Expressive E’s Soliste & Osmose: A New Blueprint for Playable Strings

The video opens with composer Josh Madoff introducing the pairing of Expressive E’s Osmose keyboard and the Soliste plugin, setting the stage for a demonstration that’s all about expressive digital string performance. Soliste is positioned not as another sample-based library, but as a new breed of string instrument—one that leverages physical modeling to break free from the static nature of traditional sample sets.

Expressive E’s vision, as reflected in both their hardware and software, is to make electronic instruments as playable and nuanced as their acoustic counterparts. This ethos is front and center here: the focus is on how Soliste, designed specifically for MPE workflows, responds to the most subtle gestures, translating them into a dynamic, emotionally resonant string soundscape.

Physical modeling is presented as the technological backbone of Soliste, offering a fundamentally different approach from sample libraries. Instead of being limited to the articulations and timbres captured in a recording session, users can shape every aspect of the sound in real time. The plugin models the physical properties of string instruments—shape, material, resonance—allowing for a nearly infinite range of articulations and tonal colors.

This architecture means no more massive sample libraries eating up disk space, and the flexibility to morph between sounds that would otherwise require dozens of key switches or patches. However, the video doesn’t shy away from the complexity: programming a physical modeling engine can be daunting, with parameter sets that dwarf those of typical sample libraries.

Expressive E’s solution is to sidestep deep menu-diving by leveraging the Osmose’s MPE capabilities. Instead of laborious programming, the player’s gestures become the primary interface, letting musicians intuitively sculpt sound and articulation in real time—an architectural shift that’s as much about workflow as it is about sound quality.

Soliste’s control scheme is split into two main domains: pitch and bow. Pitch control can be entirely manual—every bend and vibrato coming directly from the player’s gestures—or assisted, with the plugin providing vibrato support that can be dialed in for amplitude, fade-in, and speed. This hybrid approach allows for both raw expressiveness and performance safety nets, especially useful for those less comfortable with continuous pitch control.

The bow section is equally flexible, offering modes like sustain, back and forth, and programmable tremolo. Each mode responds to pressure, aftertouch, and finger movement, translating MPE data into nuanced bowing articulations. The inclusion of an attack envelope, resonant body selection, EQ, timbre filtering, and reverb rounds out the plugin’s sound-shaping arsenal. Articulation menus are deep, with both long and short options and further sub-variants, making Soliste a true playground for expressive control.

The video moves from feature overview to practical workflow as Madoff builds a cinematic string arrangement inside a DAW. He sets up a quartet template—violin, viola, cello, and bass—all routed through a shared effects bus for cohesion. Each part is recorded individually, with the performer using Soliste’s articulations and the Osmose’s MPE sensitivity to capture nuanced dynamics and phrasing.

Editing is a key part of the process: MPE data for pitch, slide, and pressure is easily adjusted in the DAW, allowing for fine-tuning of expression curves and timing. Quantization is used judiciously to retain human feel, and articulation changes are made on the fly, demonstrating how Soliste’s architecture supports both real-time performance and detailed post-production. The workflow is streamlined, yet flexible—ideal for composers who need both speed and depth.