Expressive E Osmose: Redefining Expressivity in Digital Production Workflows

One of the Osmose’s defining features is its highly sensitive keybed, which Tonnerre explores in depth. Each key responds to subtle variations in pressure, allowing for dynamic control over volume, timbre, and even triggering release sounds. This opens up a spectrum of performance possibilities, from gentle pads that swell under the fingertips to percussive, glimmering textures that emerge from rapid, light touches.

Tonnerre demonstrates how this expressivity isn’t just theoretical—it’s integral to his process. By varying pressure and attack, he morphs presets like “Lydie” from soft pads to magical, sparkling effects, and uses the keybed’s sensitivity to create blooming, evolving motions that would be impossible on a standard keyboard. The tactile feedback and real-time modulation empower him to shape each note’s envelope and character directly, making the instrument feel like an extension of his creative intent.

Tonnerre’s production techniques highlight the Osmose’s versatility as both a standalone synth and a powerful MPE controller. He showcases how built-in presets like “Dirty OSC Pad,” “Balancing Spray,” and “Crackling Things” can be transformed into organic soundscapes, SFX, and evolving textures simply through nuanced finger movements. Layering takes, modulating effects, and exploiting the stereo field, he crafts immersive environments that blur the line between sound design and composition.

The workflow extends seamlessly into the digital realm. Tonnerre details the process of configuring Osmose as an MPE controller in Ableton Live, emphasizing the importance of correct MIDI setup and the creative potential unlocked by pairing Osmose with MPE-ready plugins like Noisy 2 and Meld. He demonstrates how expressive gestures—pressure, aftertouch, pitch bends—can be mapped to software parameters, enabling real-time modulation of synths, samplers, and even non-MPE devices via Ableton’s Expression Control.

A particularly compelling aspect is the use of Osmose’s onboard MPE arpeggiator and Pressure Glide features, which can now be routed to external instruments thanks to firmware updates. This allows for advanced performance techniques—like aftertouch-controlled octave shifts and ratchets—directly from the hardware, streamlining creative automation and deepening the integration between physical gesture and digital sound manipulation.

The video concludes by underscoring the dual nature of the Osmose: it excels as a standalone synthesizer with a rich internal engine, but its true power is unlocked when used as an MPE controller in a modern DAW environment. Tonnerre’s examples with Ableton’s stock devices, Noisy 2, and Expression Control illustrate how easily the Osmose can slot into diverse production setups, from DAWless jams to intricate studio sessions.

Expressive E’s presentation makes clear that the Osmose is more than just a novel keyboard—it’s a bridge between tactile performance and digital flexibility. For producers and sound designers seeking to push beyond static MIDI data and embrace a more nuanced, gesture-driven workflow, this tutorial offers both inspiration and practical guidance on integrating expressive hardware into contemporary music-making.