MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)
MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)

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MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)

Specification Adopted!

 


MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) is the biggest change in electronic sound since the invention of the synthesizer. Dozens of hardware and software companies have now joined this movement to make music creation tools more expressive.

A NEW WAY TO CREATE

What is MPE? MPE is a new specification based on MIDI, the universal protocol for electronic music. MPE allows digital instruments to behave more like acoustic instruments in terms of spontaneous, polyphonic sound control. So players modulate parameters like timbre, pitch, and amplitude — all at the same time.

  

MORE EXPRESSION

Imagine what you can do with MPE:
BEND PITCH, modify volume, and play with resonance at the same time — like on a string instrument
SLIDE BETWEEN SOUNDS, or brighter and darker versions of a sound, like sliding between notes on a piano
SAVE TIME by achieving sonic effects through intuitive gestures, rather than laborious programming
ADD SPONTANEITY to your music, because more parameters of sound are available to play with

  

Digital audio workstations (DAWs) compatible with MPE
Ableton Live 11
Bitwig 8-Track & Studio
BLOCKS (Bitwig 8-Track)
BLOCKS (Bitwig 2)
RISE/GRAND
Cakewalk by Bandlab
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND – guide coming soon
GarageBand macOS
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
Logic Pro X
BLOCKS: Instruments / Control Surfaces
RISE/GRAND: Multi-Timbral Instruments / Logic's Instruments
MainStage
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
Open Labs Stagelight
Reaper
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
Steinberg Cubase
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
Tracktion Waveform
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
zenAud.io ALK

  

Software synthesizers compatible with MPE
accSone crusher-X
Admiral Quality Poly-Ana
BLOCKS – guide coming soon
RISE/GRAND
Audio Damage Quanta: RISE/GRAND/BLOCKS
Audio Modeling SWAM Engine instruments
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Cycling '74 Max
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Equator / Equator Player
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Erratic Instruments Quad MPE to CV module for VCV Rack
FXpansion Cypher2
FXpansion Strobe2
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Imoxplus Respiro

  
KarmaFX Synth Modular 2 - guide coming soon
KV331 Audio SynthMaster
RISE/GRAND
Logic EFM1, ES2, EXS24, Retro Synth, Sculpture, Alchemy, and Vintage Clav
RISE/GRAND
Madrona Labs Aalto
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
Madrona Labs Kaivo
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
MSoundFactory
Native Instruments Reaktor
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND
PPG Infinite Pro, Phonem, WaveGenerator, WaveMapper 2
Psychic Modulation Phonec
Serum: RISE and BLOCKS
Slate + Ash AURAS: RISE and BLOCKS
Softube Modular: RISE/GRAND
Spitfire BT Phobos – guides coming soon
Stagecraft Addiction and Infinity: RISE/GRAND
Steinberg HALion – guides coming soon
Surge
Symbolic Sound Kyma: RISE/GRAND
Synapse Audio The Legend
UVI Falcon: RISE/GRAND
Vaporizer2 by VAST Dynamics

  

Mobile apps compatible with MPE
NOISE
Seaboard 5D
GeoShred
GarageBand iOS
AniMoog
Audio Damage Quanta
Geo Synthesizer
iFretless Bass
Minimoog Model D
Moog Model 15
Open Labs Stagelight
PPG Infinite, Phonem, WaveGenerator and WaveMapper
SampleWiz
SpaceCraft Granular Synth
SpringSound
SynthMaster Player
Tardigrain
ThumbJam
VOLT

  

Hardware synthesizers compatible with MPE
Audiothingies MicroMonsta
Axoloti
Black Corporation Deckard's Dream
Black Corporation Kijimi
EncoreElectronics Expressionist
Endorphin.es Shuttle Control
Expert Sleepers FH-1
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Futuresonus Parva: RISE/GRAND
MOD Duo
Modal Electronics 001 / 002 / 002R
Modor NF-1 / NF-1m: RISE/GRAND
Polyend Poly
Snyderphonics MantaMate
Tasty Chips Electronics GR-1

  

Other MPE-compatible software
BOME MIDI Translator Pro
Gig Performer

Other DAWs and synthesizers
While not fully MPE-compatible, these DAWs and synthesizer plugins can be used with the Seaboard and BLOCKS by following our setup guides:

Ableton Live 10 and earlier
RISE/GRAND with multi-timbral instruments
RISE/GRAND with Ableton's built-in instruments
Lightpad Block as Ableton Live clip launcher and instrument controller
Lightpad Block to control effects
BLOCKS with Ableton's Drum Rack
BLOCKS as melodic instruments
Digital Performer
BLOCKS – guide coming soon
RISE/GRAND
FL Studio: RISE/GRAND
iZotope Iris 2: RISE/GRAND
Native Instruments Kontakt
RISE/GRAND
BLOCKS
Pro Tools
BLOCKS – guide coming soon
RISE/GRAND
Spectrasonics Omnisphere and Trillian
BLOCKS – guide coming soon
RISE/GRAND
Studio One
BLOCKS – guide coming soon
RISE/GRAND
U-he Diva, Ace, Bazille, Hive, Repro
BLOCKS
RISE/GRAND

  

Native BLOCKS Compatibility
Le Sound Reshape
Unfiltered Audio Instant Delay, Sandman Pro, Dent 2, Indent 2, Fault, Zip, BYOME: Lightpad Block
ROLI PLAY

  

MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA)

About MIDI - Making Music with MIDI - MIDI Controllers - MIDI Products - MIDI Glossary - MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)



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