ROLI's writing on the wall happened

[machinesworking]

Also being a "hardware" synth doesn't interest me in one bit. I can buy any keyboard controller and a dedicated Mac Mini M1, slap a bunch of synths on it, disconnect it from the internet FOREVER, and keep using it as a hardware synth for as much as long as the osmose at least.

This gets trotted out, and I admit I've trotted it out too, but who does this?
Seriously, I've thought about it, but it just doesn't happen. Years of discontinued software tittles etc. meanwhile the few hardware synths I own are still there.

I'm not selling the Mac Pro here, it's going to keep copies of Alchemy, and all the non M1 compatible software I own as a VEP slave, but even then, at some point soon a modern PC will be a better choice for a VEP slave, and Alchemy will die. This is the difference between software and hardware, there's no authorization issues, finding a compatible driver, OS, DAW etc. no upkeeping old software.

[SLiC]

Also computes don't have a soul, old hardware does

[pinki]

Hardware and software synths are both legit.

It's really strange to have such a negative attitude towards the Osmose when it hasn't even been released yet. And it's not actually expensive. My Touche cost £350 and my Osmose is going to cost about 4 times that.

[Ploki]

Touché SE is 200€ and osmose is 9x that tho

[elxsound]

For anyone who thinks that Lumi keys is a useless, over-priced toy, I'd recommend you watch this (it's only 1.5 minutes) -



You can see that Lumi is a really good match for the still forthcoming Osmose. They both have 4 dimensions of touch and are fully MPE compatible. However, for the price of 1 x Osmose, you could buy 6 x Lumi Keys, which would give you twice as many keys. More sensibly, you could buy a couple of Lumi Keys, a Lightpad Block and a couple of Control Blocks and have almost enough left over to buy a Seaboard Block, too. Yes, Osmose comes with a synth built in but if you have a Smartphone, then you can make music with Lumi, too. Ultimately, Lumi seems like a really cheap way into MPE and a great alternative to those who don't like Seaboards.

What this video doesn't provide however, is the feel of the keyboards. Have you ever actually used one? I have. I bought one. Sent it back immediately because it feels terrible. I had high hopes but at the end of the day it has to be something that is enjoyable to play. Lumi absolutely does feel like a toy. The cheapest korg mini keyboards feel better.

Ah, you were the lucky one… I was trying (and was failing) to remember who posted about getting one. I think I was excited about getting a Lumi before seeing your earlier posts.

I’ve watched many of the videos but as there were some things I had to get used to with both the Seaboard Block (I had two before selling one) and the Lightpads (I have several), I decided it wasn’t worth it for me to buy a Lumi before trying it in person.

The same goes for the osmose. I have nothing against it, but until it’s released and I see that it’s durability holds up, then I’m not interested. Again this is just my opinion and I have nothing against those that are either excited or have already made a pre-order.

[Echoes in the Attic]

For anyone who thinks that Lumi keys is a useless, over-priced toy, I'd recommend you watch this (it's only 1.5 minutes) -



You can see that Lumi is a really good match for the still forthcoming Osmose. They both have 4 dimensions of touch and are fully MPE compatible. However, for the price of 1 x Osmose, you could buy 6 x Lumi Keys, which would give you twice as many keys. More sensibly, you could buy a couple of Lumi Keys, a Lightpad Block and a couple of Control Blocks and have almost enough left over to buy a Seaboard Block, too. Yes, Osmose comes with a synth built in but if you have a Smartphone, then you can make music with Lumi, too. Ultimately, Lumi seems like a really cheap way into MPE and a great alternative to those who don't like Seaboards.

What this video doesn't provide however, is the feel of the keyboards. Have you ever actually used one? I have. I bought one. Sent it back immediately because it feels terrible. I had high hopes but at the end of the day it has to be something that is enjoyable to play. Lumi absolutely does feel like a toy. The cheapest korg mini keyboards feel better.

Ah, you were the lucky one… I was trying (and was failing) to remember who posted about getting one. I think I was excited about getting a Lumi before seeing your earlier posts.

I’ve watched many of the videos but as there were some things I had to get used to with both the Seaboard Block (I had two before selling one) and the Lightpads (I have several), I decided it wasn’t worth it for me to buy a Lumi before trying it in person.

The same goes for the osmose. I have nothing against it, but until it’s released and I see that it’s durability holds up, then I’m not interested. Again this is just my opinion and I have nothing against those that are either excited or have already made a pre-order.

Good idea to try first. I like the feel of the seaboards and the lightblocks quite a bit, I have both. Lumi feels mushy and some of the keys weren't the same height. Didn't give me confidence in the build quality.

[pdxindy]

I don't find it new - i found Seaboard new. I find the limitations of Osmose identical to those that preceeded it, for example TouchKeys, that's a "slap it on and its sort of osmose" layer for any keyboard https://touchkeys.co.uk

Yes, Touchkeys is 'slapped on' a regular keybed, but it is still a regular keybed underneath. Even though Osmose looks like a regular keybed, it isn't. It has a different sensing system. What happens when you slowly press a key down is different than a standard keyboard which is just an on/off switch which triggers the amp envelope. The Osmose, using initial pressure (and ignoring velocity), allows each finger to function as the unique amp envelope for the note. You can read about this on the Haken (Continuum) website under MPE+.

Neither the Linnstrument nor Seaboard offer this. They are both still on/off switches which trigger the amp envelope. Only the Osmose and Continuum have the initial pressure mode. And the initial pressure mode offers a significantly greater control over the transient of a sound based on finger action. And it takes high resolution and precise sensors to capture that.

It's funny how perspective changes opinion. You see the Osmose as expensive but for me it seems cheap cause it is half the price of a Continuum (which I own).

[Ploki]

Yes, Touchkeys is 'slapped on' a regular keybed, but it is still a regular keybed underneath. Even though Osmose looks like a regular keybed, it isn't. It has a different sensing system. What happens when you slowly press a key down is different than a standard keyboard which is just an on/off switch which triggers the amp envelope. The Osmose, using initial pressure (and ignoring velocity), allows each finger to function as the unique amp envelope for the note. You can read about this on the Haken (Continuum) website under MPE+.

Neither the Linnstrument nor Seaboard offer this. They are both still on/off switches which trigger the amp envelope. Only the Osmose and Continuum have the initial pressure mode. And the initial pressure mode offers a significantly greater control over the transient of a sound based on finger action. And it takes high resolution and precise sensors to capture that.

It's funny how perspective changes opinion. You see the Osmose as expensive but for me it seems cheap cause it is half the price of a Continuum (which I own).

mmm. Good point, although just as release velocity, i'm not sure how practical this would be in real world playing. Will need to try it out i guess.

i might consider getting Osmose SE or even better, SE 25, if they decide to make a controller-only variant of it, but 2k is too much.
I can see how that's cheap compared to a haken tho.

[vurt]

It's funny how perspective changes opinion. You see the Osmose as expensive but for me it seems cheap cause it is half the price of a Continuum (which I own).

youre rich!

dont suppose youre looking to adopt one slightly used beardy bloke?

[pdxindy]

The same goes for the osmose. I have nothing against it, but until it’s released and I see that it’s durability holds up, then I’m not interested. Again this is just my opinion and I have nothing against those that are either excited or have already made a pre-order.

That is definitely a smart choice.

I've had my pre-order in since day 1. Absolutely I am taking a risk. Got a steep discount for taking that risk though.

For all I know, 6 months after receiving the Osmose, keys could be falling off left and right!

I'll let you know

[pdxindy]

mmm. Good point, although just as release velocity, i'm not sure how practical this would be in real world playing. Will need to try it out i guess.

It is a lot more useful than release velocity... because it is integral to ones immediate playing. And of course what happens when you play a note is far more musically significant than what happens at the end of it.

I hardly use release velocity. Bitwig has an envelope modulator that triggers on note off. I use that more cause it is dependable. I find it hard to control release velocity while playing.

The current limitation of the Osmose initial pressure mode is that it works with the built-in synth. Any VST instruments would need to support that and very few do. IIRC, Kaivo and Aalto do. None others that come to mind (could be some others). I got the impression u-he might add support to their synths as well. But that is unknown and even if they do, when is an unknown.

[Ploki]

Couldnt you just assign initial pressure to any CC and assign that in a synth?

[Keith99]

I invested in Kore that became useless, then Alchemy and now my Seabord

[Echoes in the Attic]

I invested in Kore that became useless, then Alchemy and now my Seabord

I don't see why the Seaboard would ever become useless, its hardware. Just keep an installer for the Configuration app.

[ShawnG]

I invested in Kore that became useless, then Alchemy and now my Seabord

You haven’t invested a thing. You bought 3 products that all still work. Every company and brand currently in existence will be gone someday, as will we ourselves, don’t let that keep you from getting the things you want.