Expressive E used Superbooth 2026 to introduce a new chapter for its flagship expressive keybed: the Osmose CE, a "controller edition" that strips away the onboard synthesis engine of the original Osmose and repackages the touch-sensitive, motion-rich playing surface as a dedicated MPE controller. For players who already own a synth rig or a laptop full of MPE-capable instruments, it's a more focused — and more affordable — way into one of the most expressive keybeds on the market.
What makes the keybed special
The Osmose CE keeps the mechanism that made the original Osmose a favorite among sound designers and expressive players: a hybrid keybed that combines the immediacy of a traditional key with the continuous, multidimensional control of MPE. Every key supports tap, press-and-tap, pitch bend, vibrato, shake, and strum gestures, along with expressive note-off — meaning the character of how a note ends can be shaped just as deliberately as how it begins. Because the sensing happens per-key, players get true polyphonic aftertouch and per-note pitch bend without needing a pressure-pad surface.
Two of the more distinctive onboard tools carry over directly from the original hardware. The keyboard includes an MPE-capable arpeggiator that can spread expressive data across a full arpeggio pattern rather than a single sustained note, and Press Glide, a performance feature that triggers pitch glides between notes based on how hard a key is pressed — a detail that makes legato lines and portamento-style phrases feel physically controlled rather than programmed.
Sizes and pricing
The Osmose CE ships in two sizes: a 49-key and a 61-key version, priced at $999 and $1,199 respectively. Both are available now directly from Expressive E's online store and through authorized dealers worldwide. That pricing sits below the original synthesizer-equipped Osmose, reflecting the fact that this version leans entirely on external sound sources — hardware synths, software instruments, or Expressive E's own software line.
Ctrl-e: the software side of the ecosystem
Rather than leaving CE owners to hunt down MPE-ready patches on their own, Expressive E is pairing the controller with Ctrl-e, a dedicated software hub built around more than 900 expressive presets contributed by six partner developers alongside Expressive E's own sound engines. Ctrl-e is included with the controller at no extra cost and requires no subscription, which is a meaningful commitment in a market where companion software increasingly comes gated behind recurring fees. For newcomers to MPE, having a curated, ready-to-play preset library removes one of the biggest early hurdles: finding instruments that actually respond to per-note expression in a musical way.
Why this matters for the MPE ecosystem
The controller-only approach is notable because it signals confidence that the MPE software landscape has matured enough to support a keybed with no synth engine of its own. A few years ago, an expressive controller without onboard sound risked landing in a vacuum — few plugins understood MPE, and DAW support was inconsistent. In 2026, with hosts like Bitwig offering deep native MPE handling and a growing catalog of MPE-aware plugins from developers across the industry, a dedicated controller like the Osmose CE has a real ecosystem to plug into.
For musicians already invested in MPE-compatible instruments — whether hardware synths or software from the growing pool of expressive plugin developers — the Osmose CE offers access to Expressive E's keybed technology without paying for a synthesis engine they may not need. For players newer to per-note expression, Ctrl-e's included preset library and the onboard performance tools make a reasonable case for starting here rather than layering a bare controller onto an unfamiliar software setup.
More details, specs, and ordering information are available on the Expressive E website.