There is another thing to consider around the adoption of MPE by both controller and synth makers. That is having MIDI 2.0 bypass MPE.
MIDI 2.0 will have “per-note expression” ( as per the spec ) that will act in ways similar to MPE, except it will allow for higher resolution, and allows the data to remain within a single channel. The negotiation process will also help match capabilities between the sender and receiver of this data. There are other advantages that are just part of the MIDI 2.0 implementation.
Why would a manufacturer make the expenditure on the development of MPE hardware, when they know it is only be for the interim, especially when they have products in development that will soon be supporting MIDI 2.0 ?
In particular i am aware that these three – Native Instruments, Roland, and Yamaha have been actively involved with the development of the MIDI 2.0 standard. You can be sure that companies like Arturia, Novation, and AKAI are all closely examining this new marketplace as well. Development of a full range of MIDI 2.0 products will certainly take time, and it is hard to know how this development will proceed.
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As a part of my research to put together the MPE controller list, i ran across some indications on attitudes toward MPE and MIDI 2.0.
One maker of an advanced controller is Lumatone who does not support MPE. They are very clear in their FAQ regarding their intentions regarding MPE and MIDI 2.0.
What Lumatone has to say about MPE and MIDI 2.0 :
Does it have MPE support?
Lumatone is capable of full polyphonic aftertouch through the standard MIDI specification. Unlike other multi-dimensional controllers, we currently see no need for MPE. Lumatone isn’t about sliding up and down in different dimensions on a touch surface, which in our minds is the kind of instrument that MPE was designed for. If any of you can think of specific applications for MPE on a Lumatone, please do email us and share your ideas, and we’ll consider.
We instead are focusing all of our efforts on MIDI 2.0, which Lumatone is fully compliant with. Oh hey, speaking of which….read on….
Is it MIDI 2.0 ready?
YES. Lumatone is 100% compatible and the hardware is fully ready for MIDI 2.0. We are currently discussing a great deal with those responsible for the MIDI 2.0 specification and are truly excited about what MIDI 2.0 will bring to Lumatone. The specification will allow for microtonality directly, as well as several other exciting expressive functionalities.
Expressive E on the other hand will support both MPE and Polyphonic-aftertouch with the Osmose, is much more cautious regarding MIDI 2.0, This is from their FAQ.
What Expressive E has to say about MPE and MIDI 2.0 :
Will Osmose support MIDI 2.0 ?
Generally, Osmose’s firmware system allows for easily upgrading the communication protocols. This includes the possibility to support MIDI 2.0 if we see that it is advantageous for our customers, once there is enough other MIDI 2.0 gear on the market.
That being said, for the first firmware releases it is vital for us to establish comprehensive MPE controller functionality on our side, and collaborate with 3rd party developers to implement MPE/Osmose support and smooth Osmose mapping workflows into their respective software. We will prioritize this task over MIDI 2.0 support.