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

The unique Erae Contact was one of many extra fascinating MPE controllers to return out in the previous couple of years. But it surely’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 following iteration of its customizable controller with important upgrades and one sudden new function.

Now, it is essential 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 just a few 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 count on ship date someday in June.

However the imaginative and prescient is already clear. The primary floor is essentially the identical, a singular easy expanse with RGB lights beneath it. These are used as an instance varied layouts that may be custom-made. It may be an ordinary 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 a giant draw, it maybe relied an excessive amount of on the desktop app and the taking part in floor for dealing with settings.

The up to date model has plenty 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 screen tucked within the prime righthand nook subsequent to a jog wheel. The viewing angles on the display screen have been strong and it is lots sharp, however its measurement 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 exhausting 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) have been capable of observe my glides and delicate shifts in strain with unimaginable accuracy. The corporate claims the taking part in floor has sub-millimeter accuracy. Clearly there is no method I might really put that to the take a look at on the present ground 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 would not have loads of give, so tiny modifications in strain can lead to large modifications to the sound.

One of many stunning issues is that the Erae II can have swappable skins, form 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 wish to play the Erae II with drum stick. It can will ship with a white material one although, which was particularly meant to enhance the texture and responsiveness for these taking part in with their fingers.

Altering the skins is a bit of concerned, nonetheless. As a result of Embodme sees the Erae not merely as a device for the studio, however as a reside efficiency gadget it wished to verify the covers can be safe and standup to abuse. So that you truly should 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 totally different supplies.

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

Clearly it is technique to early to know for positive how nicely the Erae II will standup to actual world use. But it surely’s acquired a promising function set and an intriguing design. If you wish to be among the many first to get your fingers 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 will likely be going for $799.