Free samplers rarely get as big an update as Soundpaint 5.0, released on September 23, 2026. According to Synth Anatomy's coverage, it adds a built-in sample editor, intelligent time-stretching, a redesigned arpeggiator and more. For expressive players, the most interesting line is the support for true polyphonic aftertouch, with the important caveat that it is not fully compatible with MPE data.
That distinction confuses a lot of people, so this article looks at both what is new and why the difference matters.
What is new in Soundpaint 5.0
Soundpaint, available from soundpaint.com, is a free base plugin for macOS and Windows in VST and AU formats. Version 5.0 brings:
- Brush, a built-in sample editor for building custom multi-sample instruments with loop point control
- Time Pro, intelligent time-stretching with automatic BPM detection
- A redesigned arpeggiator with up to 2,000 steps via subdivision
- Round robin variations for realistic acoustic instruments
- New effects: boost, transient shaper, pump shape, limiter and expander
- An eight-layer architecture for complex sound design
- Extra rack effects, including vintage drift and micro-tune
The base plugin is free, while the Looper feature costs $69 at an introductory price, reduced from $99. It supports PCM and FLAC files. The developers describe their approach as rendering instruments dynamically in real time, aiming for a more playable, realistic feel than conventional sample technologies.
Polyphonic aftertouch versus MPE
Polyphonic aftertouch sends pressure data for each individual key over a single MIDI channel. It lets a keyboard that supports it modulate one note in a chord without affecting the others.
MPE takes a different approach. Each note is assigned its own MIDI channel, which allows independent pitch bend, pressure and slide (timbre) for every note. That is what makes gestures like sliding one note in a chord, or bending a single string-like voice, possible.
So the two are related but not interchangeable:
- Polyphonic aftertouch covers per-note pressure only.
- MPE covers per-note pitch, pressure and a third dimension of timbre.
- A plugin that understands one does not necessarily understand the other.
Soundpaint's own documentation, as described in the coverage, says the aftertouch support is not fully compatible with MPE data. In practice, that means an MPE controller may not unlock per-note pitch bend or slide in the plugin, even though pressure-per-key playing can work.
What this means for your setup
If you own a keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, such as many mechanical-action controllers, Soundpaint 5.0 is a low-cost way to explore per-key pressure with sampled instruments. If you own an MPE controller, test carefully before relying on it.
A quick way to check any plugin:
- Play a chord and bend one note. If all notes bend together, per-note pitch is not supported.
- Press harder on one key. If only that note changes, per-note pressure works.
- Slide vertically or use the timbre gesture. If nothing happens, slide is not mapped.
- Read the manual for MPE mode settings and pitch bend range.
The value of honest labeling
It is refreshing to see a developer describe the limits of its expression support clearly. The MPE ecosystem is full of ambiguous feature lists, where "expression support" can mean anything from full per-note control to a single mapped CC. Precise language helps musicians choose tools that fit their controllers and saves time otherwise spent debugging.
For readers building an expressive rig, the lesson is to look at exactly which dimensions of each note a plugin supports, not just whether a feature list mentions expression. Soundpaint 5.0 is a strong free sampler with a rich feature set, and for polyphonic aftertouch users it opens a new door. For full MPE playing, you will want to pair it with plugins that state MPE support outright.