Analog-modeling synths and MPE don't always end up in the same sentence — most virtual-analog plugins were designed around static, one-channel-per-instrument MIDI long before per-note expression became a mainstream expectation. Synapse Audio's The Legend HZ, the Minimoog-inspired synth developed in collaboration with film composer Hans Zimmer, is bucking that trend with a 2.1 update that adds both MPE and NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) support to its engine.
What The Legend HZ Actually Is
The Legend HZ started life as an extension of Synapse's original Legend, a well-regarded Minimoog-style analog emulation, but built out specifically with Zimmer's studio requirements in mind. The plugin runs six virtual-analog oscillators through an 8x-oversampled signal path, with unison and mono modes supporting 4-, 8-, and 12-voice polyphony depending on how it's configured. A standout feature is the Fixed Filter Bank, modeled directly after the 914 Fixed Filter Bank unit in Zimmer's own studio — a formant-shaping tool that's become something of a signature texture in modern cinematic scoring.
The instrument ships with a 32-step arpeggiator/sequencer, a drag-and-drop modulation matrix, and around 200 factory patches co-designed by Zimmer and sound designer Kevin Schroeder, aimed squarely at composers who want big, evolving analog tones without patching together a modular rig.
Why MPE Changes the Picture
Adding MPE to an instrument like this matters because of how film and media composers actually work. A cinematic pad or lead patch built on the Legend HZ's oscillator stack becomes a different instrument entirely when individual notes can carry their own pitch bend, glide, and pressure. Playing a sustained chord on an MPE controller like the Expressive E Osmose or a Roli Seaboard and being able to swell one note in the voicing while the others hold steady is exactly the kind of gesture that separates a static string-pad sound from something that feels performed. For a plugin whose whole pitch is emotional, cinematic texture, per-note control is a natural fit rather than a bolted-on checkbox.
NKS Support Closes a Workflow Gap
The parallel addition of NKS support means Legend HZ patches are now browsable and tweakable directly from Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol keyboards and software, with parameter mapping to the plugin's macro controls out of the box. That's a meaningful convenience for composers who already run their template around NKS-tagged libraries — it means Legend HZ slots into an existing browsing and mapping workflow instead of requiring a separate manual-mapping pass for every preset.
Where to Get It
The Legend HZ is available in VST3, Audio Unit, and AAX formats for $179, with a $79 upgrade path for owners of the original Legend. It can be purchased directly through Synapse Audio's site, and the 2.1 update with MPE and NKS support is a free download for existing license holders.
The Bigger Trend
Legend HZ's update fits a pattern that's been building across the plugin world for a couple of years now: MPE compatibility is steadily migrating from "MPE-native" boutique instruments toward mainstream, general-purpose synths that were never originally designed with per-note expression in mind. As more DAWs ship MPE support out of the box and more affordable MPE controllers reach musicians' desks, plugin developers have less reason to leave that expressive headroom on the table — even in a synth built to emulate 1970s analog circuitry.
For composers and sound designers already invested in the Legend HZ's specific character, the practical takeaway is simple: existing patches will still work exactly as before on a standard keyboard, but pairing the plugin with an MPE controller now unlocks a layer of per-note nuance that wasn't previously accessible without external modulation tricks.