Expressive E Osmose firmware 2.3 adds deeper DAW control and Ctrl-e support to the expressive multi-engine Synthesizer
At Superbooth 2026, Expressive E released the Osmose CE, the MIDI controller edition of its expressive MPE synthesizer—offering all the expressiveness, but without the sound engine.
Part of this was a new software called Ctrl-e, featuring ready-to-use sounds from official partners. With the new firmware 2.3 for the Expressive E Osmose, Synthesizer. users now also gain full access to this and more.
Expressive E Osmose Firmware 2.3
Osmose is an expressive MIDI MPE synthesizer powered by the Haken Audio EaganMatrix engine, which provides multiple engines, including VA, FM, physical modeling, additive, and more. It’s not just a synth but also a MIDI MPE controller.
Firmware 2.3 is now available as a free update for existing Expressive E Osmose owners. It brings two major new features and several improvements. Unlike previous firmware updates, this update includes no changes to the sound engine.
With the new firmware, Osmose takes a major step forward as a MIDI controller, bringing deep control of supported DAWs directly to the instrument.
Deep Control
These were initially available just for the new Controller Edition but are now also available for the full Osmose experience. It covers four key areas that you can control from your hardware.
This includes transport and metronome controls, playhead and loop management, navigation between tracks, scenes, and clips, and mixing controls for the selected track. Users can also access macros for the currently selected track.
This lets users navigate their session and adjust their mix directly from the Osmose hardware, without constantly reaching for the computer.
Additional functions like undo/redo, quantization, and tempo control are accessible through the mode button. The latter now also acts as a Shift button.
Ctrl-e Now For The Osmose
With Ctrl-e, the developers have created a dedicated virtual instrument that harmonizes perfectly with the Osmose CE controller. It features ready-to-use sounds from partner companies, essentially based on their software synthesizers.
With firmware 2.3, Expressive E also makes their new software ecosystem available to all Osmose synth owners. Every Osmose user gets a free Ctrl-e license that gives you access to a library of more than 900 expressive presets across multiple synth engines.
They come from various partners, including Kilohearts, Synapse Audio, Dawesome, Applied Acoustics Systems, GForce and Vital. The same instrument now extends its expressive playing experience into a growing software ecosystem through Ctrl-e, at no additional cost.
Working with it is seamless. Select the Ctrl-e track on your hardware, and Osmose automatically detects it and switches to this mode, allowing players to browse, filter, and navigate sounds directly from the instrument.
Great: users who already own compatible Expressive Suite libraries can also download them in the Ctrl-e format.
More Improvements & Better Hardware & MIDI Integration
The new Expressive E Osmose firmware 2.3 also introduces a new bottom action bar, accessible from any Osmose menu by holding the mode button.
It provides quick access to semitone transposition, with independent settings for each mode, as well as controls to turn Pressure Glide and the Expressive Arpeggiator on or off and access the main menu.
Furthermore, it brings improved hardware and MIDI integration, making it easier to connect your computer or external hardware. The firmware introduces a redesigned USB-MIDI setup for a clearer and more reliable workflow across DAW Control, Ctrl-e, and external instruments.
This includes consolidation of the recording and playback of expressive performance data, including synth macros, global FX parameters, and slider movements, as well as letting Osmose act as a DIN MIDI-to-USB MIDI interface.
Lastly, it also brings many bug fixes and stability improvements.
Expressive E Osmose firmware 2.3: First Impression
A nice, comprehensive update for the Expressive E Osmose. It was only a matter of time before it gained access to the Ctrl-e software. Now I hope we get the new editors soon, too, so that we can program the synth engines much more easily.
The new Expressive Osmose firmware 2.3 is available now as a free update for existing users.
More information here: Expressive E
Available from my partners
Be the first to comment