I had the honour and delight of briefly working on a project to recreate the acknowledged world's first voltage-controlled synthesizer, called the "Electronic Sackbut" (you can find plenty of RUclipss about it). Invented by federal physics researcher Hugh LeCaine in Ottawa in the late 1940s, it predated many of the features found on the Osmose, although the Osmose does them much better and more reliably. A mono keyboard, one of the things it incorporated was aftertouch, and it also allowed for side-to-side key-wiggle producing vibrato. The player had a number of finger-operated functions to be manipulated with the left hand while the right hand played the keys. There are audio recordings of LeCaine playing, and pictures of him seated at the unit, but sadly no film or video of him playing, that would permit seeing how the finger controls shaped the sound. The original is on display behind glass in the Museum of Science and Technology, but we were able to take it out of the display case and see and touch it in better lighting, so that the reproduction we were working on could function like the original. To look at it, you wouldn't think of it as brilliant. The original was brilliant, but cobbled together from scrap parts and wood lying around. Besides not being in playable shape any more (e.g., wooden keybed warped), it was also tube-based, requiring a much higher voltage power supply. The sloppy wiring makes it an electrical hazard waiting to happen. The repro is using a standard resistor-ladder mono keyboard, fed to a Music From Outer Space keyboard interface, whose 1V/oct output is fed to the very same digital engine used in the Osmose. As it happens, Ed Eagan, designer of the Eagan Matrix digital sound engine from Haken Audio, as used in the Osmose, is a local guy, and is also sort of tangentially attached to the project. But cosmetically, and experientially, it is intended to be played like the original, even though the sonic palette will be MUCH wider. Remarkable to see the ideas that Hugh LeCaine had all those years ago come to life in the Expressive E. People are right to be blown away by its possibilities. A shame he's not alive to witness them.
The moment you showed the keys can wiggle and have pressure report, I felt like the Jetsons kicked down my door and said “welcome to the future loser, we have synth keyboards, get in”. This is a really impressive instrument. Well played Emily Harpist, well played.
We have just had a scheduled siren test accross whole germany and I can not express how perfectly 2:01 ligned up with the sound of the sirenes starting!
It is certainly not a budget (sub $500 is my thoughts on what counts as budget like a Nymphes or the Reface series) but it is amazingly intuitive to play. I'd almost say that it excels as a mono (played) instrument. Almost all orchestral instruments are monophonic and are incredibly expressive. Even guitar (and bass) solos are often hugely expressive playing single notes and not chords. I use it for playing expressive string patches and the violin and cello solo playing is super easy to adjust to playing ,coming from a fiddle background.
That's awesome. The Osmose has been on my radar for a while now, it's such a genius concept and the samples are all incredible. Would love to see how this compares to the Seaboard RISE 2. Congratulations on the partnership with Perfect Circuit for this giveaway btw. Glad to see you get recognized for the great work you do.
I've heard of the Haken Continuum, so it made sense when you mentioned they made the sounds! I found out that Amon Tobin (one of my favorite producers) used a Continuum back in 2012, and I've been hoping to get something similar one day. Either way, it's nice to see that the technology has been progressing and I look forward to hearing this type of sound design in more music
80 of the factory presets are from the Continuum FYI. I got the list from Richard Kram who is the author of the Osmose Cookbook. The Osmose is beyond words imo.:)
Cool demo Emily! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the contest. This thing is probably the only piece of gear I want at this point. Ordered a a used touche, but it came broke, haha, so this video could not have hit harder for me.
Making keyboard players' ghost finger vibrato real is simply too powerful. Could make a really fun vocoder controller. The most intriguing part for me would be bending voices in side of a chord while keeping some static. The layered sounds are giving early Ghibli soundtrack. Also I know you don't HAVE to use the editor, but you can't show me that many toggles and options and expect me to not dedicate too much of my life to it.
WOW!! Emm & Russ , That's really cool and thank y'all & TY Perfect Circuit!! That would be such a game changer to any home or regular Studio and is just what I need to work in this New Digital World. And trying to upgrade my home Studio to Better work, Hope you're still doing well ❤️🩹🙏🌸 & TY both for all you do! Your Music-In-Law 🤘🎸🤠
Thanks for promoting the contest. I'll enter for one of those. PC has got a demo Osmose on sale rn, too. It was a couple of pages in, in their labor day sale, in the synths category. I'll try to win a free one first🤣😝
damn, I live in Italy and the contest is only for US residents 😭. As a sound designer I was tempted by this beautiful spatial bigsynth, but if I had won it I would have given it to my sister, who as an orchestra director would know how to use it 101%. it will be for next time. if nothing else I discovered, by the shorts,your second channel 😅 greetings from Italy Emily 💜
i was a haunt actor for 3 years, but never thought about combining that experience with this sort of thing. what a fascinating comment! how would you use it?
@matts9871 PA System, blackout room. 1 person following, 1 person playing very dissonant. Once the people are near a simple jump scare after playing something abrupt.
You know, for an 1800 Dollar instrument, those are some hell-a-wobbly knobs there at 7:07 o_O It reminds me of those cheap encoders Waldorf uses on their synths (Blofeld / STVC), which always seem to give people issues... The menu interface is also incredibly slow and laggy... overall I'd say these things don't give out a "build-to-last" vibe to me, which is such a dissapointment as the Osmose has so much potential!
God I want this so bad.... I always wiggle the keys because I played guitar for 8 years. This would help bring so much colour to any music I want to make
Big sad here. Not like I would have won it anyway, but seeing "Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region" really hurts. I really could use something like this for my own stuff and the band I'm in. Anyway I'm not going to be a sore loser, I wish everyone lots of luck!
Hey Em, I've encountered an issue with this pedal; it's a bit too big for my pedalboard! Do you have any recommendations for where I could get a board large enough for this pedal? Right now I'm just balancing it on the board I have now, but it will often fall during gigs, not to mention the other band members tend to stare in confusion when I have to re-balance my pedal. This issue especially crops up when playing in lower or higher registers. Really neat pedal for sure, but I feel like it definitely needs some miniaturization to make it a bit more practical, especially in live settings. Ergonomics could use some work too, many of the controls are difficult or even impossible to use with shoes on, and I don't perform bare-footed unless the venue pays extra.
Interesting keyboard but unfortunately „Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region“ (Germany)… just recently I was thinking that there are not so many interesting keyboard instruments being made any more in this world, now this one seems to be different at least in terms of the user interface. Looking at pictures however I have doubts about the built quality being - is it as bad as with my Roland JD-XA? I wish there were more sturdy metal boxes such around.
This pedal is way too big...
Or is it just right?
I had the honour and delight of briefly working on a project to recreate the acknowledged world's first voltage-controlled synthesizer, called the "Electronic Sackbut" (you can find plenty of RUclipss about it). Invented by federal physics researcher Hugh LeCaine in Ottawa in the late 1940s, it predated many of the features found on the Osmose, although the Osmose does them much better and more reliably. A mono keyboard, one of the things it incorporated was aftertouch, and it also allowed for side-to-side key-wiggle producing vibrato. The player had a number of finger-operated functions to be manipulated with the left hand while the right hand played the keys. There are audio recordings of LeCaine playing, and pictures of him seated at the unit, but sadly no film or video of him playing, that would permit seeing how the finger controls shaped the sound.
The original is on display behind glass in the Museum of Science and Technology, but we were able to take it out of the display case and see and touch it in better lighting, so that the reproduction we were working on could function like the original. To look at it, you wouldn't think of it as brilliant. The original was brilliant, but cobbled together from scrap parts and wood lying around. Besides not being in playable shape any more (e.g., wooden keybed warped), it was also tube-based, requiring a much higher voltage power supply. The sloppy wiring makes it an electrical hazard waiting to happen.
The repro is using a standard resistor-ladder mono keyboard, fed to a Music From Outer Space keyboard interface, whose 1V/oct output is fed to the very same digital engine used in the Osmose. As it happens, Ed Eagan, designer of the Eagan Matrix digital sound engine from Haken Audio, as used in the Osmose, is a local guy, and is also sort of tangentially attached to the project. But cosmetically, and experientially, it is intended to be played like the original, even though the sonic palette will be MUCH wider.
Remarkable to see the ideas that Hugh LeCaine had all those years ago come to life in the Expressive E. People are right to be blown away by its possibilities. A shame he's not alive to witness them.
The moment you showed the keys can wiggle and have pressure report, I felt like the Jetsons kicked down my door and said “welcome to the future loser, we have synth keyboards, get in”. This is a really impressive instrument. Well played Emily Harpist, well played.
We have just had a scheduled siren test accross whole germany and I can not express how perfectly 2:01 ligned up with the sound of the sirenes starting!
now this is polyphonic expression
The Osmose is one of those keyboards I dream about, but acknowledge that I don't have a fraction of the skill needed to play it.
Same. And I don't have a fraction of the budget needed to justify buying it, either!
It is certainly not a budget (sub $500 is my thoughts on what counts as budget like a Nymphes or the Reface series) but it is amazingly intuitive to play. I'd almost say that it excels as a mono (played) instrument. Almost all orchestral instruments are monophonic and are incredibly expressive. Even guitar (and bass) solos are often hugely expressive playing single notes and not chords. I use it for playing expressive string patches and the violin and cello solo playing is super easy to adjust to playing ,coming from a fiddle background.
I should know better after trying to win things like this for 40 years now.
Oh well, here I go.
Good luck to yah
That's awesome. The Osmose has been on my radar for a while now, it's such a genius concept and the samples are all incredible. Would love to see how this compares to the Seaboard RISE 2. Congratulations on the partnership with Perfect Circuit for this giveaway btw. Glad to see you get recognized for the great work you do.
I've heard of the Haken Continuum, so it made sense when you mentioned they made the sounds! I found out that Amon Tobin (one of my favorite producers) used a Continuum back in 2012, and I've been hoping to get something similar one day. Either way, it's nice to see that the technology has been progressing and I look forward to hearing this type of sound design in more music
80 of the factory presets are from the Continuum FYI. I got the list from Richard Kram who is the author of the Osmose Cookbook.
The Osmose is beyond words imo.:)
Cool demo Emily! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the contest.
This thing is probably the only piece of gear I want at this point.
Ordered a a used touche, but it came broke, haha, so this video could not have hit harder for me.
My psychiatrist: your loose teeth nightmare isn't real.
Expressive E Osmose keys:
Making keyboard players' ghost finger vibrato real is simply too powerful. Could make a really fun vocoder controller. The most intriguing part for me would be bending voices in side of a chord while keeping some static. The layered sounds are giving early Ghibli soundtrack. Also I know you don't HAVE to use the editor, but you can't show me that many toggles and options and expect me to not dedicate too much of my life to it.
so rad! Good luck to everyone
WOW!! Emm & Russ , That's really cool and thank y'all & TY Perfect Circuit!! That would be such a game changer to any home or regular Studio and is just what I need to work in this New Digital World. And trying to upgrade my home Studio to Better work, Hope you're still doing well ❤️🩹🙏🌸 & TY both for all you do! Your Music-In-Law 🤘🎸🤠
From a fellow Long Islander, I enjoy the way you say Osmose.
The music at 4:32 is insanely good.
Entered ! Emily, your keyboard skills are really good. I love when you play synth!
The most instructive video about Osmose. Thank you very much for that.
Thanks for all of the wholesome content. Great work. Love the channel. Music❤
"Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region"..... 😭😭😭
Wow :0 those are some long wiggly keys you got there man. That’s cool.
This synth/controller is a dream come true! ❤ I just got a 1989 E-MU Proteus and it would be amazing to use it with this.
Been seeing this in my Ondes groups as the keyboard vibrato is a thing there.
One of the most amazing concerts I went to was Yann Tiersen and they had an ondes. Was amazing, first time I had seen it.
Ooooooh, I gotta be there when Emily uploads
So nice of you to do this, gl to the new owner!!
Another cool demo!
Interestingly enough, you kept it pretty tame on this one, even if its posibilities could have made you go totally over the top 😁
Very expressive you made some amazing tunes with it.
The pitch bend really adds an analog flavor to the keyboard that I like.
OmG I've been dying for this synth!!! 😭
Entered and done. Love perfect circuit
Song around 5:00 is a new favorite of mine!🎉
The best keyboard ever !!!
First time seeing and hearing a digital harp. Really cool.
I love what the Vongon pedals do
of course its not available in my country...
That's a pretty cool keyboard.
Very, very cool synth. Whoever wins it will be very happy 🤘🎹
thank you harp lady
Thanks for promoting the contest. I'll enter for one of those. PC has got a demo Osmose on sale rn, too. It was a couple of pages in, in their labor day sale, in the synths category. I'll try to win a free one first🤣😝
Damn, with the right sized people, you can re-create that iconic scene in 'Big'!
Love this synth!
damn, I live in Italy and the contest is only for US residents 😭.
As a sound designer I was tempted by this beautiful spatial bigsynth, but if I had won it I would have given it to my sister, who as an orchestra director would know how to use it 101%.
it will be for next time.
if nothing else I discovered, by the shorts,your second channel 😅
greetings from Italy Emily 💜
The sound design was made by haken she said. The same people who make the continuum
YES PLEASE
Do want it!
I really dig this man. I work as a scare actor and could really do alot with this
i was a haunt actor for 3 years, but never thought about combining that experience with this sort of thing. what a fascinating comment! how would you use it?
@matts9871 PA System, blackout room. 1 person following, 1 person playing very dissonant. Once the people are near a simple jump scare after playing something abrupt.
I hope they gave you one to keep. This will help your creativity on this channel
I hope a very talented and deserving musican wins this. I never learned to play the piano. That thing is mind blowing.
France. I'll have to stay with my Minilogue, Bass'n'Beats and Beebo :) But yeah seen a lot of videos when this came out and gosh it's 💖💥
and all that sounds like this:
wiggly R.U.S.S.
Got to play one of these at Sweetwater, definitely worth it, and much better than the Roli Seaboard
Amazing!
Entered the drawing. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼
Yeeees i neeeed this 11:05 my brain automatically had me like WHERES MY SUPER SHOTGUN ITS TIME TO RIP AND TEAR UNTIL IT IS DONE
Aww its only for us Residents awww Welp it’s still cool Hope The person that gets it Gave the best Reaction aaaa
That is so cool
The DK theme!
I just got an Osmose, and I’m Lovin’ It™️
Laura and I loved this video, and it taught me somethjng(s) new, thanks! ✌️
Awesome!
are those keys really big or are you just tiny
Yes to both, I think!
Very nice
It is not available in my country 😞
You know, for an 1800 Dollar instrument, those are some hell-a-wobbly knobs there at 7:07 o_O It reminds me of those cheap encoders Waldorf uses on their synths (Blofeld / STVC), which always seem to give people issues...
The menu interface is also incredibly slow and laggy... overall I'd say these things don't give out a "build-to-last" vibe to me, which is such a dissapointment as the Osmose has so much potential!
Whaaat isn't this supposed to be out of stock everywhere?
It's because they're all being used for giveaways.
God I want this so bad.... I always wiggle the keys because I played guitar for 8 years. This would help bring so much colour to any music I want to make
Only available for US residents.........
only way I'd ever get the chance to play something this cool is if i win it, fingers crossed :)
You make cool music you should make more music with it I'd love to here what else you can create with it
ready and waiting to hear its north america only.
edit. fucken australia.
ah well. hope you're well Emily.
As soon as I saw it was a big ol synth I was like "bet it's US residents only"
@@AfferbeckBeats I was planning on winning too...
Big sad here. Not like I would have won it anyway, but seeing "Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region" really hurts. I really could use something like this for my own stuff and the band I'm in.
Anyway I'm not going to be a sore loser, I wish everyone lots of luck!
giveaway not available in my region :(
0:02 It's BIGGER than you!! 😂
Very cool 😎
❤Emily❤Hopkins❤
Where’s the give away?
This looks really cool! Hope i win something, wont get my hopes up, though, lol.
so sick
I want this soooo bad have since i heard about it!
Who won the keyboard?
soo cool
I wish this was available in other countries
Awesome ket bed. Me likeee
I’d love that.
What does it smell like? Will it pair nicely with how my other gear smells?
smells really good
@@emilyharpist2I love that I can edit the smell of my HX stomp XL through HX edit. More pedals should have this feature.
Only open to US residents :-(
YES, PLS!!
I gotta have it 😩
Whoa there!
😢 how did I not know about her channel
i wish i could have one of those to grow, but my luck doesent exist
I ALREADY KNOW ALL ABOUT THE KEYBOARD JUST GIVE IT TO ME!!
"Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region" 😢
Can i get one pls?
"Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region." 😢 🇧🇻
Hey Em, I've encountered an issue with this pedal; it's a bit too big for my pedalboard! Do you have any recommendations for where I could get a board large enough for this pedal? Right now I'm just balancing it on the board I have now, but it will often fall during gigs, not to mention the other band members tend to stare in confusion when I have to re-balance my pedal. This issue especially crops up when playing in lower or higher registers.
Really neat pedal for sure, but I feel like it definitely needs some miniaturization to make it a bit more practical, especially in live settings. Ergonomics could use some work too, many of the controls are difficult or even impossible to use with shoes on, and I don't perform bare-footed unless the venue pays extra.
Why is Giving Censored? 😅😅😅
ooo yeah i want that
When do we hear who the winner is?
I believe Perfect Circuit will be announcing it
@@emilyharpist2 thanks queen 🫡
who won this?
Interesting keyboard but unfortunately „Sorry, this promotion is not available in your region“ (Germany)… just recently I was thinking that there are not so many interesting keyboard instruments being made any more in this world, now this one seems to be different at least in terms of the user interface. Looking at pictures however I have doubts about the built quality being - is it as bad as with my Roland JD-XA? I wish there were more sturdy metal boxes such around.
@franktedesco I think you need another keyboard, namely this one lol