Osmose CE transforms by removing the synthesizer to function as an expressive MIDI controller.
Expressive E is making its Osmose MPE keyboard more accessible by eliminating the synthesizer, offering it as a basic MIDI controller. The new Osmose CE is available in two sizes, 49 and 61 keys, priced at $999 and $1,199. Although $999 is still high for a MIDI controller, it’s significantly cheaper than the Osmose’s $1,799 starting price and competitive compared to the $1,399 Roli Seaboard 2.
The Osmose is a unique synthesizer that resembles a regular keyboard but with movable keys, allowing for expressive play similar to a violin or guitar. The MPE feature enables each note to have distinct velocity and timbre, marking it as one of the most expressive keyboards. Hans Zimmer even used an orchestra of Osmoses for the Dune 2 score.
With the Osmose CE, Expressive E shifts focus from a standalone synthesizer to enhanced software integration, introducing a new Ctrl-e suite with over 900 presets. It also offers enhanced DAW integration, providing control over Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, and Logic Pro directly from the keyboard.
Expressive E intends to extend the new software features of the Osmose CE to the original Osmose through a future firmware update, granting current owners access to the Ctrl-e suite to explore new presets.