Discover the go-to tools for MIDI expression in this round-up of the best MPE-capable instrument plugins
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI protocol has been around since the early eighties, but until relatively recently, MIDI has only supported limited expression parameters on a per-channel basis. In 2017 though, that all changed with the introduction of MIDI Polyphonic Expression, or MPE for short. This essentially gave each note its own MIDI channel and opened up a new world of potential for expressive performance and control on a per-note basis.
Since then, software developers have been scrambling to offer products that make use of the new MPE standard, in a bid to keep up with competitors. In this article, we’re running through some of the instrument plugins with the best MPE implementation, and how they can help you to take your productions and performances up a notch.
In This Article
- Expressive E Noisy
- U-He – Hive/Diva/Repro
- Pitch Innovations Fluid Chords/Pitch
- Rob Papen: Predator 3
- Phase Plant
- Pigments
- ROLI Equator/Cypher 2
Expressive E: Noisy – €149.00
Best MPE instruments for evolving tones and sound design
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Price: |
€149.00 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3 |
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Features: |
Compatible with Expressive E’s Touché hardware, six hybrid synthesis resonators across two layers, deep Expressive FX section, over 400 factory presets |
If you’re familiar with the world of MPE, you’ll have heard of the French company Expressive E. Their biggest contribution to the evolution of MPE is their Osmose and Touché hardware, but they’re responsible for a number of advanced and expressive software plugins too. One of those plugins is Noisy, which combines elements of physical modelling and subtractive synthesis to give you an extremely versatile and playable synth.
Noisy uses the principles of acoustic resonance to create unique and compelling sounds with both electronic and acoustic properties. Across two layers, the six resonators each combine the familiarity of subtractive synthesis with the power of physical modelling.
While 400+ presets and the ability to layer sounds should give you plenty to work with, the Expressive FX section of Noisy is where the party starts. With several modulatable effects slots and modules, it’s easy to add seamless articulation to your sounds with the Expressive E Touché hardware and Intelligent Modulation System. Noisy is also compatible with third-party MPE controllers, or you can even make the most of its functionality with your DAW’s MPE editing capabilities.
u-he: Diva (€180.50) / Hive 2 (€150.25) / Repro (€150.25)
Best suite of MPE-enabled software instruments
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Price: |
€150.25 - €180.50 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3 |
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Features: |
Huge preset banks, budget-friendly alternatives to costly vintage analogue equipment, low CPU usage, MPE-compatible |
u-he are the developers behind some of the best-loved software synthesizers on the market, and although each of their plugins has its own distinct strengths, one thing that many of them have in common is their MPE compatibility. Diva, Hive 2 and Repro are just some of those synths. Diva is u-he’s answer to analogue synthesis; Hive 2 is a powerful but user-friendly wavetable synth; while Repro’s Repro-1 and Repro-5 engines are meticulously modelled on two classic vintage hardware synthesizers.
Each of these plugins lets you use your MIDI controller or DAWs Pitch, Timbre and Pressure messages to control various parameters within the plugin. This opens each of u-he’s MPE-enabled plugins up to new creativity and expression. You can read more about each plugin’s features on their individual product pages linked above.
Pitch Innovations: Fluid Chords / Fluid Pitch – £54.95
Best MPE plugins for pitch-based MIDI effects
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Price: |
£54.95 |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Pitch Shifter |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3, Standalone |
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Features: |
MPE Upscale/Poly mode unlocks MPE capabilities without specialist hardware, Fluid Chords has a useful MPE Visualizer, bend from note to note, chord to chord or note to chord, all within your project’s key |
One of the key pieces of expression that has been brought about by MPE is the ability to control pitch on a per-note basis. If you’re looking for tools to do just that, then it’s worth considering Pitch Innovations’ offering of smart little plugins designed to make music production more expressive and more fun.
Put simply, Fluid Chords lets you bend from any one chord to another cohesively and seamlessly. Fluid Pitch is the world’s first scale-locked pitch-bend system and locks your pitch mod wheel to your selected key. This means you can use pitch bend to your heart’s content, and never land on a wrong note. While both of these plugins work with a traditional MIDI keyboard, using MPE-capable software or hardware unlocks a new layer of pitch-shifting potential.
Alternatively, you can use the plugins’ MPE Upscale/Poly mode to access MPE capabilities, without the use of specialist hardware. Fluid Chords and Fluid Pitch can host MPE-enabled synths such as those mentioned elsewhere in this article. They can also be used as MIDI effects or as standalone applications. The plugins let you glide between chords or notes in a musical and expressive way, and on a per-note basis.
Rob Papen: Predator 3 – £129.95
Best MPE instrument for preset surfing
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Price: |
£129.95 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3, AAX |
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Features: |
Hybrid powerhouse synthesizer with three oscillators plus a sub-oscillator, two filters with 38 filter types, five play modes including Poly MPE, over 6500 factory presets |
For years, Rob Papen has been developing a range of powerful software synthesizers designed for all manner of applications. Predator 3 is one of those synths, combining the ease-of-use of analogue-style subtractive synthesis with the power and range of wavetable synthesis. Once you consider the huge array of advanced modulation options, 38 filter types and 34 inbuilt effects, it’s clear to see why the Predator range has a reputation for being a serious synthesis workhorse.
The five play modes include Poly, Mono, Legato, Arp, and Poly MPE. The Poly MPE play mode lets you make the most of many of the modulation features of Predator 3. Namely, the Preset Morph feature which allows you to fluidly morph between two of the 6500 included presets, thus creating your own expressive preset that evolves as you play.
Kilohearts: Phase Plant – £158.95
Best MPE instrument with semi-modular design
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Price: |
£158.95 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3, AAX |
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Features: |
Multi-award-winning hybrid synth with semi-modular design, vast modulation options, MPE capability, FM and granular engines, huge FX suite included |
The next entry in this list is Kilohearts’ flagship plugin, the hugely popular Phase Plant synthesizer. This semi-modular soft synth has won a multitude of awards, owing to its flexibility, customizability and sound quality. A recent update even added granular synthesis to the already impressive list of features.
The unique architecture of this synth lets you combine just about any type of modulation in the order that you desire, for near-limitless modulation possibilities. Phase Plant’s MPE compatibility means that you can not only control the notes and velocities on a per-note basis, but Fine Pitch, Pressure and Timbre too. You can then assign the Pressure or Timbre modulation sources to any destination within Phase Plant for truly endless modulation and expression potential.
Arturia: Pigments 5 – €199.00
Most refined MPE-enabled instrument
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Price: |
€199.00 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST2, VST3, AAX, NKS, Standalone |
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Features: |
Two parallel synth engines, complex wavetable engine, sample engine, granular engine, huge modulation section, MPE-compatible, powerful FX section, over 1500 presets including 150 MPE-focused presets |
From one flagship synth to another, this time from the French software and hardware manufacturer Arturia. With four predecessors, Pigments 5 is a highly refined and improved version of what has always been a popular soft synth. Arturia describes it as a Polychrome Software Synthesizer, capable of creating classic bread-and-butter sounds right up to completely unheard new textures and timbres, and everything in between.
Having been present in the plugin since its second iteration, MPE is extremely well integrated into the functionality of Pigments. Not only does Pigments 5 ship with a 150-strong bank of presets designed specifically for MPE-compatible devices, but the user-friendly modulation section makes it effortless to assign Pressure or Timbre to any parameter within the plugin.
ROLI: Equator2 (€232.20) / Cypher2 (€185.53)
Best MPE instrument with hardware implementation
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Price: |
€185.53 - €232.20 (Buy now) |
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Platforms: |
Windows and Mac |
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Type: |
Synth |
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Format: |
AU, VST3, Standalone |
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Features: |
Over 1300 presets, of which 500 are built specifically for MPE, advanced modulation and creative effects section |
ROLI is another company that has dedicated its time to creating groundbreaking MPE hardware instruments, and they’ve created some compatible software instruments to boot. Having come from the manufacturer behind Seaboard, arguably the best-established range of MPE-capable keyboards and controllers, you can be confident that you’re getting maximum mileage with their specially developed Equator2 and Cyper2 software synths.
Equator2 is a true hybrid synthesizer in every sense of the word, with six fully flexible source slots that can be set as wavetable, noise, sampler or granular audio sources. Cypher2 is a synth which instead uses frequency and cross modulation at its core. Both synths come with over 500 MPE-optimised presets so you can get expressive right off the bat. The extensive modulation options lend themself to expression, and Cypher2’s MPE-enabled step sequencer means you can morph your melodies as well as your patches.