I've Never Used A Keyboard Like This Before

Howdy! Today I want to talk about one of the weirdest keyboards I've ever used and how it's changing my approach to...well...everything.

My Awesome Partners:

Gear I Use:

Stay classy!

▼▼▼Join My Discord!▼▼▼

▼▼▼Follow Venus Theory▼▼▼

---

Disclosure:
If you make a purchase using any of the affiliate links, I will earn a small commission with no extra cost to you. This is a great way to get cool new stuff, and support the channel so I can make more videos like this one!

[VenusTheory]

Videos may be slow for a to share why soon! 🤐

[Atmosphericol]

I dig your casual demeanour in these videos. Too many cats are all hyped up, fake, salesy, etc.
With you it feels like a relaxing low key chat about stuff.

[djdksf]

Congrats! I've had my Osmose for about 6 months and I can confirm that even though it's amazingly intuitive, the learning curve is long. Every time I play it (or use it as a controller) I learn something new gesturally that requires repetition and practice in order to make it applicable in a real world scenario. In a few more years, I expect there will be a whole generation of MPE virtuosos and the tech will start to really show it's potential. It's a completely new era for us keyboard kids (I started learning and playing piano at about age 6.) BTW, I also just picked up a GS Music e7 desktop polysynth, which is MPE enabled and makes an incredible addition to the Eagan Matrix by adding raw analog power. The recent Noisy 2 and MPE banks for Phase Plant are also pretty amazing and much more doable for hands-on sound design.

[mikolasstrajt]

It's not true old synths were without expression before Moog. Actually some acient synthesisers were capable of expression in much better way than modwheel. Notable examples being Odens Martenot and Ondioline.
Also if you are into keyboard/guitar hybrids definitely check out Harpejji.

[InsidesAndOutsides]

Playing Osmose is a totally unique vibe. I used mine on my recent album and was blown away by how it felt to play it. I've never really been a guitarist (though I have played double bass a long time ago), so really this was more of a voyage of discovery for me than a return home. Anyway, the subtlety of the experience is wonderful.

Incidentally, I'd argue that while it's true that you can't bend notes on a piano, you... kinda can. You can "imply" different amounts of bending by the time you spend on the "grace note". It's a subtle skill but worth learning.

[jonathanwingmusic]

I think I'm not the only pianist who wiggles their fingers (inexplicably) when playing - it feels expressive like we're adding vibrato (even though we're not). Finally a keyboard that will actually translate those moves into musical expression!

[thenessg]

The editing and visual style are absolutely wonderful. Amazing job, bud.

[ksgant]

The Yamaha GX-1, the "Dream Machine" had an upper keyboard that could do the vibrato thing by shaking your finger...using vertical and horizontal aftertouch. This was introduced back in 1973 and only a handful made it out of Japan, and usually by big names like Keith Emerson, Stevie Wonder, and John Paul Jones. It was more a test bed which lead directly to the CS-80. The GX-1 was also massive and not very portable. The CS-80 was like a laptop compared to the size of the GX-1.

[jondellar]

"As a recovering guitar player..." 😂 Beautiful turn of phrase. Love your humour Cameron.

[dstorfer]

ARP made a pro-soloist keyboard in the late 70s that had pressure and side-to-side expression on each key.
I remember having the thin plastic record that came in keyboard magazine with Herbie Hancock demonstrating it.

[cleekersneaker]

I'm waiting for a young keyboardist to get so good at this thing that it changes everything

[gsnevius]

Great video as usual! But can we talk about the filmic look? Holy cow, I feel like I'm watching a movie at my local theater! Crushed blacks, lots of grain, dust and dirt - love it!

[ThisIsOnesto]

This is such a good video. Seriously, from beginning to end. Great storytelling without being YouTube-y. Thank you

[cemacmillan]

Glad to hear you are busy.

That definitely looks like awesome kit.

[krryalln]

Hell Yeah, I just bought on of these last month and it'll be here in early July. When I demo'd it at the store it blew mind how natrually all the music was being written on the spot and how inspiring all the presets were. Looovveeee hearing you play with this and can't wait to hear what you release with it!

[jordanWAH]

Don't be afraid to make videos just about gear. I like gear and so do the rest of us.

[JovianPath]

For me, the Osmose has taken over as my main controller keyboard (the one in front of the monitor anyway). It isn't the best for a lot of things (like a straight up piano), but it is good enough and then it excels at the type of MPE control I want. It is kind of a great sweet spot. My only issue in production is that it generates a lot of extra MIDI information (even in classic or poly aftertouch keyboard modes) like pitch bend, the expression pedal (even after repeated calibrations) is noisy (could be my pedal, but I don't get that plugging it into other keyboards), and the sustain pedal is doesn't send discrete 0 and 127 events, but the full continuum. This can be cool sometimes for plugins that actually can use that (I think pianoteq can possibly?) but usually when editing events after the fact, it is a pain. Most of these MIDI I deal with MIDI post-processing.

[ammirgita]

I was watching this while on lunch break and that "get of the internet and get back to work" hit me hard. thank you tho lol

[harryleblanc]

I don't have an Osmose, but I have several mpe controllers -- Linnstrument, Erae Touch, Striso -- and they are absolute game changers. The Linnstrument is my main controller. It's so nice to have the responsiveness.

[sogil]

Already have a Roli Seabord...i absolute adorei it for flutes/solo violins etc...But the minute i saw this i went crazy for it!