well, then HS is only an improper MPE controller 
Edit: TBF your interpretation is obviously right.
As a matter of fact, one of ASM’s staff stepped out and said that HS is an MPE controller and in a way I can understand why that person was saying that. Nevertheless, when I had read that for the first time I was also struck by surprise because I would never have perceived the HS in this manner.
Usually an MPE controller will sacrifice some aspect of the dimensions and the Continuum for instance recommends against sending Note On Velocity and defaults to 127 as a fixed velocity for all notes.
In that sense the Hydrasynth outperforms the Continuum by providing reliable NoteOn/NoteOff velocities for the dimensions in the spec at the cost of some of the other dimensions.
This is semantic.
The Continuum simply replaces “velocity”, typically calculated by key-travel-over-time, with a pressure-over-time algorithm instead. This is because (and I’m paraphrasing here) the original vision for the EaganMatrix (and an ongoing debate in the MPE sphere) was to achieve expressivity without the need for static modulators like LFOs and envelopes. Never mind that the mechanism at play in the Continuum (for which the EaganMatrix was designed) differs from other MPE controllers, and certainly from that of your standard keyboard.
Regardless, the functionality of the Z-axis remains the same, and the Continuum still delivers all dimensions of touch, as would be expected of an MPE controller; albeit by way of a more elaborate set of calculations, post sensor.
So, in this case, Haken’s “recommendations” speak more to the method of synthesis being employed, rather than the MPE protocol itself.
Cheers!
Added Push 3 to the list.
LATER : ADDED the Korg Keystage to the list.
The Push 3 has utterly spoiled me on MPE. For me, it changes electronic instruments into actual instruments, like my guitar, that can be played with nuance and feeling.
I am less and less interested in sequencers, because they feel dead now. I tend to just improvise on the Push’s pads, and then use the MIDI capture button to grab anything I like.
The ratchet/repeat function is especially great with MPE drums. And MPE also transforms chopped samples into something more organic, without the drony blur of granular, which isn’t my cup of tea.
The downside of this is that I don’t have any more portable alternatives to the Push 3. The Keith McMillen K-Board looks neat, but I would also love a 4x4 MPE pad controller.
What do you folks recommend for small and portable MPE?
Give the Exquis from Intuitive Instruments a look. They are just coming out, and the user definable layout feature, last i knew, is somewhat up in the air, but even with that it has good MPE, with a grid sort of layout and a more compact size, though not tiny. The other controls on it would potentially be of interest too. ( thread )
I kickstarted the Exquis, and it is supposed to arrive on Saturday. I’ll report back how it feels/plays.
Ok I played with the Exquis for a bit.
Overall build is solid. Pads are very playable. So far I think it’s better to use two hands instead of one, especially when playing chords with four or more notes. Built in arpeggiator is very simple, but fun to use as there is a slide you can move up and down with one hand while holding notes etc the other.
When I first plugged it in bitwig recognized it right away, played perfectly. MPE enabled synths recognized all the vectors (xy axis, z axis, pressure, velocity), truly plug and play.
The encoders are both endless rotary and pushable. They are plastic and work fine …but maybe feel a little weak? I feel like I need to be careful with them.
The company selling this has provided some of it’s own software, like more of an instrument library using the Surge VST with a ton of presets, and it works well, and is integrated well with the device. However it is pretty simple, and I can’t see why I would use this instead of Bitwig. Maybe if I can find a way to open their software within Bitwig that would be useful?
Overall very pleased with it for the price, but I likely won’t keep it, for the same reason I didn’t keep the linnstrument. I personally prefer playing a keyboard.
Embodme is working on an improved version of their control surface that they are calling ERAE II. ( post )
I’m in the market for an MPE Controller…
I’ve had a Push 3 Standalone (that I sent back because the standalone part felt clunky).
I’m hesitant to order an ordinary Push 3 or something else. I don’t like that much that big chunks of the Push 3 interface are tied to Live.
Exquis seems tempting, even more so at that pricepoint. Has anyone been able to compare it with a Push 3?
Osmose seems really nice too. Tried it in a local shop and it’s very playable and organic.
I’m utterly devoted to my Linnstrument. Rock solid and works with everything.
Heck yeah! Roger got it right almost 10 years ago and it is still the best MPE controller ever… changed my life!
I added the Loom from Aodyo ( thread ) to the list.
ADDED : This one, in my opinion, really changes the terrain for MPE controllers.
ADDED EVEN LATER : Aodyo is no more, they went bankrupt.
I just traded for a Roli Songmaker Kit with the old Seaboard Block, Light Block (non-M) and Looper Block. There were a number of problems, lot of deadzones on the Light Block made it unusable for keys or faders and it would glitch out when connected to the Seaboard… The Seaboard block itself had some keys that were a lot less sensitive than others (kind of reminded me of playing a wind instrument with how you have to approach each note differently). Thankfully the guy I got it off has been very accommodating and quick to respond, he will take it back no problem.
Now I’m filled with a strange mixture of disappointment and awe. It was an amazing instrument. I could smoothly control filter cutoff with pressure! I don’t know how that’s possible without severe stepping… Really a joy to use… But I don’t think I could buy from Roli now. I feel like maybe their design is too ambitious.
I’m looking at the Exquis but the Bonedo Test seems to suggest that the controller is more clunky than expressive. The sturdiness of the Linnstrument is appealing, but I’m not so certain about the completely smooth playing surface and I’ve read that it’s not as immediately expressive as the Roli.
At least my guitar still has MPE!
Keith McMillen QuNexus maybe?
LS 128 is pretty expressive, highly configurable and sturdily built. Plus, it suits you as a guitarist. Its surface feels great, even for pressure despite a relatively short travel, albeit it is not entirely smooth for horizontal pitch slides. Vertical slides across pads are not possible btw. Of course, it costs a lot more than the Roli blocks.
I’ve ordered an Exquis. The chunky pads and price point were appealing. I will report back on how I find it.
I would definitely need to try a Linnstrument before I buy, but I should probably try to make this happen.
I had a QuNexus before, but I’m really looking for PB per note.
I have had mine for about 6 weeks and I very much like to work with it. It is great fun and it is “different”, which makes it very interessting.
The Seaboard Rise 2 teams up well with a Mobal Argon8M and a ASM Hydrasynth Desktop. Unfortunaltly the XY Touchpad does not work with neither of them and the Preset Browser only works with the ASM Hydrasynth Desktop, and this with limitations.
But the sun really shines when using the Seaboard Rise 2 with Equator2. A combination with countless possibilities, although I personaly prefere to work with Hardware-Synths.
I am not understanding what you mean.
The XY Touchpad on the Seaboard RISE gives you the ability to control two separate parameters in a single gesture. The X position is the horizontal axis and the Y position is the vertical axis of the Touchpad.
When you touch the pad, the X and Y positions are sent as MIDI CC messages which can be selected in ROLI Dashboard and assigned to any parameter in Equator or other instrument which can respond to them. For example, you could assign the X position to filter cutoff and the Y position to LFO speed.
So you can select a MIDI CC output for both the X and Y control dimensions on the Rise.
This is ideal for the Hydrasynth. The Mod Matrix allows you to pick any MIDI CC as a source. A very good way to use that, is to set the destination to any one of the Macros, but there are tons of other ways to use this.
I don’t have any Modal gear but isn’t there something similar ?
On the HS you do need to setup your patches to enable this in the Mod Matrix. That would take about 20 seconds.
Or is there some other problem ? What am i missing ?