But then you discover all sorts of additional dimensions, for bending pitch or sculpting sounds. It plays like a piano – even arguably more satisfyingly than a lot of synth actions, with the satisfying mechanical sensation of playing a concert grand with all the resistance and tactile feedback that entails. The idea – begin with the kinetic feeling of a keyboard, but add additional articulations that a piano or harpsichord or organ can’t.Īnd it feels great. It owes its lineage more to some of the early experiments in augmented keyboards than the current generation. The Osmose was, from the start, something different. But you don’t get keyboard action, which to an experienced player makes these more like playing a mattress pad than a piano. There’s a keyboard layout, rather than a fully fluid surface or grid. Sure, there was the much-hyped ROLI Seaboard and family, but these occupied a kind of controller uncanny valley. For continuous touch spaces, you have the Madrona Labs Soundplane (currently a little hard to get) and the Haken Continuum (easier) and the Joué (good alternative to the discontinued Sensel Morph).īut if your hands have keyboard chops, choices have been tougher. For grids, there are excellent choices like the Linnstrument. We’ve seen expressive, per-note articulations on MPE-compatible instruments/controllers. The story so farīut artists aside for a second – the Osmose really is something special. Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours fame and the likes of J3PO and Tarik Azzouz (think Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, etc.). Expressive E’s Osmose is here, complete with artist backing from Paris to LA to Chennai India, Jean-Michel Jarre to Flying Lotus to A.R. And now, it’s more than just a preorder concept. But it’s also gestural, with per-note articulations.

It’s a keyboard, with elements of a hammer-style action.

Expressive e touche sweetwater