Expressive E’s Soliste MPE string instruments are “physically modelled for real bowing under your fingers”

Expressive E has launched a new collection of physically modelled MPE string instruments, which let musicians control aspects like bowing, vibrato, and more.

The Soliste collection offers four string instruments – the VLN. 356 (Violin), the VLA. 419 (Viola), the CLO. 756 (Cello), and the DBS. 1130 (Double Bass) – with each made to unlock “every nuance” of their real life counterparts. They are available individually or as a complete Soliste bundle.

The Soliste collection works with all MPE controllers (and regular MIDI controllers), but was made with Expressive E’s widely-praised Osmose in mind: the MPE polyphonic synth looks just like a traditional digital keyboard, but allows musicians to shape pitch, volume, intensity, and vibrato much more expressively.

The interface for each Soliste instrument features a visualisation of a real-life violin, viola, cello, or double bass, and you can even select your favourite model by switching through different resonant bodies. On either side of the instrument sits two panels – one for pitch, and one for bow – which can open up to full pages with further controls.

On the bow page you can find controls for attack, expression, and linking notes, plus a set of advanced bow parameters. The pitch page lets you adjust assisted vibrato and portamento (pitch sliding).

There are a range of built-in, simple effects, and three core playing modes (Classic, Virtuoso and Expressive), which allow for different levels of gesture and the further advancement of controls if desired. Classic mode is designed to be the easiest to use.

Find out more in the walk-through below:

Expressive E’s Osmose has been praised by the likes of Jordan Rudess and Hans Zimmer. Last year, speaking of his work on Dune 2, Zimmer said: “When you play a note on a piano, basically it goes ‘plonk’, and it dies out. What [Expressive E has] done is when you touch the keyboard, it knows you’re already touching the keyboard. Within that travel of that key, the sound can change completely.”

The Soliste collection is available now for an introductory price of €179.40 (€299 at full price). You can find out more, or shop each instrument individually, via Expressive E.