Expressive E

E
xpressive E launched
the fi rst generation of
Touché hand controllers
in 2017. Unlike other
‘expressive’ controllers,
such as Roli’s Seaboard/
Block ranges, Touché
isn’t for playing notes, functioning
more like a combined pitch/mod
wheel which can apply modulation
across multiple axis at once.
The Touché SE is essentially
the same as its predecessor albeit
without the original’s CV and MIDI
connections. The hardware still feels
high-quality and its shapely, all-black
design exudes quality. The top board
provides the main expression surface.
This offers two directions of control
(clumsily titled ‘Shiftings’ in the
manual): up/down and left/right.
Although this sounds fairly rigid on
paper, in practice the responsiveness
of the control surface means that the
Touché reacts well to subtle gestures
in all directions; the results feel more
refi ned and expressive than a simple
case of ‘push up for pitchbend, left
for vibrato’ etc.
The SE relies on a USB
connection to take control of
instruments. and its primary use is in
conjunction with Lié, the companion
software application which handles
modulation assignments as well as
fi rmware updates. Lié comes in VST
or AU format, but it’s also a plugin
host itself. When you want to control
a software instrument, load Lié onto a
track in your DAW and then load up a
its MIDI/CV-equipped sibling. With
just a USB connection, the device
isn’t directly aimed at hardware users,
but it can still be used to control
external instruments via a DAW, so it’s
a little disappointing that there’s no
way to easily save templates or
presets for that purpose.
This aside, the Touché is a well-
designed, expressive controller and
for software-centric musicians is an
excellent addition to an existing MIDI
controller setup. It encourages you to
‘play’ virtual instruments in ways you
wouldn’t with standard controllers.
plugin within it. The application
handles communication between the
hardware and the plugin, with a
neatly laid-out interface offering up to
eight modulation assignments.
The Touché SE also comes with
several packs of presets for software
instruments including UVI
Workstation (bundled) and Falcon,
Arturia’s SEM V and Mini V, Sylenth1,
U-he Diva and NI Massive. Presets
are loaded within Lié, with pre-
mapped assignments for the Touché
controller. While the range of presets
is far from exhaustive – the likes of
Serum, Omnisphere and Avenger
don’t get a look in – those supplied
are generally very well chosen and
effective. Fortunately it’s very easy to
create and edit your own, meaning
you can adapt the system to whatever
software sounds you choose to use.
The Touché SE can also be used
in standalone mode without Lié
loaded. When used in this way, each
of its ‘Shiftings’ outputs a MIDI CC,
which can be changed and confi gured
using Lié. Being software-centric, the
Touché SE doesn’t offer up a
selection of hardware templates like
THE PROS & CONS
+
Robust and great-
looking design
Lié software is easy
to use and effective
Expressive,
responsive control
-
No presets for
controlling external
hardware
Software preset
selection could be
more extensive
FM VERDICT
8.1
A well-designed, expressive
controller that can breathe
life into software-centric
music -making
Results feel more refi ned
and expressive than a simple
‘push up for pitchbend’
E
xpressive E launched
the fi rst generation of
Touché hand controllers
THE PROS & CONS
Results feel more refi ned
Expressive E Touché SE | Reviews
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FMU340.rev_touche.indd 89 17/12/2018 13:16