Expressive E Osmose 61 CE USB Keyboard Controller

Innovative MPE controller with 3D keyboard for expressive playing techniques

The Osmose 61 CE from Expressive E is the controller-only version of Osmose, also known as the Controller Edition. The hardware of the CE version is identical in terms of the keyboard and controls (number, layout, positioning). The only features omitted are the internal sound generation and the audio outputs. Common to all Osmose versions is the special 3D keyboard, which enables entirely new playing techniques. At first glance, the keyboard appears familiar, but the technology behind it has been completely rebuilt from scratch. This is because each individual key generates, in addition to pitch, note duration and velocity, a range of other controller data within a kind of three-dimensional space. With this keyboard, familiar playing techniques – including polyphonic aftertouch – can be executed effortlessly, as well as novel articulations such as pressing, pitch bend per note, vibrato, glide and strumming, all of which allow for an expressive playing style that could previously – if at all – only be achieved with laboriously arranged MIDI controllers. In its capacity as a ‘classic’ MIDI controller, the Osmose CE naturally also supports the MPE protocol, including the arpeggiator. Pressure Glide is a special playing technique that is usually, if at all, only found on synthesisers with membrane keyboards. Instead of the familiar pitch bend and modulation wheels, there are two sliders to the left of the keyboard for this purpose. Thanks to DAW Remote Integration, this luxury controller offers, amongst other things, transport controls and volume/pan control for tracks in DAWs such as Ableton Live, Bitwig, Logic and Cubase.