Expressive E has announced the release of Soliste, a collection of four MPE-ready solo string instruments, designed for expressive real-time performance.
Drawing on the power of physical modeling and deep expertise in expressive interaction, Soliste opens fresh and unprecedented perspectives for bowed string instruments.
A natural evolution from the award-winning Arché Collection—Expressive E's first software instrument—Soliste features a thoroughly reworked sound engine, advanced customization options, and above all, an unprecedented playing experience.
Four physically modeled solo string instruments:
- VLN 356 – Violin.
- VLA 419 – Viola.
- CLO 756 – Cello.
- DBS 1130 – Double Bass.
Expressive E says their physical modeling technology is designed to deliver a joyful and inspiring real-time playing experience, shaped by natural, expressive gestures.
Select from multiple play modes tailored to your style and sensitivity. Whether you're sustaining a note, shaping natural bow motion with back-and-forth gestures, or controlling tremolo on the fly, every nuance flows directly from your touch. It's not just expressive — it feels alive, intuitive, and deeply rewarding.
Soliste was designed to fully harness the expressive potential of the Expressive E Osmose synthesizer and is also compatible with all other MPE controllers. It perfectly responds to Expressive E Touché and still works nicely on traditional, legacy MIDI controllers without MPE support.
YouTube.com/watch?v=W2hsK-ny-Tg
Key Features
- A Living Instrument at the Fingertips: Real-time responsiveness enables fluid transitions between sustain, bow strokes, or tremolo, directly from the player's gestures.
- Expressive Playing Modes: Soliste offers three distinct playing modes, built for real-time expression — each designed to match different levels of interaction and control:
- Classic Mode is based on a press & tap concept: it lets you trigger a bow stroke when you tap, and shape the dynamic intensity of sustained bowing when you press.
- Virtuoso Mode introduces a smart back-and-forth bowing system, giving you direct, real-time control over the bow.
- Expressive Bow Mode is an intelligent blend of Classic and Virtuoso modes, built on a press & tap approach. Tap to trigger a single bow stroke. Press to access dual behavior: slow gestures control sustained bowing, as in Classic Mode, while faster gestures engage real-time back-and-forth motion, just like in Virtuoso Mode.
- Smart Vibrato System: Two ways to play vibrato:
- Perform vibrato manually — using per-note pitch control or any compatible playing interface.
- Or rely on an assisted vibrato system, where a natural vibrato gradually fades in, either on note-on or through continuous playing gestures.
- An intelligent system ensures a smooth transition between manual and assisted vibrato.
- Portamento & Pressure Glide Compatible:
- An evolved velocity-based system provides flexible portamento control, offering adjustment options tailored to your playing style.
- Soliste instruments are also fully compatible with Osmose's Pressure Glide feature, allowing real-time portamento control through continuous pressure gestures.
- Articulation Presets for Extended Playing Possibilities:
- Beyond the main playing modes, Soliste includes a wide range of presets designed to recreate specific articulations — from sul ponticello and pizzicato to Bartók and staccato, including a fully playable real-time tremolo.
- Each articulation can be personalized to match the player's intent and playing style.
- Highly Customizable Sound Engine: Thanks to physical modeling technology, every dimension of the instrument can be tailored to your taste:
- Adjust bow behavior — from attack time and gesture shape to interaction types: sustain, back-and-forth, hybrid modes, tremolo, and more.
- You can also radically change its character by selecting a different body — each one offering a distinct tonal identity, like switching between various instruments.
- Customize note linking (detached or legato), fine-tune vibrato and portamento response, and shape your sound using a large set of timbral parameters.
- Effects: Soliste offers simple but effective tools to shape and balance your sound:
- A standard 3-band EQ helps refine the instrument's tone.
- The Brightness control lets you adjust spectral presence to help the sound cut through a mix.
- To place your performance in space, a high-quality convolution reverb adds natural acoustics captured from real-world environments — from majestic churches and grand halls to intimate rooms.
- Streamlined Interface:
- A clean, performance-focused UI makes editing intuitive, with advanced panels for deeper tone shaping when needed.
- Optimized for Osmose – MPE Compatible:
- Soliste is designed to deliver maximum expression with Osmose's unique keybed, while remaining fully compatible with all other MPE controllers.
- Touché & Classic MIDI Compatibility:
- Soliste instruments are fully compatible with Touché, with dedicated presets available for seamless integration.
- An onboard MIDI mapping system allows for smooth assignment of parameters, whether you're using Touché or any other MIDI controller.
Pricing & Availability
Soliste is now available at expressivee.com with an introductory 40% discount through July 18th. The whole collection can be purchased for €179.40 (Reg. €299.00) or instruments can be purchased individually for €59.40 (Reg. €99.00).
