Osmose // The 7 Stages of Ownership

[@EchoKraft]

I have been waiting for your review of this keyboard! You are very honest on how you review things. I ordered mine about 2 months ago. So at some point I get it. Great video !

[@uhoh007]

Priceless. Mine came in May. I've been circling the editor and learning about it. The Facebook leader has a cookbook, and has made a number of videos. It's synth quirks are much more understandable if you learn the Haken history. It's another language made for a different instrument, but it can do incredible things with this one. Haken and EE are small teams. They have delivered a new world to us for very low money. They don't have time to translate, or even the perspective to put the stuff in our terms. That's OK, because I think YT channels will come, and those guys will also make a living. :)

[@StarskyCarr]

I agree - it’s a small team, but they could make life easier for folks very easily. If they just put a link to the cookbook in the download packs everyone can benefit, not just those who find it. An oversight that’s easily rectified.

[@uhoh007]

@@StarskyCarr The cookbook has evolved since the spring deliveries. It's come from the guy who has the "EaganMatrix Programming" channel. It's never taken a search expert to find resources, but it has taken time and patience. Fiddling through without the manual, as you've discovered, is hazardous. It's the bleeding edge. You and me, for once, are actually on it.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Like the DX7, i do get the impression they’ve kind of purposely avoided doing any work to make the synthesis engine accessible for musicians. Which tells me they intend it to be used as a preset-only machine. Which is what it is, but i find it baffling and it’s the reason i’ll probably just buy a Seaboard 49 instead.

[@TechnoShamanism]

to me you are one of the best on SynthTube! I love your content, honest, balanced yet you share your feelings and opinions with us clearly, which is what I want out of such videos, someone's own take based on their experience with a device. Wonderful, thank you! I was on the fence about an Osmose, ordered one after watching this video, looking forward to explore sounds and expression on it with my kids :)

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

I`m truly amazed with Osmose. It somehow cures GAS for wanting lots of old gear, and makes you going with the future into unexplored terrritory.

[@drsamurai009]

Not just a great overview video, but a nice 7 stage analysis of not just the Osmose, but MPE in general. Really liked the way you described the analogy of different pins having different resistance on the hardware unit is like the different formulas of the synth engine matrix programming. A great, and simple way to think of the Eaganmatrix routing. I also appreciate the flaws/cons you mentioned, which if nothing else helps out those (most) of us who are not familiar with the Eaganmatrix engine. Whether it's the manual descriptions of concepts, or like in the early 80's with DX/FM synthesis, it's a way different approach to programming than typical subtractive(or additive) synthesis. Hope they create a better/easier to understand user interface down the road, but even as a preset machine, it's so massively expressive, that using it as a preset machine is far from limiting. The synth is easily as expressive as nearly any acoustic instrument from trumpet to guitar to violin to drum/percussive that if feels like not just a keyboard, but a wholly new and unique instrument. One note I would add to your review, though I have not tried my Osmose with external gear yet, I've read and seen videos by others on KZbin, that there really isn't any "velocity" data from the hardware keyboard interface, at least as midi historically has generated velocity from midi keyboards that most players are used to experiencing. The X-Y-Z components of the Osmose (and most other MPE controllers like the Seaboard) are in X-Pitchbend-Y-Forward/Backward slide (as on a Seaboard)-Z-Aftertouch (poly AT as we generically refer to it.) Velocity is similar to the Tap function of the Osmose but not exactly the same thing. When used with external gear, synth patches need to be re-programmed to basically not worry/consider velocity, but rather the Osmose first pressure touch of Y requires a modulation routing programmed to the modulation of the Amp output level in a synth patch, as if it were velocity but using the CC#74 of Y-axis, rather than CC#7. Something to keep in mind as I've heard that using external hardware/software with the Osmose is giving low static velocity levels by default. Midi itself can be a bit confusing/complex ;).

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah thanks… I wish I hadn’t used the term velocity now. I was trying to keep things not too complex etc but should’ve maybe explained in more detail. Always a difficult balance - but if I’m complaining they use odd terminology I shouldn’t do it myself 🤦‍♂️

[@drsamurai009]

@@StarskyCarr Describing Osmose is indeed a difficult balance of acoustic-like simplicity, and synth engine mega-complexity. I certainly don't fault you too harsh. I've seen some (other) reviewers complain about the envelopes on Osmose and how they wish the macros would allow access to ADSR levels. Other than Release time, (props to you for deciphering the manual, LOL), there really aren't any envelopes. How you dynamically press/play the key is the envelope. After that, it really does go deep into the weeds :) I definitely need to hook the Osmose up to the Nymphes!

[@StarskyCarr]

Never thought of the Nymphes.. nice idea :)

[@drsamurai009]

@@unclemick-synths Never thought of that, but makes total sense. A wind instrument player IS the envelope. In the old days (pre-midi) gate and CV were the norm and they triggered the sound envelope(s). With MPE becoming the norm, maybe the new generation of synths will have a special MPE mode where envelopes can be toggled on and off. If they're off, then a new set of response parameters become available to control filter and amplifier modulation routings with gate/cv or midi CC#'s.

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Hey Starsky, Thank you for this video. I got on the Osmose Kickstarter and I'm glad I did. I need to experiment more with using it as a controller for my MPE synths, though the built in engine sounds great. I appreciate your discussion about the editor. I haven't even installed it on my machines yet because it looks so counter intuitive. Editing and storing presets on the unit itself is a breeze, of course. In some ways, this reminds me of what it must have been like when the DX7 first came out. People tended to use that as a preset machine. I hope we'll see some more 3rd party Osmose patches.

[@RobertFisher1969]

Glad you took the time to do this. Best review so far. One thing that is strange to me is why I haven’t yet found a demo of playing the SWAM instruments with an Osmose. I would think both Audio Modeling and Expressive E would be interested in showing that off. Or at least someone would be showing off why those companies aren’t interested in showing it.

[@bricelory9534]

Benn Jordan just released a video about physical modelling and has a section where he uses Osmose to control SWAM, though he doesn't highlight the Osmose as a controller - but it does show that it seems to work quite well with it.

[@JoshuaSimonson909]

@@bricelory9534 do you have a link to that video? I'm interested in the Audio Modeling plugins and the Osmose, and I'd love to see them working together

[@vinnieRice]

Best 'big picture' video I've seen on this (and I've seen them all). Still waiting for mine - only six months so far. I'd be very surprised if there wasn't work been done on a much more accessible editor for musicians rather than scientists - big opportunity for somebody, ditto with the manual. This is just the start.

[@grindhouseglitch]

The Osmose is one of the most inspiring instrument I've ever played. The only keyboard that can compete with my guitars on that front.

[@DankePlace]

Not true, a keytar can play like an axe and you can even shred it by playing it upside down. 🤣

[@ericcollins1824]

No doubt , just bought one for this very reason . Years of habitually applying my hard won guitar player vibrato to synth keys with no effect is finally over ! ! Love it so much . I’ve been into hardware mpe stuff for a few years and have continuum , hydrasynth and deluge in my hybrid guitar/synth/vocal rig . Osmose puts the other interfaces to shame almost . Others all have their niche but osmose is the all arounder and has me getting so much more out of everything else as a controller . The feel of letting my fingers each ‘talk’ like the guitars I’ve been banging away on for four and a half decades is second to none . Stoked to see folks starting to make sound packs and imagine other hardware will start to creep out as well . There is no telling where this will end up taking us but it will ironically be a more organic and human place for electronic music thru the power of tech . Thank goodness it works out that way every once in a rare while !

[@Element0145]

I want one of these so bad , this is one of the coolest I’ve seen . A lot of customization but with everything it does you could do almost anything it seems

[@frankvaleron]

This is the best review of the osmose I've seen. I think they priced it very fairly for the innovative quality you get. There are synths that cost way more but I'm not sure they give the artistry of this

[@StarskyCarr]

High praise indeed.. thanks :)

[@carlcaulkett3050]

That's a great guide to this amazing keyboard. I notice you snuck in a couple of lines from "The Cutter" by Echo and the Bunnymen, just after 24:00. It took me a couple of moments to recognise as it was slightly out of context 😉 I've yet to get to part 5 - Rejection, in the video but I doubt if it's going to be enough to put me off. Great video! Thanks very much 😃

[@screenwhirlpool]

i really hope expressive e makes an update to the eaganmatrix software to be easier to learn and use

[@StarskyCarr]

I think once you’ve got to grips with it it will fall into place. It’s the initial learning curve that’s not helped by the literature. I think that would be the quickest and easiest way to make it more accessible to most for a starter.

[@N-trepid1]

Loved the vid--especially the editor piece. Im lucky enough to own both the Osmose and the Roli Seaboard. While I agree that the Osmose is (initially) MUCH easier to play than the Seaboard, the Roli has a distinct edge in the area of slide and glide. With the Osmose, you may also notice some "key clacking'" in lateral key movement when invoking vibrato, etc. That said, they are both killer MPE controllers! :)

[@ichigen511]

Much like the Sony FX3 was used to film The Creator, the Osmose was used to create the soundtrack to Dune. Amazing when a revolutionary piece of gear is actually realized in modern art. Absolutely wonderful. Osmose is the next CS-80.

[@JBrm]

That's probably the most helpful video out there if you're thinking about getting an osmose. Thanks for doing it!

[@macronencer]

I'm expecting my Osmose around December, so this was a really useful preview - thank you! I've already watched some tutorials about the Eaganmatrix, and although it's definitely not for the casual user, it's also not quite as complicated as it first appears (which admittedly might not be saying much!). I do think they should write some sort of "beginner's mode" wrapper for it to allow a more familiar method of connecting the internal modules together. It would be a nice way to start making a patch, fine-tuning it later in the expert mode. It would save a lot of time, I think. I'll probably be using mine as a studio controller as well as a synth. I have a Linnstrument at the moment, and I love that as well (I'm never selling it!). But I've always been a keyboardist so I suspect Osmose will suit me better when I'm playing more technically demanding material.

[@symbiat0]

I think a lot of people buying one, myself included, are planning to also use it as a master controller for the rest of their gear (which makes it a bit easier to justify the purchase to your spouse 😂)

[@rleriche5044]

You're a star for staying with this thing to bring a genuinely insightful breakdown. My impression is that it brings intuitive expression and unusable programming. But half of expression is in patch design... Bad user manuals make me want to shout at things lol it's like they exhausted themselves getting the thing finished and just phoned in the instructions. Plenty of room for improvement; which will come.

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for pointing out issues/problems beginning at around @25:00

[@bobmason1361]

A fascinating instrument. I owned a CS80 years back and it astounds me that Yamaha didn't do this decades ago. Great explanation, thanks.

[@AdamsOlympia]

Did you sell it for 60 thousand dollars? Or live to regret selling it too soon? ;) I can't imagine that kind of appreciation ever happening again.

[@josejuancerdabarraza3544]

Wow the tilting in the keys to bend the pitch reminds me of the Yamaha CS30, the keyboard has only a tiny metal sheet in the key that connects to a cable, the rightmost the contact point the higher the pitch and the leftmost the lower, so if you moved a little the keys had a very little and barely noticeable change in the pitch, it worked better with the black keys as it seemed to be a little more spaced than the white ones

[@joeBloggs-yo6jw]

I was one of the early buyers... Admittedly I sold mine on as I had qualms on the overall build and harshness of the sound engine (though to be honest I guess many will be using it primarily as a controller)... overall though I have to commend Expressive E for just trying to do something different... the next iterations of this will be really quite something I feel. We're in exciting new territory... can you imagine something like this and the Synthplant 2 plug in for example?!

[@bassnsax]

Smashing video, Starsky! Being primarily a bassist myself, the Osmose Expressive E seems to be most analogous to a "fretless keyboard" (or maybe that's a better analogy for the Roli Seaboard series? 🤷‍♂). I'd be lying if I wasn't tempted to - at the very least - try one out! But I have to thank you for taking the time to explain the Haken Editor! If I were to just look at it, I would be ABSOLUTELY LOST (much like my still-beginner-synth-brain is with my Uno Synth Pro's Mod Matrix 🙃🫠), but now it makes SOO much more sense! Keep up the stellar work, and cheers from across the pond!

[@ghavinga]

Nice "touch" love the 7 stages idea. By the way Osmose doesn't use velocity, but "pressure" mapped as Z. It allows you to create an envelope for each key manually. I'm at stage 5 at the moment. But slowly getting through it learning the EaganMatrix. There is also a great EaganMatrix cookbook manual with many clarifying examples.

[@StarskyCarr]

An ha… I’ll have to check it out, cheers. And yeah I should said pressure rather than velocity

[@EricBayer]

Slight correction, it can use velocity too, but most patches are primarily based on deflection and then pressure (Z/pressure and Y respectively on the Continuum.)

[@hunterfrederick2731]

I’m already ready for the osmose 2 to come out. Main wishlist. Snappier sound changing. A 61 key version. Built in music stand attachment points (either upwards for iPads or flat for laptops). And maybe a few other nice to have as like scene selection, and a lot more sounds including classic instruments.

[@billybartcody3591]

Haha, loved the little Echo & The Bunnymen riff in there ;)

[@StarskyCarr]

🤫😂😂 I was a HUGE fan.

[@geephlips]

@@StarskyCarrI was about to ask about that. The first four albums are impeccable.

[@GoodAfternoonDave]

the keyboard as an MPE controller without that sound engine/editor, would sell like hotcakes.

[@cemdasou]

The engine harmonises so so well with the keyboard which makes a difference to use with plug ins. Anyway I’m using is stand alone on stage and it’s got all inside. As well I use it as a controller only. I guess it’s perfect how it is. A fantastic piece of art!

[@DavGreg]

It is selling well as it is.

[@Sylkis89]

​@@cemdasouMaybe they could make it modular that you can buy it just as a synth to be used with any other MPE controller, just as a controller without the synth, or both together. Make buying either just the synth or just the controller cheaper than the full package, but getting the full package cheaper than buying the modules separately. Still it would be great to allow people to maybe first buy one part, and then the other at a later time. Or if it would not be feasible to make it into physical modules that can exist without each other, then at least make it possible to buy it as a controller with the synth side software blocked cheaper, and then when you pay the difference at a later time you can unlock the synth features. Or something like that.

[@cemdasou]

@@Sylkis89 if it would be about the price…agree. Just now expressive E is offering for Black Friday with big discount. The synth engine doesn’t take much space since the control need to be for a controller in any way anyway. Anyway the keyboard is really just gorgeous to play to handle to express with. And having all in one housing is a good advantage going on stage.

[@izzymonkey]

I just don't understand the "harshness" observations I've seen in various places. Mine sounds unbelievably good; my bandmates spent considerable time with it and immediately felt the same. It sounds lush not harsh, and your recording here is one of the few on YT to do it justice. Have to add 💯🔥 for the opening DUNE reference. On point, that!

[@bodhibeats8257]

I’d love to hear more about Osmose as a Hydrasynth controller when you get there! 😁

[@kierenmoore3236]

Hydrasynth, amongst others … Aren’t Sequential synths responsive to MPE … ?!

[@ScottAdair]

Iridium is also MPE capable

[@GalileoAnonimus]

Absolutely the fullest review available now. Thanks.

[@zap7759]

The sound engine is awesome but I think Doepfer LMK4+ would be a wiser choice for the amount of currency. Obviously a personal choice and excited to see what people do with this.

[@StarskyCarr]

That’s a standard piano style keybed isn’t it? Not MPE?

[@zap7759]

​@@StarskyCarrYes sir, master keyboard with the Fatar 40 graded hammer action and 8 zones (different velocity and AT per), presets. Different thing altogether besides the asking price in the states. Looking forward to what you and others do with this nonetheless.

[@davlippo7]

It's been speculated that eventually a more user friendly software interface will eventually be released. My keys can pitch bend 96 semi tones if I set it that way internally however it can only do whatever an external synth allows.

[@cheekynuke]

The Slate & Ash stuff would be ideal for this keyboard.

[@Johnnyjawbone]

I've got one of these on pre order. Delivery date, January 1st 2024. What a way to start the year. By the way, I'm not a skilled musician... at all. Feel a little like an imposter after watching the Osmose trailers. The musicians in that, their passion was so contagious I just had to do it.

[@philipford6183]

Still waiting for someone to show how this keyboard is pretty stunning when used with traditional ethnic instruments - I saw I brief video some time ago, with an Indian musician playing what sounded like a Bansuri (Indian flute) on the Osmose. It sounded beautiful. Unfortunately, I've never seen anyone demo it again on the Osmose.

[@RikMaxSpeed]

The Nord Modular also has different clock rates for audio signals vs control signals: this is very common in software synths to save compute power, you don’t want to spend CPU cycles updating LFOs and envelopes at 48kHz.

[@StarskyCarr]

True but my point was that the labelling isn’t clear. So after trying all sorts of combinations of numbers and x10, x100 etc to get to kHz, meanwhile dealing with constant crashes I was having while accidentally knocking the z axis graph below zero when testing different settings, it was a real slog to get to it.

[@RikMaxSpeed]

@@StarskyCarr Absolutely, and there’s no doubt that this is a pretty complicated synth to learn. Another problem with physical modelling is estimating the parameter values to use, they often have a pretty narrow band and complex interactions with each other.

[@djjuno106]

I was lucky enough too be the first too get one in England and it really is a beautiful piece of gear but does take a lot of time and practice and tweaking to set up to your own taste . A few plugins that integrate perfectly with it are - Massive x Pigments Roli studio Equator You really need try it out with those it breaths new life into these oldish vsts . Another thing is it will also add mpe too plugins and synths which don’t have mpe support. It Varys synth to synth but it can control many parameters on each key ..so for example you can map it so as you press harder on the key it will open a filter or add more lfo and as you bend you can map left and right as separate parameters . If you don’t want mpe you can turn that off on the osmose and use it as a normal controller. Another thing many people don’t talk more about is you have a few pedal inputs on the back and these too can control inependant parameters as well as each key. You can set it so the sustain pedal will sustain a note and it will be pitch perfect then any notes you play on top can all be bent but the pedal note will still be in key. With your other foot if you have a expression pedal you can use that too open and close the filter . It’s really crazy what you can do with it🎉 Unfortunately I’ve had mine in storage for last 4 months because I’m in process of moving and can’t wait too get it out and play again

[@StarskyCarr]

Interesting what you say about the pedals, as I noticed some cool stuff like it depends when you press a sustain pedal on what is sustained eg pressure can be held or not etc.

[@angelgcastro1]

This is a great instrument, but the ROLI Seaboard has the upper hand where you can Slide and Glide which is superb for expression.

[@cemdasou]

I play the seaboard for several years now and got used to but the Osmose is just great and since I got it my Roli is almost abandoned

[@AdamsOlympia]

Pair OSMOSE with a Haken Continuum suspended right behind and above the keys and a Expressive E Touche' next to it. Best of all worlds.

[@thedeepblueskys]

I would totally enjoy using one of these, and could see my self getting lost into the editor. It’s a lot unlike what I currently own, and for that reason alone, I love it. Do I see my self buying one any time soon? No, and I’m not really sure if it applies to me. It’s more for an actual musician or movie score/sound designer. One thing is for sure, I’d probably find my self using a lot. So in a nut shell I wanna keep this in the back of my consciousness and see where it goes. Great review btw!

[@mynickisnick4302]

13:13 - on a fretless keyboard mind the intonation!

[@invinciblemusic]

I have had the Osmose for about 2 months and the thing that is making it a deal breaker for me is that the reverb cannot be totally shut off even on bass patches. I set the global and individual reverb to zero and it is still is there. If anyone knows what I am doing wrong that owns one please chime in. On the GS forums no one has a solution.

[@gumse666]

I'm at stage zero "Available in 10 to 13 weeks"

[@davlippo7]

The new OS update fixes the lag. Available now. I have two Osmose units. One has polished looking keys and the second one has dull non-polished looking keys. Not sure why they switched keys at some point.

[@nosuchperson284]

I would think if sometimes having the pitch bend capabilities makes it tricky to play traditional keyboard parts, if one has a 3 pedal piano setup that can plug into this, I would probably program the damper pedal to turn the pitch bend off or on as its default. I'd probably use that a lot

[@StarskyCarr]

Definitely. I’d see this as the ‘MPE’ keyboard for those parts that are enhanced by the control, but have another for eg pianos.

[@stevehunt2125]

Getting mine on Thursday!

[@JoshuaSimonson909]

One day I'll own the Osmose, when i do, i hope I hope i can learn how to dive deep into making great presets with the Haken Audio software, i suspect in time the software will be updated and improved and other MPE plugins are looking to be really appealing as well, Phase Plant for example looks really appealing for MPE controllers such as the Osmose, also i want the Vector Synth if i wanted a hardware synth

[@RyanHarris77]

I can’t wait for mine to arrive next month. I’ve dreamt about the expressiveness of a stringed instrument in keyboard form.

[@RyanHarris77]

Well… production is delayed due to logistics and I might not have it for another month or two 😭

[@ConstantinPhillipou]

This is the only keyboard that got me excited as much as the CS-80 for its feel and sound palette. If it was analog and had a ribbon and another octave, it would have been the king of all synths ever made. Hopefully Osmose 2!

[@AdamsOlympia]

Polybrute 12, hold my beer.

[@synthplayer1563]

I think you're being a little harsh on the sound editor. How else should this matrix structure with the functions at the connection points be mapped? But what I would like would be if you could turn on animations of the connections while playing so you can better understand the flow. Based on my own experiments, I recommend starting with very simple things and really understanding them first. I also recommend taking a good look at the Eagan Matrix cookbook. There are many important examples and explanations for practice

[@StarskyCarr]

I actually edited out a lot of stuff with the editor not doing things you would expect - things like loading the tutorials doesn’t work for me etc. I toned it down a lot from my first edit. I still figured most stuff out (still waiting back in support for others). It’s just not as intuitive as everything else. I’m not saying the matrix is bad, it makes sense - but the literature and other bits let it down. I did start with really simple things - but like I demo’d the filter cutoff took hours to figure out, the release was a pita etc I’ve got it now but it shouldn’t have taken anywhere near the time it did. What I find frustrating is other people will have a similar experience and a lot will give up - that’s a real shame. It’s better than it presents itself. And the Eagan cookbook should be in the Downloads. I’ve never heard of it before the comments in this video. I’ve searched for manuals, tutorial, instructions etc. it never appeared. Again just an example of not organising and presenting stuff as well as it could be. The fact there’s a cookbook and I spent 2 days doing pretty simple stuff is infuriating tbh 🤦‍♂️😂

[@DaveBessell]

@@StarskyCarr there are a lot of good youtube tutorial videos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYjWaKqqf8mobs0

[@ricopags]

@@StarskyCarr I really appreciate these notes as I've been eyeing this sweet baby since it was first teased. I've watched literally every review of it. Definitely this is the best overview on the Eagen Matrix editor; your explanation is as simplified as it can be. Especially appreciate you seeking a balanced appraisal; for the price you're absolutely right you shouldn't have to go searching as you have for basic info. Hopefully Expressive E/Hakken can take on your feedback. Seriously great job, and thanks again!

[@555atU]

Two of my friends bought this with much anticipation and excitement. Months later they hardly touch the thing or even a talk about it. They aren't keyboard players however. But when they showed me it, i wasnt turned on by most of the patches and honestly found lots of them off putting. Cool design though and probably fun to play for advanced players. But imo, no amount of expression will make difference if you're not enjoying the sound you're listening to.

[@budgetkeyboardist]

Great video! Is this future, or will it fail to change the game? I'm not making predictions on that.

[@DankePlace]

This isn't a synth imo, it's an instrument that begs to be played, the way you play it is how you get the different timbres, which result in a unique sounding non traditional keyboard approach. Hammer away and you get percussive sounds from the same patch that, with gentle gestures, you can get evolving pads. Simple brilliant.

[@DankePlace]

@@unclemick-synths I don't think many understand the essence of your post, to me it's exacting what a theremin did for electronic instruments BUT it took almost 100 years to apply to synthesizers.

[@AdamsOlympia]

I hope they release a version with their Touche pad controller integrated. Seems it would be ideal for helping do long chord pitch glides or more nuanced modulations. Even better if it's an improved version that copies the Poly12's Morph pad's XY touch control, so it can also double as a touch strip. More potential mod sources is always better, imo.

[@PianoHero1994]

Great video! but I want to clarify that the first centimeter is aftertouch, and the second part of the travel is equivalent to the Y axis movement on the Seaboard.

[@StarskyCarr]

that's correct

[@toslinked]

phenomenal. can we make this the standard please.

[@mrdavies7894]

I just (finally!) acquired an Osmose and it is, indeed, everything I believed it would be from the many videos I’ve watched to inform my decision! It’s a truly incredible value for what you get(!) _but_ I would also say that it is the rare musician - or, at least, keyboardist! - that should have this as a first, primary, or only keyboard. True to form, the Osmose is _very_ quick and easy to get started with and immense expressivity is available right off. One definitely can and should learn to play it as a unique instrument; it has truly whole new worlds to offer. But don’t sell off your piano or vintage synths just yet! The keybed of the Osmose excels at everything you see online… but it does _not_ excel (IMHO) as “just a keyboard”. And if you’re playing anything from Albinoni to Zappa, you will want to have a “just a keyboard” around! To be sure, there are some “pianistic” and EP-style patches that come with a new Osmose. But they are clearly meant to be played interpretively through this instrument - like, “What would a piano sound like if played with violin bows” kinda thing. _Very_ cool! But definitely _not_ a piano! And, whilst the feel of the Osmose keybed lends itself extremely well to its intended purpose, trying to play some Keith Emerson on it will quickly have you reaching for a different axe. If anything, the latest Matrix Brute (the white one) from Arturia seems more of a best-of-all-worlds solution as far as key action goes (caveat I’ve not tried one, based on reviews alone). Bottom line, the Osmose is a _wonderful_ and extremely useful _addition_ to my kit. Not a _replacement_ for any of it.

[@RyanHarris77]

It sounds like the generated frequencies exceed the sample rate and aliasing is occurring, causing audible artifacts. That should be a simple update via firmware.

[@elekktrikk_home_video]

The text to phase one was so poetic and hypnotic, I almost ordered one in a dreamlike state 🥹😃🤩 Glad I followed the video through all phases. I suffered with the main character. And I feel the relief and calmness that follows the last phase. Without ever touching the instrument. That’s a great concept!👍👍👍🤓😉😅

[@els1f]

I truly have never wanted anything as much as that instrument lol. I tried to ignore it like "the gas will pass. Let's see if the hype fog passes" but it's just such a beautiful futuristic instrument that i could imagine in Start Trek lol

[@DavGreg]

My Osmose arrives tomorrow. Thanks for this.

[@lundsweden]

What kind of synthesis does it use? Additive or physical modelling perhaps?

[@DaveBessell]

It does many kinds of synthesis - additive, various kinds of physical modelling, subtractive, FM, AM, a type of granular, phase modulation, convolution - those are the ones I've found so far!

[@lundsweden]

@@DaveBessell Sounds very complex

[@desktorp]

There are plenty of practical reasons why MPE keyboards don't catch on.. the most obvious thing is that they're expensive. That's not a huge deal, since musicians are used to that.. but they're also complicated. Not just complicated to play with proficiency, but mechanically complicated; that is, there is a lot more to break. Each key has aftertouch and pitch bend, meaning at least 3x the complexity of a standard keybed. I'm personally not even thrilled with aftertouch keyboards. Imagine trying to sell one of these after years of use, having to list which keys don't work at all, which keys the velocity sensitivity is off, which keys the aftertouch is dodgy, which keys the pitch bend is broken. It's a cool concept, but there are definitely reasons why it doesn't work outside of niche (or even gimmick) products. A guitar is relatively simple. Trying to give guitarlike features to a keyboard is immensely complicated.

[@paulusandronicus]

The fact that there are many more companies making them says you are completely wrong....i'm a guitar player and I love my MPE Roli Seaboard...

[@desktorp]

@@paulusandronicus The fact that hardly anybody has one says it will remain that way for the foreseeable future.

[@hakonberg8003]

I really wanted to get one....but now my enthusiasm has cooled a bit. Listening to it I'd use it primarily as a controller for soft synths but i am not convinced how usable it would be for that?

[@annebokma4637]

The haken matrix seems to be a great engine. And this is the most cost effective way to get it. 😊

[@defdac]

The sound engine sounds a bit like the Yamaha DASS (Dual Architectural Synthesis System) from the 90s.

[@nexuzeb79]

Lovely colossus you've got in the back there, Sir... Osmosis makes me think of a pet you just want to cuddle every day all the time...

[@GaitaPonto]

SO...I thought that Osmose would be able to do what lazy Roli wasn`t able to accomplish but now I see it has its own set of bugs...maybe MPE isn`t ready yet.

[@balusachin1]

Is semitone transposition there on osmose??

[@MadelnMachines]

Did they fix the laggy screen issue? I feel amazed by the sounds this thing can great but i'm not sure whether I should get this the roli seaboard, an ableton push 3 or a hydrasynth to get mpe. Do you need to be a good player or can you get amazing results just messing around and experimenting? I would never edit anything in that software apart from tweak the macros - it seems awful.

[@Sylkis89]

Is there some sort of an online market where people can store and share and exchange patches with the community?

[@klavtech2715]

Is there an anti-aliasing filter somewhere in the EagenMatrix to fix up your sawtooth wave?

[@StarskyCarr]

I’ll check the manual 😂

[@klavtech2715]

@@StarskyCarr Mine showed up. Fun to play but I see what you mean about the software and the manual. 🤯

[@StarskyCarr]

@@klavtech2715 😂 have fun. There's a 'cookbook' on their Facebook page apparently - I've not found it yet, which may help with the editor. I've no idea why a link isn't provided in the manual, or if its any use.... but hopefully it can save a couple of hours of head scratching.

[@klavtech2715]

@@StarskyCarr In the Haken Editor itself if you click on the settings gear there is a link to the manual and the cookbook. The cookbook is similarly bewildering!

[@WilfredFumbly]

Does the Osmose Expressive E have what sounds like a theremin patch?

[@OAK-808]

Excellent walk through. Thanks. I'm going to sell my Oberheim Xpander and buy one of these for sure

[@AlfimAlves]

@@OAK-808 no bro lol

[@electrosonicnebula]

A synth porn channel that will also teach you trifles like "swapping the seven stages of grief to the seven stages of enlightenment." Not bad!

[@robappleby583]

It's cool that we're finally moving beyond the obsession with sound engines to making more expressive and playable instruments. And keyboard instruments definitely needed an update to make full expressive use of the engines we have now, especially the digital ones. They have been stuck in a piano keyboard paradigm (pus limited aftertouch). So yeah, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth century. The thing about the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries though, is that they wrote the best music. Their instruments had limited scope, but the music is amazingly expressive. Where's the repertoire for these synths?

[@bobmason1361]

Have they improved the power supply/socket? 61 keys would be great.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Game-changer, would be superb with a Hydrasynth engine or Peak osc’s dropped in for the analogue tones, wavetables etc. Also what a top video Starsky, BTW is that Analogue Solutions there for keeps? If so you deserve it for all your great content. Keep it coming

[@sstrudeau]

🤞 that Peak/Summit get MPE support at some point so you could at least use an Osmose as a controller...

[@StarskyCarr]

Cheers… I’m hoping Tom from AS forgets where he left it 😂

[@OmenAhead]

It's a unique and really really solid instrument, but it comes with quite significant drawbacks and features that other MPE controllers have done equally well or way better at a reduced price too (see Roli Seaboard, Joue Play, Linnstrument, Artiphon Instrument 1 etc). The most obvious one is that you can't access the pitch bend without first triggering pressure. Also, you can't access aftertouch without first triggering all of pressure. So, what independence of gestures and expression are we talking about? 😂 It can do a lot of other things pretty well and the synth engine looks pretty interesting and powerful for sound design, but its expressiveness is nothing that groundbreaking that hasn't been done before in the end.

[@sawssman965]

what type of synthesis engine is this? Looked on the website and didnt really understand what they were tying to say. The main thing stopping me from getting one is desk space.

[@rproctor83]

It is called the EaganMatrix and is designed for sustained modulation. I've not used it yet, but seems promising. The best way to probably understand it is to download it and dissect some existing patches.

[@carlcaulkett3050]

Hey Starsky! UPDATE: I took delivery of the Osmose 2 days ago and absolutely love it 😍 I've begun to investigate the Haken Editor, and, like you mentioned, have been unable to load a preset to any slot other than 1. I've watched the video a couple of times but didn't spot any mention from you of how you got round this issue. Any clues? 😉

[@StarskyCarr]

Congrats on the purchase. I can’t remember what I did in the end. I think it may have had something to do with the synth itself - saving in a patch in the synth perhaps. I can’t remember but I do remember it was just one of those… why didn’t I think of that earlier moments!

[@carlcaulkett3050]

@@StarskyCarr Thanks for the reply! It's okay, i've posted the same question on a number of places 😉

[@MeanderingNL]

Very poetic! Makes me want one!

[@jeffoff7795]

This is exciting.

[@maikolnait1446]

Great innovation and can’t wait to try it. However the presets don’t sound very good. Most sound gimmicky and unsure whether they are really usable in reality…?

[@StarskyCarr]

Maybe I’ve pulled out the more gimmicky ones to demo the functionality and what it can do compared to ‘normal’ synths - but yeah there are a lot of tones with the LFO rate modulated by Z etc. … it’s one reason I wanted to build some patches from scratch (to compare to other stuff in my head)… hence my frustration with the instructions!

[@JohnKeston]

Have you discovered why some of the black keys don't bend consistently? I still have a couple that aren't right after updating the firmware and letting it calibrate several times

[@StarskyCarr]

I've not noticed that. I'll have to have more of a play with it.

[@JohnKeston]

I have reached out to support, but on my unit the Eb in the 3rd octave doesn't bend up unless you bend down first @@StarskyCarr

[@macronencer]

Got mine yesterday! I've been trying the presets and I have to say the plucked ones are far and away the best group. So wonderful to play! I feel like a lot of the presets are kind of overblown, though so far I've been listening on headphones while I make sure it all works, so perhaps it won't sound as "full" on nice monitors. I notice that it came with an EQ tilt curve that was very bass-heavy. I wonder whether that's to make demos sound better? How are you getting on with yours now? Have you had many sensor faults on boot-up? I've had one already, though I've not updated the firmware yet so I'm not going to complain until I've given it a chance :) Hopefully this is, as you say, the start of the MPE revolution. What I'd like to see next is the microtonal revolution, but that's another story...

[@macronencer]

Quick update: it sounds much better on speakers, now that I've flattened the EQ curve. Also, it's possible I was only seeing faults because I hadn't correctly inserted the power supply plug. OOPS!

[@JBlongz]

Thanks for the detailed experience.

[@jackaro2]

Nice demo, brother. I want one!

[@ZipSnipe]

damn these videos !!!! for making me crave the Osmosis !!!!!

[@buttermilkbiscuit1021]

For the price. Why didn't they add an internal DC adapter & an AC peanut plug? You can own a Guinea pig and that wallwort plug is going down.

[@watchaddicts1213]

Considering the ROLI SEABOARD 2, I keep getting hung up on the 5 Points of Control that ROLI has. So we're missing [completely FREE] Glide and Slide [fore/aft]; I love both of those. And is that TRULY "LIFT" like ROLI LIFT? I guess LIFT is LIFT. AND THEN, there's the new ROLI "HALO" looking thing. IT's cool. Kind of an enhanced version of Gecko, if you remember that. I would be embarrassed to use the HALO thing, if my CAT were in the room watching me. SHE'D be thinking: SILLY OLD MAN. I FEAR Stages 6 and 7! My big question is the SYNTH in it, yeah, the sound engine. I'll sit on my hands and wait for you to describe the Sound Engine. Can you make edits to presets on the EDITOR and then the synth will respond? I guess so, if you can make your own patches... EDITOR: Need oxygen. It is a clumsy soul....and fiddly, I think the SONICS are Absolutely DELIGHTFUL and RICH!! Sounds like sounds from the 1st KING CRIMSON album. Well...that was exhausting, but worth it. I was afraid that Stage 7 was NOT going to be Julie Andrews.

[@gcfddddfhhhhhhfrre]

osmose is most expressive synth but i dont think i could learn the maths😢

[@DaveBessell]

My maths is not good but I found my way around the editor OK. There are a lot of different types of synthesis available though so don't expect to learn how to use them all immediately.

[@blipblip88]

What fun!

[@ivanskunov9166]

Great idea with stages! Thanks! But my stage is the waiting stage.I'll wait until all the bugs are dead. And, to be honest, this stage has always helped me out)

[@djjuno106]

There’s not that many bugs and nothing which would hinder you in any way . Mine came with a really buggy firmware and couldn’t use it for first few weeks until an official firmware came out but since that update it’s been rock solid

[@ivanskunov9166]

Great!Thanks!The fact that we had to wait only a couple of weeks for the new firmware is a good sign for users and causes unconditional respect for the manufacturer. (greetings from Roland). But the waiting stage can be justified by the technological novelty of the keyboard... Anyway, my human life is short

[@DaveBessell]

@@ivanskunov9166 There are a few small bugs but as said above nothing that will get in the way of using and enjoying the machine.

[@yewfh-oz7in]

Looks like a nice instrument. Does it hold up against the Roli Seaboard? Seems a bit more restrictive, albeit more traditional with a classier appearance..

[@StarskyCarr]

It is slightly more restrictive. For example, you need to set the bend amount per patch (from 0-96 semitones) so you can't just slide across everything at anytime, and you need to pass through the X axis to get to the Y. I think, however, that making it more traditionally playable is a worthy compromise. If you only want to use it for orchestral tones perhaps the Role would be a better choice, but for a wider range of control this squeezes through the posts.

[@greysuit17]

This sounds amazing! I’m a guitarist and in no way a keyboard player and I want one!

[@tonyodoherty6241]

You haven’t mentioned anything about how well……or not……this will integrate with other software?….You touch on it at the very end. Any chance you could do a piece on any well known software synth/instrument integrating with the Osmose?…A great instrument but very little info re this……I’d buy one tomorrow if I knew for certain it was reasonably easy to use with other plugins etc…I’m not talking mind blowing facilities just your bog standard…vib…bends..volume..portamento etc…

[@InFamousProductions]

Hell yeah, Starsky baby, always to the end. That synth sounds so amazing and the programming possibilities are so intriguing. I would love to have that synth. Does it have a randomizer in the software?

[@DaveBessell]

No randomizer.

[@InFamousProductions]

@@DaveBessell I hope they add that. it would open it up X1000000

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

I just want one as a controller no synth

[@stoneytony9351]

This one sound so great 🥰

[@JKVisFX]

I'm just talking about the synth sounds themselves here, I have no doubt in my mind that as an instrument, this is indeed a groundbreaking instrument. However, the patch sounds themselves really leave me underwhelmed. They just don't sound very good, not pleasant to my ear at all. I'm hearing all kinds of weird harmonics and distortions in the sounds that are very irritating to me. I love the "traditional" synth sounds that you can get with analogue, fm, and wavetable synths. That's the kind of music I like to create. Can this instrument make those kinds of sounds?

[@micknorthyard815]

I had similar thoughts myself...

[@sawssman965]

I thought the exact opposite. This thing sounds awesome to me. As far as I heard, the articulations are adjustable.

[@scarvello]

I guess it’s preference but I love everything about these sounds

[@JKVisFX]

@@scarvello And that's what is wonderful about this world of electronic music and instruments. There is something for everybody. One's likes and dislikes are as individual as are the practitioners of this musical form. I love that.

[@HowToShopGreen]

This is why the Osmose sets it apart from all the rest. If you don’t like the default sounds you can modify them. If you want the straight waveform sounds with no distortion then this keyboard is not the right choice for you.

[@maxmeier532]

14:00 When the bending is turned off, there is still a bending effect. 👎

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah I think it’s a bug when working with Logic - not on all the keys. I’ll have to check if the latest update tree has ironed it out.