MPE

Omnisphere is compatible with MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE), an extension to the MIDI standard that enables per-note expressive control, allowing parameters like pitch, volume, and timbre to be adjusted individually for each note. To use MPE with Omnisphere, you need an MPE-compatible host or controller.

MPE On/Off

Turning MPE ON does the following:

• Reconfigures MIDI input event routing to send all MIDI events on all channels to Parts 1-8.
• Enables per-Note Pitch Bend support.
• Activates MPE Mod Sources in the Mod Matrix:
  • MPE X (aka Pitch Bend)
  • MPE Y (aka CC #74, Timbre, 3rd Dimension, or Slide)
  • MPE Z (aka Pressure)

MPE Recall Mode

Recall Mode determines how the MPE system settings (MPE On/Off, Pitch Bend Range, and MPE X/Y Smoothing) are recalled when performing actions such as instantiating a new instance of the plug-in, loading a saved DAW project, or loading a saved Multi file from the Multi Browser.

Each recall mode satisfies different needs for common workflows and use cases. Here are the behavioral differences for each mode:

• DAW
  • Recalls MPE system settings from DAW projects only.
  • Useful for ensuring that DAW projects that were created with MPE enabled always sound correct when recalled.
  • Also useful when browsing Multi libraries that were not created for MPE, and you don’t want your MPE settings overwritten after each Multi load.
  • When DAW mode is selected, loading a Multi from Omnisphere’s Multi Browser will not overwrite the current MPE system settings.

• Global
  • Automatically saves/recalls MPE system setting changes to Omnisphere’s User Preferences file.
  • Useful when you want to “set and forget” the MPE settings and want MPE to stay enabled every time a new instance of Omnisphere is opened.
  • When Global is selected, loading a Multi or DAW project will not overwrite the current MPE settings.

• Multi
  • Recalls MPE system settings from Multi files loaded from the Multi Browser. This option also recalls MPE settings saved in DAW projects and the Default Multi.
  • Useful for saving different MPE system configurations in your User Multi library and loading them as needed from the Multi Browser. This option is useful for live performances or if you need to switch between different MPE controllers that require customized system settings.
  • When Multi is selected, loading a Multi from the Multi Browser will overwrite the current MPE settings.

*MPE system settings are always saved to Multis and DAW projects (regardless of the Recall Mode selection), so you can switch the Recall Mode at any time to restore MPE settings from previously saved Multis or DAW projects.

MPE Pitch Bend Range

This menu configures the per-note MPE Pitch Bend range in the plug-in. For this to have the desired effect, it must be configured along with the per-note Pitch Bend range on your MPE controller.

*With MPE enabled, standard MIDI Pitch Bend messages (sent on MIDI Channel 0) still function as normal, bending all active notes.

MPE Y and MPE Z Smoothing

Just as different keyboards can have different aftertouch sensitivity, MPE controllers can also vary in their response when sending MPE messages. To adjust Omnisphere’s response to incoming MPE Y and MPE Z messages, you can use the Rise/Fall controls to slow down the flow of events, avoiding drastic jumps on the modulation destinations to which MPE Y and MPE Z are assigned.

• Rise controls the rate of the flow as increasing values are received.
• Fall controls the rate of the flow as decreasing values are received.

Using MPE Z as an example, use Rise to fine-tune Omnisphere’s response as you gradually add pressure into a note, and Fall as you gradually let it go.

These smoothing parameters allow you to have detailed control over how Omnisphere responds to your MPE controller.

FAQs

• Can I use MPE without an MPE-compatible controller?
  Yes! You don’t need an MPE-compatible hardware controller to make use of MPE features in Omnisphere. If you’re using an MPE-compatible DAW, you can manually draw MPE messages on a track and achieve expressive results similar to those produced with an MPE controller.

• Can I use Omnisphere multitimbrally (one MIDI channel per part) when MPE is enabled?
  MPE controllers typically send out MIDI events on all 16 MIDI channels, required for achieving per-note control. When MPE mode is enabled in Omnisphere, all 8 Parts are set to Channel = “Any”, meaning that all MIDI events on all 16 channels are routed to Parts 1 to 8 at all times. Thus, when MPE is enabled and each Part responds to all MIDI channels, the ability to use Omnisphere’s per-Part MIDI Channel assignment as a MIDI input routing mechanism no longer works. You can still use Live and Stack mode when MPE is enabled for multi-part setups.