The unique Erae Contact was one of many extra attention-grabbing MPE controllers to return out in the previous few years. However it’s been available on the market 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 important upgrades and one sudden new characteristic.
Now, it is necessary to notice that the model of the Erae II I used to be in a position to take a look at out was very early prototype. There have been a couple of bugs, the development positively 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 anticipate ship date someday in June.
However the imaginative and prescient is already clear. The primary floor is basically the identical, a singular clean expanse with RGB lights beneath it. These are used for instance numerous layouts that may be custom-made. It may be a normal keyboard, a grid, faders, a step sequencer, et cetera. The design is unquestionably extra refined, even at this early stage. It additionally acknowledges that whereas the customizability of the controller was a giant 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 prime righthand nook subsequent to a jog wheel. The viewing angles on the display have been strong and it is a lot sharp, however its dimension might pose some challenges. I am not going to guage 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 observe my glides and refined shifts in strain with unimaginable accuracy. The corporate claims the enjoying floor has sub-millimeter accuracy. Clearly there isn’t any method I might actually put that to the take a look at on the present ground 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 plenty of give, so tiny adjustments in strain may end up in large adjustments to the sound.
One of many stunning issues is that the Erae II may have swappable skins, form of just like the Sensel Morph (RIP) or the Joué Play, but additionally, 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 is going to will ship with a white cloth one although, which was particularly meant to enhance the texture and responsiveness for these enjoying with their fingers.
Altering the skins is slightly concerned, nonetheless. As a result of Embodme sees the Erae not merely as a instrument for the studio, however as a reside efficiency machine it wished to ensure the covers can be safe and standup to abuse. So that you really must unscrew the body to pop on a brand new pores and skin. And for the reason that show on the Erae is already customizable, it isn’t bothering to have skins with specific layouts, simply completely different supplies.
Embodme additionally added a ton of recent connectivity choices. The unique merely had a USB-C port and a TRS MIDI out. However the Erae II may 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 technique to early to know for positive how effectively the Erae II will standup to actual world use. However it’s acquired a promising characteristic set and an intriguing design. If you wish to be among the many first to get your palms on one you can 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 yr, nonetheless, will probably be going for $799.