the heart of the instrument, which is the Cylinder, which creates a nice playing feel, and the Slider, which you slide to control the sensitivity. You control the main part of the instrument through four hand movements. Plus, you can store up to 24 hardware presets in internal memory. Touché houses presets for over 250 hardware instruments and plugins, so it's suitable for any musical genre, whether you need a melodic line, a punchy bass or a well-paced beat. ![]() It is fully compatible with both hardware and software devices, so you can use it in both live performance and studio sessions. Touché features a stylish design and is made with a combination of durable plastic and quality wood. Touché is a highly intuitive instrument from the French company Expressive E that brings feeling and imagination to your music. ![]()
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