MusicRadar Verdict
Whether you already possess an MPE controller or not, this impressive bundle supplies extensive sonic interest, and sounds stunningly good.
Pros
- +
Exceptionally stylish and versatile
- +
The Phase Plant synth remains highly capable and creative
- +
Plenty of synthesis options, including wavetable and granular
- +
Exemplary real-time expressive control
Cons
- -
No standalone version
- -
The interface feels a little dark
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Kilohearts + Expressive E Phase Plant Expressive Suite: What is it?
If there’s one company that’s been on a crusade to advance the capability of hardware control of software synthesisers, it’s Expressive E. But controllers can sound a little quiet without a decent sound source, and thankfully help is at hand.
The Phase Plant Expressive Suite is a collaboration between Kilohearts and Expressive E, with the synth element of the suite provided by Kilohearts and its prize-winning Phase Plant plugin.
Kilohearts + Expressive E Phase Plant Expressive Suite: Performance and verdict
The synth engine itself is exceptionally capable, adopting a semi modular format which guides your path, should you choose to create patches from scratch. At the oscillator level, there are options to work with conventional subtractive-style waveforms, or delve into sampled waveforms, granular or wavetable synthesis. Each of these oscillator elements occupies a module of its own, with capacity to use up to a whopping 32 modules in one patch.
• Arturia Pigments
This very versatile synth offers many synthesis styles, with a ton of flexible modulation and control.
• UVI Falcon
Provides a wealth of programming options, and a superbly stylised production-ready sound.
You can imagine how huge this can sound, but that’s debatably a one-dimensional view. Where things can get really interesting, is with the modulation elements, which can be controlled in synchronisation or real time, meaning that modules can appear and disappear according to controlling forces.
Adopting a form of convention, the generators feed filters and EQs, which are assigned to one of three Lanes. What’s more unique about this signal path, is that you can adapt a Lane to include several additional functions. You can easily combine common filters with distortion, reverb or even a tape-stop. The programmability stakes are high and with that in mind, patching can get pretty complicated fairly quickly.
The final element, located at the bottom of the plugin window, relates to modulation. This is where Phase Plant comes into its own, with a host of modulation options, both within the synthesizer or programmed to trigger in real-time from a hardware source.
Given the wealth of control available within Phase Plant, it’s an obvious partner for Expressive E, who continues to push the boundaries of real-time control. Its contribution to this bundle relates to four sound banks, each comprising 100 patches, making use of the control element through aftertouch and MPE. This is not completely exclusive: there are always methods and work-around solutions using MIDI CC, should you not have access to a controller using these facets.
The first sound bank is called Stripes, and supplies an extensive collection of digital and wavetable sounds. Many of these tones are sharp and exacting, although there is plenty of warmth available, particularly through the pads and chords categories. The Delicious sound bank, by way of contrast, offers a wealth of textural warmth through the use of preamps and vintage keyboards.
The final two sound banks are called Onirica Vol 1 & 2, providing a selection of more evocative soundscapes, cinematic and orchestral textures, with lead and solo instrumentation included too.
Finely bundled
You might be forgiven for wondering whether or not this bundle is appropriate, should you not have access to a MPE controller. It represents an extraordinary collection of interesting and weighty sounds, particularly if you’re interested in creating textures with large amounts of movement. We tested this bundle with both MPE and aftertouch controllers, and the overarching sense was that the sounds stand up exceptionally in both scenarios.
This would appeal to anyone who likes to delve deep into synth architecture and programming
The Phase Plant synth is a real class act and one that would appeal to anyone who likes to delve deep into synth architecture and programming. Expressive E has created a beautiful and diverse set of 400 patches which are good to go, especially if you have an Expressive E controller.
MusicRadar verdict: Whether you already possess an MPE controller or not, this impressive bundle supplies extensive sonic interest, and sounds stunningly good.
Kilohearts + Expressive E Phase Plant Expressive Suite: Hands-on demos
Expressive E
sonicstate
Kilohearts + Expressive E Phase Plant Expressive Suite: Specifications
- macOS 11 and higher
- Windows 10 and higher
- Requirements: Modern CPU (Ryzen 5, i5 or newer recommended) / M1 recommended for Apple computers, Kilohearts Phase Plant 2.1.5, MPE controller
- Compatibility: AU / VST2 / VST3 / AAX / no standalone version
- CONTACT: Expressive E
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