Expressive E bring us a new software instrument that will undoubtedly excite and resonate. Roland Schmidt makes a racket!

Presets Packed with a full 1200 presets, all nicely curated by instrument style

LAYER 01 Create your first synth layer

EXPRESSION Control of expression, from envelope control to MPE settings

LFO Modulate elements within resonators, to create movement within your patch

LAYER 02 Access your second synth layer, to thicken the patch further

FILTER The flexible filter section, with five included filter types

NOISE The noise acts as the exciter for each resonator

RESONATOR The oscillator comb resonator for analoguestyle waveforms

MIXER Blend and pan the three signals from the resonators

ACOUSTIC RESONATOR One of four new forms of acoustic resonator

Synthesisers come in many shapes and sizes; from hardware to software, East to West coast, there are many different takes on the familiar form factors. But if there’s one country that has a tendency to innovate in the realm of music technology, it’s France. From IRCAM to Jean-Michel Jarre, France has an enviable reputation for sonic experimentation and innovation, including a slew of notable developer brands.

Getting Expressive!

French company Expressive E is the latest collective to participate in this tradition. In historic terms, it’s a relatively young company, but that hasn’t prevented it from creating sonic ripples via its innovative hardware designs and software instruments. Their relentless pursuit of musical expression through the use of MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) runs through its product listings like lettering through a stick of rock, and that extends to its latest software release, Noisy 2.