About
MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) is an extension of MIDI that gives every note its own continuous control over pitch, pressure, and timbre. Where standard MIDI shares pitch bend and aftertouch across the whole channel, MPE spreads notes across multiple channels so each voice in a chord can be bent, swelled, or shaped independently.
In practice this means you can hold a chord and bend a single note up, slide between voicings without re-triggering, add vibrato to the top line of a phrase while the rest sustains cleanly, and play electronic instruments with the kind of per-note nuance that string and wind players have always taken for granted.
For a longer take on why MPE matters and how the four families of controller actually feel under the fingers, see my MPE deep dive. This page is the shortlist - the controllers worth knowing about in 2026, grouped by form factor, with notes on who each one suits.
What makes a great MPE controller
Before the list, a few things worth thinking about:
- Form factor. MPE controllers come in four broad shapes - traditional keys with per-key sensors, soft silicone “keywaves” you can slide along, isomorphic grids of pads, and flat fabric or rubber surfaces. They feel completely different and reward different playing styles.
- Dimensions of expression. The full MPE specification covers strike velocity, per-note pitch bend, per-note pressure (poly aftertouch), per-note timbre (slide / Y-axis), and release velocity. Cheaper controllers cut corners on one or more of these. Decide which ones matter to you before spending.
- Software pairing. A controller is only as expressive as the synth on the receiving end. Confirm your DAW and your favourite synths are MPE-aware before committing - most modern soft synths are, but some still only respond to single-channel MIDI.
- Learning curve. A Seaboard or LinnStrument is not a piano with extra features. Expect to put in real practice before the expression starts to feel like an instrument rather than a novelty.
MPE Controllers
Keyboards with MPE
- Roli
- Seaboard RISE 2 - the flagship Seaboard, with a continuous silicone “keywave” surface that lets you press, slide, glide, and lift on every note. The closest thing on the market to a fretless keyboard.
- Seaboard BLOCK M - a compact, portable take on the Seaboard concept. Good entry point if you want to try the keywave approach without the RISE 2 price tag.
- LUMI Keys Studio Edition - a traditional-feeling keyboard with per-key pitch bend and polyphonic aftertouch. Backlit keys make it useful for learning and live cueing as well as expression.
Isomorphic grids
- Roger Linn Design
- LinnStrument - a flat grid of pressure-sensitive pads laid out in fourths, with full five-dimensional MPE. Loved by guitarists and players who find piano layouts limiting. Comes in 128-pad and 200-pad sizes.
Fabric and touch surfaces
- Embodme
- ERAE Touch - a flat, fully customisable touch surface with high-resolution pressure sensing. You can lay out keyboards, drum grids, X/Y pads, or anything else, and reconfigure on the fly.
Pad-based MPE
- Keith McMillen Instruments
- QuNeo - a thin, portable pad controller with per-pad pressure, X/Y position, and velocity. More of a finger drum and clip-launching tool than a melodic instrument, but the per-pad expression is genuine MPE.
MPE-compatible software
Most modern soft synths handle MPE well. A few that are particularly worth pairing with the controllers above:
- Ableton Live - full MPE support across the DAW since version 11, including recording and editing per-note expression in the piano roll.
- Logic Pro - native MPE recording, editing, and playback.
- Bitwig Studio - one of the earliest DAWs to support MPE end to end, and still one of the best for expressive editing.
- Arturia Pigments - a flagship soft synth with deep per-note modulation routing. Pairs especially well with Seaboards.
- u-he Diva and Repro - vintage-style synths with full MPE handling.
- Equator2 - Roli’s own synth, designed from the ground up around MPE.