Embodme has released firmware 2.1.0 for the Erae 2 (Erae Touch 2), its large-format MPE touch controller. According to Synth Anatomy's coverage, the update is a free download for existing users and adds two headline features: a step sequencer that records expression, and a custom scale system that works with or without a computer.
A sequencer that understands expression
Most hardware sequencers store notes and velocity, and that is about it. The new SEQ mode on the Erae 2 goes further. Each SEQ layout holds up to 8 patterns of up to 256 steps, and besides notes you can draw pressure, slide and pitch lanes directly on the playing surface. Faders and buttons in your layout can be automated too.
For MPE players this matters because those three dimensions are exactly what makes MPE different from plain MIDI. Per-note pressure, vertical slide and pitch glide are normally captured only while you perform live, or later by painstakingly editing a DAW piano roll. Having them as editable lanes on the controller itself shortens the path from idea to expressive loop.
Output goes over MIDI and CV, so the same pattern can drive a software instrument in your DAW or a modular rig. The sequencer follows the arpeggiator and can run from its internal clock or sync to your DAW clock over USB MIDI. Playback order options include wait, jump and return, and a Bounce Loop function converts a recorded loop into a sequence pattern, which is a handy way to turn a live take into something you can edit step by step.
Custom scales without leaving the hardware
The second addition is a custom scale system. Scales can be created in the new Erae Lab Scale Manager, or directly on the hardware with no computer attached. Embodme says scales can be built from equal divisions or free ratios, and the system supports Scala import and export, the long-standing file format for microtonal tunings. Several scales can be combined and colour-coded on the pad surface, so you can see at a glance where the notes of a custom tuning sit.
According to the report, custom scales are exclusive to the Erae 2; the original Erae Touch continues to use its built-in scales. The firmware also widens the range of the spring faders, making them clearer to use.
Why it matters for the MPE ecosystem
Touch-surface MPE controllers have often been judged on how they feel, and less on how they fit into a composing workflow. A controller that can sequence its own pressure and slide data, and that can speak in non-12-tone tunings, is edging closer to being a self-contained instrument rather than a peripheral. It also reflects a broader trend: manufacturers keep adding features through free firmware, which extends the useful life of hardware well beyond launch day.
There are practical considerations. Sequenced expression is only useful if the receiving instrument responds to it, so check that your synth is set up for MPE and that its pitch bend range matches the controller's setting. Microtonal scales rely on per-note pitch bend, which is another reason to confirm the bend range on both ends.
What to try first
If you already own an Erae 2, a good first experiment is to record a short melodic phrase, bounce the loop into a SEQ pattern, and then redraw only the pressure lane to hear how much the dynamics alone change the character. Then load a custom scale and repeat the exercise with an unusual tuning.
The Erae 2 was funded through a 2024 Kickstarter campaign; pricing and availability today are best confirmed on the official Embodme site or with the retail partners listed there. Firmware details are subject to change, so consult Embodme's release notes before updating.