The unique Erae Touch was one of many extra attention-grabbing MPE controllers to return out in the previous few years. However it’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 vital upgrades and one sudden new function.
Now, it is necessary to notice that the model of the Erae II I used to be in a position to check 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 principle floor is basically the identical, a singular easy expanse with RGB lights beneath it. These are used for instance varied layouts that may be custom-made. It may be a normal keyboard, a grid, faders, a step sequencer, et cetera. The design is certainly extra refined, even at this early stage. It additionally acknowledges that whereas the customizability of the controller was an enormous draw, it maybe relied an excessive amount of on the desktop app and the enjoying floor for dealing with settings.
The up to date model has various 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 tucked within the high righthand nook subsequent to a jog wheel. The viewing angles on the display have been strong and it is a lot sharp, however its measurement might pose some challenges. I am not going to evaluate it by this very early model of the firmware, however I needed to squint fairly arduous 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 in a position to monitor my glides and delicate shifts in strain with unimaginable accuracy. The corporate claims the enjoying floor has sub-millimeter accuracy. Clearly there is not any means I might actually put that to the check on the present flooring 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 actually expressive outcomes from the aftertouch. The floor would not have a number of give, so tiny modifications in strain can lead to massive modifications to the sound.
One of many stunning issues is that the Erae II could have swappable skins, type of just like the Sensel Morph (RIP) or the Joué Play, but in addition, not. The unit I performed had a silicone cowl like the unique that the corporate says is supposed for individuals who need 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 enjoying with their fingers.
Altering the skins is a bit of concerned, nevertheless. As a result of Embodme sees the Erae not merely as a device for the studio, however as a dwell efficiency machine it needed to verify the covers can be safe and standup to abuse. So that you truly must unscrew the body to pop on a brand new pores and skin. And because the show on the Erae is already customizable, it is not bothering to have skins with specific layouts, simply totally different supplies.
Embodme additionally added a ton of latest connectivity choices. The unique merely had a USB-C port and a TRS MIDI out. However the Erae II could 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 approach to early to know for positive how nicely the Erae II will standup to actual world use. However it’s acquired a promising function set and an intriguing design. If you wish to be among the many first to get your arms on one you’ll again it on Kickstarter beginning February 15 with early hen costs of $549 or $649, relying on how early you hop on. When it reaches retail later within the 12 months, nevertheless, it will likely be going for $799.
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