Osmose CE

Osmose CE is a MIDI controller from Expressive E that uses the same expressive keybed as the Osmose synthesizer, but routes its output to external software and hardware instead of an onboard sound engine. It plays like a standard MIDI keyboard while adding per-note control: a player can bend a single note inside a chord, add vibrato from the key itself, and shape phrases through pressure, position, and release. The keybed responds to how each note is pressed, bent, and released, not just which note is played.

The controller is aimed at producers and composers who work in a DAW and want expressive control over plugins and hardware synths that may not have native MPE support. It operates in three configurations: MPE controller, traditional MIDI controller, and DAW controller. A 4.3-inch color LCD, seven encoders, nine buttons, and pitch and modulation sliders handle navigation and parameter control, with automatic DAW detection for Ableton Live 12+, Cubase 15+, Bitwig 5+, and Logic Pro 12+. DAW control covers transport, track and device navigation, and mixer functions including volume, pan, sends, mute, and solo.

Osmose CE ships with Ctrl-E, Expressive E's companion software, which provides over 900 expressive presets and access to sound engines from Expressive E and partner developers, mapped to the keybed without manual setup. Two performance tools are specific to the hardware: Press Glide, which moves between notes using key pressure rather than a fixed portamento time, and an MPE arpeggiator that keeps each note in a chord independent across both MPE and standard MIDI. The unit is offered in two sizes, the 49-key Osmose CE 49 and the 61-key Osmose CE 61, with identical features and a white aluminum top over a black base. Both are made in Poland.

Features

• Expressive keybed with per-note control, shared with the Osmose synthesizer.
• Gestural input: tap, press, pitch bend, vibrato, shake, strum, and expressive note-off.
• Three operating modes: MPE controller, traditional MIDI controller, DAW controller.
• Press Glide: pressure-based note transitions.
• MPE arpeggiator with independent note handling in MPE and standard MIDI.
• Ctrl-E software included, with 900+ expressive presets.
• 8 pre-mapped macros per preset via Ctrl-E.
• Automatic DAW detection for Live 12+, Cubase 15+, Bitwig 5+, and Logic Pro 12+.
• DAW control of transport, navigation, and mixer functions.
• 4.3" color LCD, 7 knobs/encoders, 9 buttons, pitch and modulation sliders.
• DIN MIDI In, DIN MIDI Out/Thru, USB-C, and 2 assignable pedal inputs.
• Available in 49-key and 61-key configurations.
• White aluminum top, black base, made in Poland.