Intuitive Instruments is proud to announce improvements to the award-winning Exquis MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) controller with major updates coming courtesy of introducing firmware 2.2.0 alongside software scripts to merge its workflow with Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, and Cockos Reaper DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) — wholeheartedly representing several simultaneous steps towards the inspirational solutions for music lovers creator’s goal of ultimately making music-making seamless by turning the flagship instrument itself into the ultimate lightweight and compact creative hub — as of September 8…
Exquis enables seamless and natural interaction with all DAW software, MIDI synthesizers, and modular systems by becoming a direct extension of its user’s creativity as an expressive and intuitive MPE controller comprising a hexagonal matrix of 61 backlit soft silicon keys arranged as consecutive notes (semitones) horizontally and harmonious notes (thirds) vertically — from the lowest at the bottom to the highest at the top — that provide independent gestural control over four different dimensions: velocity (strike force), horizontal tilt (Xaxis — pitch bend), vertical tilt (Yaxis — CC#74), and pressure (Zaxis — channel pressure or polyphonic aftertouch). Alongside a namesake companion app — itself optionally offering an experience akin to traditional composition software — available on macOS and Windows with support for VST, VST3, and AUv3 audio plug-in formats, Intuitive Instruments’ flagship instrument is intended to provide musicians of all levels with a fun and intuitive way of creating melodies and progressions, fully exploiting sonic potential in the process of doing so — whether working with third-party software over the USB (Type-C) connection, third-party software or hardware synthesizers through the MIDI IN and OUT (minijack) connections, and modular synthesizers via CV (control voltage) with dedicated 0-5V (minijack) connections for GATE (V-Trigger), PITCH (V/Oct), and MOD (pressure or velocity). These top out a lightweight (600g) and compact — 36 mm (H) x 146 mm (W) x 317 mm (D) — desktop design that also incorporates four rotary/push encoders and a six-zone capacitive touch slider, plus a series of selection, undo/redo, and action buttons, providing precise and intuitive control collectively over any user’s sound while enhancing interaction with the app.
Out of the starting gate, Exquis wasted little time in making its mark on the music technology world when winning the hotly-contested ‘Commercial Hardware Product’ category at the 2023 MIDI Innovation Awards — collaboratively organised by music technologies learning platform Music Hackspace; music, sound, and event industry trade association non-profit NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants); and fellow non-profit MIDI developer-, specification- and user-connecting non-profit The MIDI Association to help highlight innovative products and projects that utilise MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 in novel ways, emphasising MIDI’s role in fostering musical creativity — with an all-star judging panel including notable names like French composer and electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre and American engineer, inventor, musician Roger Linn — announced at a livestream event broadcast from Tileyard Studios in London, UK.
Intuitive Instruments is not known for resting on its laurels, however, for firmware 2.2.0 includes several major updates to Exquis, starting with its MPE Key Freeze feature that allows users to ‘capture’ the expressive state of any key or chord by holding keys and clicking the fourth rotary/push encoder to lock their respective X/Y/Zaxis positions and sustaining complex gestures indefinitely, thereby freeing hands to perform other parts, tweak effects, or control the arpeggiator. As such, it is now possible to build evolving textures, harmonies, and — when combined with the built-in arpeggiator — arpeggiated sequences, all while preserving the expressive nuances of the original touch.
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