A customizable MPE MIDI controller for your soft synths and analog gear

The unique Erae Touch was one of many extra attention-grabbing MPE controllers to come back out in the previous few years. Nevertheless it’s been in the marketplace for lower than three years. So it was one thing of a shock when Embodme confirmed as much as NAMM 2024 with Erae II, the subsequent iteration of its customizable controller with vital upgrades and one sudden new characteristic.

Now, it is vital to notice that the model of the Erae II I used to be capable of take a look at out was very early prototype. There have been a number of bugs, the development undoubtedly had some tough edges. However the firm has loads of time to iron these out. The Kickstarter marketing campaign opens on February 15 with an anticipate ship date someday in June.

However the imaginative and prescient is already clear. The principle floor is basically the identical, a singular easy expanse with RGB lights beneath it. These are used for instance varied layouts that may be custom-made. It may be a normal keyboard, a grid, faders, a step sequencer, et cetera. The design is unquestionably extra refined, even at this early stage. It additionally acknowledges that whereas the customizability of the controller was an enormous draw, it maybe relied an excessive amount of on the desktop app and the enjoying floor for dealing with settings.

The up to date model has a lot of buttons throughout the highest for rapidly swapping layouts, controlling the brand new MIDI looper and accessing different settings. There’s additionally a small, however excessive decision display tucked within the high righthand nook subsequent to a jog wheel. The viewing angles on the display had been stable and it is loads sharp, however its dimension might pose some challenges. I am not going to guage it by this very early model of the firmware, however I needed to squint fairly onerous to make out the tiny textual content laying out all of the MIDI assignments.

The controller itself was very responsive, although. The brand new sensors (16,000 of them to be particular) had been capable of observe my glides and delicate shifts in strain with unbelievable accuracy. The corporate claims the enjoying floor has sub-millimeter accuracy. Clearly there is not any means I might really put that to the take a look at on the present flooring however, suffice it to say, it was correct.

I can already inform that the Erae requires fairly a little bit of nuance, although, to get really expressive outcomes from the aftertouch. The floor does not have a variety of give, so tiny adjustments in strain can lead to massive adjustments to the sound.

One of many shocking issues is that the Erae II could have swappable skins, sort of just like the Sensel Morph (RIP) or the Joué Play, but additionally, not. The unit I performed had a silicone cowl like the unique that the corporate says is supposed for individuals who need to play the Erae II with drum stick. It’s going to will ship with a white cloth one although, which was particularly meant to enhance the texture and responsiveness for these enjoying with their fingers.

Altering the skins is a bit concerned, nonetheless. As a result of Embodme sees the Erae not merely as a instrument for the studio, however as a reside efficiency system it needed to verify the covers could be safe and standup to abuse. So that you truly need to unscrew the body to pop on a brand new pores and skin. And because the show on the Erae is already customizable, it isn’t bothering to have skins with explicit layouts, simply completely different supplies.

Embodme additionally added a ton of latest connectivity choices. The unique merely had a USB-C port and a TRS MIDI out. However the Erae II could have two MIDI out ports, a MIDI in jack, two USB ports, with the power to be both a number or a tool, and 24 configurable analog outs that may ship gate, set off and CV to exterior gear.

Clearly it is approach to early to know for certain how properly the Erae II will standup to actual world use. Nevertheless it’s bought a promising characteristic set and an intriguing design. If you wish to be among the many first to get your palms on one you can again it on Kickstarter beginning February 15 with early fowl costs of $549 or $649, relying on how early you hop on. When it reaches retail later within the 12 months, nonetheless, it is going to be going for $799.