Soliste VLA 419 - Viola

Next-Gen MPE String Instruments for Real-Time Expression

Expressive E proudly introduces the Soliste range of solo string instruments, designed for expressive real-time performance. Drawing on the power of physical modeling and deep expertise in expressive interaction, Soliste opens fresh and unprecedented perspectives for bowed string instruments.

A natural evolution from the award-winning Arché Collection—Expressive E’s first software instrument—Soliste features a thoroughly reworked sound engine, advanced customization options, and above all, an unprecedented playing experience.

Playful, Inspiring, and Built for MPE 

Soliste physical modeling technology is designed to deliver a joyful and inspiring real-time playing experience, shaped by natural, expressive gestures.

Select from multiple play modes tailored to your style and sensitivity. Whether you’re sustaining a note, shaping natural bow motion with back-and-forth gestures, or controlling tremolo on the fly, every nuance flows directly from your touch. It’s not just expressive — it feels alive, intuitive, and deeply rewarding.

Soliste was designed to fully harness the expressive potential of the Expressive E Osmose synthesizer and is also compatible with all other MPE controllers. It perfectly responds to Expressive E Touché and still works nicely on traditional, legacy MIDI controllers without MPE support

Your sound, your touch — simply shaped.

Because Soliste plugins are powered by physical modeling, they open up editing possibilities far beyond those of static, sample-based instruments. Shape your playing experience by adjusting bow response and vibrato behavior to match your feel. Customize your instrument’s tone by selecting the body and tweaking model parameters for total creative freedom. All of it is wrapped in a carefully crafted design, offering a seamless and easy-to-use sound design experience.

The Soliste range includes four physically modeled solo string instruments:

• LN 356 – Violin
• VLA 419 – Viola
• CLO 759 – Cello
• DBS 1130 – Double Bass
• Soliste Suite - a collection of all 4

VLA 419 - Viola

Rich and warm, the viola bridges melody and harmony with a lush tone that adds depth and emotion to any composition.

Features

• A Living Instrument at the Fingertips - Real-time responsiveness enables fluid transitions between sustain, bow strokes, or tremolo, directly from the player’s gestures.
• Expressive Playing Modes - Soliste offers three distinct playing modes, built for real-time expression — each designed to match different levels of interaction and control:
  • Classic Mode is based on a press & tap concept: it lets you trigger a bow stroke when you tap, and shape the dynamic intensity of sustained bowing when you press.
  • Virtuoso Mode introduces a smart back-and-forth bowing system, giving you direct, real-time control over the bow.
  • Expressive Bow Mode is an intelligent blend of Classic and Virtuoso modes, built on a press & tap approach. Tap to trigger a single bow stroke. Press to access dual behavior: slow gestures control sustained bowing, as in Classic Mode, while faster gestures engage real-time back-and-forth motion, just like in Virtuoso Mode.
• Smart Vibrato System - Two ways to play vibrato: Perform vibrato manually — using per-note pitch control or any compatible playing interface or rely on an assisted vibrato system, where a natural vibrato gradually fades in, either on note-on or through continuous playing gestures. An intelligent system ensures a smooth transition between manual and assisted vibrato.
• Portamento & Pressure Glide Compatible - An evolved velocity-based system provides flexible portamento control, offering adjustment options tailored to your playing style. Soliste instruments are also fully compatible with Osmose’s Pressure Glide feature, allowing real-time portamento control through continuous pressure gestures.
• Articulation Presets for Extended Playing Possibilities - Beyond the main playing modes, Soliste includes a wide range of presets designed to recreate specific articulations — from sul ponticello and pizzicato to Bartók and staccato, including a fully playable real-time tremolo. Each articulation can be personalized to match the player’s intent and playing style.
• Highly Customizable Sound Engine - Thanks to physical modeling technology, every dimension of the instrument can be tailored to your taste. Adjust bow behavior — from attack time and gesture shape to interaction types: sustain, back-and-forth, hybrid modes, tremolo, and more. You can also radically change its character by selecting a different body — each one offering a distinct tonal identity, like switching between various instruments. Customize note linking (detached or legato), fine-tune vibrato and portamento response, and shape your sound using a large set of timbral parameters.
• Effects - Soliste offers simple but effective tools to shape and balance your sound. A standard 3-band EQ helps refine the instrument’s tone, while the Brightness control lets you adjust spectral presence to help the sound cut through a mix. To place your performance in space, a high-quality convolution reverb adds natural acoustics captured from real-world environments — from majestic churches and grand halls to intimate rooms.
• Streamlined Interface - A clean, performance-focused UI makes editing intuitive, with advanced panels for deeper tone shaping when needed.
• Optimized for Osmose & MPE Compatible - Soliste is designed to deliver maximum expression with Osmose’s unique keybed, while remaining fully compatible with all other MPE controllers.
• Touché & Classic MIDI Compatibility - Soliste instruments are fully compatible with Touché, with dedicated presets available for seamless integration. An onboard MIDI mapping system allows for smooth assignment of parameters, whether you’re using Touché or any other MIDI controller.

System Requirements

• macOS 12 (Monterey) to 15 (Sequoïa) - Latest update (Apple silicon & Intel chips)
• Windows: 11 and higher (latest service pack)
• Recommended minimum CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 or Ryzen 5 2600 (i7 or Ryzen7 recommended)
• Recommended minimum RAM: 4 GB
• VST2, VST3 & Audio Units
• PACE iLok, no hardware dongle required, up to 3 activations.