Expressive E Releases Osmose, a New Augmented Keyboard Synthesizer Designed for an Unparalleled Playing Experience

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Two years ago Expressive E released Touche and got a lot of attention, not nearly as much as they are going to get from the new augmented keyboard, Osmose, that they have announced!

Osmose’s retail price will be €1799. Save 40% off until December 31 and grab Osmose for $1079 with an initial deposit of $299 remaining balance will be due when the product is available to deliver, estimated for the summer of 2020.

Official press below.

Expressive E Releases Osmose, a New Augmented Keyboard Synthesizer Designed for an Unparalleled Playing Experience

Paris, France, November 20, 2019 — Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, Osmose is the result of more than seven intense years of research and development, as well as feedback from world-class artists. Today, Expressive E, in collaboration with Haken Audio, is proud to announce to the world its Osmose instrument. 
Osmose elevates a player’s experience by introducing a new landscape of physical gestures for musicians to interact with sounds and produce music like they never have before. It does this while not only respecting, but also enhancing the player’s existing keyboard skills. Every note can be articulated independently with unique expressive possibilities, such as those seen in this Osmose gestures video:
A patented mechanism that delivers three dimensions of control on every single key makes these gestures possible. This new technology is named A.K.A © Augmented Keyboard Action.Osmose is now available to reserve on the Expressive E website for a $/€299 deposit and at a limited-time, limited-quantity 40% discount off of the retail price.

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Enter the EaganMatrix Sound Engine
The objective behind Osmose is to create an instrument that provides new expressive playing possibilities that keyboard players have always desired. Achieving that objective requires a perfect union between an expressive keyboard mechanism and a sound engine. Consequently, Expressive E has partnered with Haken Audio to integrate its powerful EaganMatrix sound engine into Osmose.

Built from day one for instruments with continuously expressive gestures such as the Continuum Fingerboard, the EaganMatrix is the most powerful expressive synthesizer on the market. Its modular sound engine combines many types of digital synthesis, including physical modeling, additive, subtractive, FM, virtual analog, granular and spectral synthesis.

Osmose’s large library of editable internal sounds are all tailor-made to take advantage of Osmose’s expressive A.K.A © technology. The diverse sound set of highly detailed acoustic and electronic sounds, from raw synths to smooth organic textures, were carefully crafted to react to a player’s slightest movements. Each Osmose preset makes use of the keys’ three-dimensional sensitivity in a unique way to create effects such as strummed notes, vibrato, legato, layered dynamics and much more. (Haken Audio testimonial video.)

Built To Empower External Synths
Osmose can also interface with computers and other instruments as a MIDI controller with support for MPE and MPE+ sounds, polyphonic aftertouch, a Multichannel MIDI mode, and global pitch bend controllable from every key. The user can also configure the Osmose as a standalone MIDI controller from the onboard display, with no need to connect to a computer.

Artist Approved
Over the last year, Expressive E consulted some A-list keyboard players around the world to test Osmose. The overall consensus was overwhelming. This video shows some of them playing for the first time:

“There is nothing out there like this.” — Junkie XL (Multi-platinum producer, 300 / Mad Max: Fury Road / Deadpool)

“It’s a game changer”- Mike Dean (Grammy award-winning producer Kanye West, Jay-Z, Madonna)

“The level of expression you can get on this real keyboard is unprecedented. It’s unbelievable!” — Bill Laurance (Grammy award winner, Snarky Puppy)

“This instrument is a dream come true.” — Jordan Rudess (Grammy-nominated Dream Theater virtuoso

Further Specifications
In addition to the A.K.A.© expressive keys, one can radically change a sound’s timbre, texture, harmonics and effects directly and intuitively with Osmose’s front-panel macro controls. For the ultimate performance experience, the mod wheel and two continuous pedal inputs can also adjust the macros. The user can even adjust the sensitivity of the keyboard’s three control dimensions.

Osmose can also interface with computers and other instruments as a MIDI controller with support for MPE and MPE+ sounds, polyphonic aftertouch, a Multichannel MIDI mode, and global pitch bend controllable from every key. The user can also configure the Osmose as a standalone MIDI controller from the onboard display, with no need to connect to a computer.

  • Keybed: 49 full-size keys with A.K.A.© technology for three-dimensional control
  • Polyphony: Up to 24 voices with Layered and Split modes
  • Top Panel: 8 encoders, 9 buttons, pitch stick/modulation stick, color LCD screen
  • Pedal Inputs: 2 continuous pedal inputs, assignable to sustain or synth parameters
  • MIDI: MIDI In, MIDI Out/Thru, USB Type B
  • Audio: 24-bit D/A conversion, 1/4″ stereo headphone jack, two ¼” jacks for main stereo output
  • Software: A Mac/PC editor lets users create and edit the EaganMatrix sounds, as well as assign the three A.K.A.© key movements to multiple parameters.

*Reservations Available Now
Osmose’s retail price will be $/€1799.

Until December 31, Expressive E is taking Osmose reservations at 40% off its regular price ($/€1079) exclusively in its web store with an initial deposit of $/€299.

The $/€299 deposit will reserve a unit on the Osmose waiting list, and the remaining balance will be due when the product is available to deliver, estimated for the summer of 2020. Quantities are limited.

About Expressive E:
The French electronic instrument developer Expressive E has created the award-winning Touché and Touché SE controllers, the award-winning Arché physical-modeling instruments and multiple soundbanks, including the MPE Collection. Expressive E’s mission is to improve the way musicians interact with sounds by creating a much more intuitive and powerful music-making experience.

The company debuted its first product, Touché, to bring the same emotive depth, playing sensation, and expression of acoustic instruments to the world of synthesizers and electronic music-making. As with an acoustic instrument, the users’ fingers tap, press, or trace across the wooden touch plate to create new sounds with astonishing dimensions.

Expressive E builds an open ecosystem of hardware and software products, letting musicians rediscover their hardware and software synths simply by using Expressive E’s presets or creating their own presets in the Lié software.