Expressive E update Osmose firmware

Published 4/9/24

New browser system, MIDI enhancements & new controller modes

Expressive E have announced that the first free major update for their flagship MPE-capable synthesizer is now available. With the new version 2.0 firmware installed, the Osmose gains a new browser system and Program Change support, as well as offering two new playing modes when being used in its external MIDI mode.

Version 2.0

The new browser system introduces support for favourite presets, and the preset count itself has been significantly expanded from 128 to 2048. Additionally, users can now create 20 custom playlists that each contain 128 presets. Thanks to enhanced MIDI support, it’s now possible to quickly switch between presets using standard MIDI messages from both software applications and hardware controllers. Finally,

Further improvements to the instrument’s MIDI capabilities mean that Osmose is now just as expressive when being used as a MIDI controller as it is as a standalone instrument. Users are now able to take advantage of the Press Glide and MPE Arpeggiator functions when using the Osmose as a controller for other software and hardware instruments.

Finally, the instrument’s presets are now grouped as soundbanks, a management system that Expressive E say prepares the Osmose for future releases that will introduce yet more expressive sounds and presets.

What’s Next?

The company say that the work carried out for the 2.0 update paves the way for a significant future development: a new, user-friendly way to edit the instrument’s presets. Before this feature arrives, though, the Osmose will gain a new, free soundbank that benefits from an upcoming EaganMatrix DSP upgrade that will largely expand the synth’s capabilities thanks to a new oscillator type, several new filter models and improved effects that include a new saturation processor and enhanced reverb algorithms.

An entirely new ‘resynthesis’ engine is also planned for a future release. The feature will open up new sounds by allowing the Osmose to analyse and recreate samples in real time using the EaganMatrix DSP, and allowing users to manipulate audio snippets using keybed gestures.