Embodme - Erae 2

Embodme's Erae 2 ushers in a new era of digital musical expression. Four years on from the success of the Erae Touch, adopted by renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Jarre and Coldplay, this revolutionary evolution redefines expressive polyphonic MIDI control (MPE). Whether you're a composer in search of infinite nuance, a demanding studio musician or a live performer, the Erae 2 is designed to transcend your creative process, both at home and on stage.

At the heart of the Erae 2 is its patented sensing surface, featuring 16,000 force sensors powered by Embodme's Force Multi-Touch™ technology. This ensures ultra-responsive sensitivity detecting the subtlest touches (less than 20g of pressure) as well as the most intense keystrokes, delivering exceptional dynamic range. Sub-millimetre XY accuracy, in both relative and absolute modes, enables smooth and stable finger glides, essential for articulate performance.

One of the major innovations of the Erae 2 is its interchangeable skins, the result of five years of materials research. You can adapt the feel and tactile response to your playing style:
- Fabric Skin offers a natural, organic glide and a soft, damped feel, ideal for expressive finger-picking.
- Drum Skin offers a smooth silicone surface with a firm bounce, optimised for drum sticks.
- The Black Skin combines a smooth glide for finger or stick playing, a firm texture for precise control and a contrasting look that's perfect for the stage. Changing the skin is simple, requiring only unscrewing part of the aluminium case.

The user interface has been redesigned for clarity and effortless direct control. A high-resolution LCD screen now manages parameters and mapping in real time, while the click-wheel and direct-access buttons make it easy to navigate between modes (Scale, Mapping, Looper, Arpeggiator). The 18-inch interactive surface is entirely dedicated to performance and musical expression. The 1008 RGB LEDs provide precise, bright visual feedback across the entire surface.

For live performers, the integrated MIDI Looper is a key feature. It lets you record and layer up to 8 MPE or non-MPE polyphonic loops simultaneously, allowing you to build complete live tracks. X/Y/Z gestures are recorded, offering unique flexibility even when transposing or changing scale. Up to 8 projects, each containing 8 loops, can be saved on the SD card. The reinvented Arpeggiator responds to expressive gestures (pressure, pitchbends, slides) with individual key tracking, and its rate can be modulated by polyphonic aftertouch.

The Erae 2 is positioned as the most complete modular controller thanks to its extensive connectivity. It offers 24 configurable analogue outputs (CV, Gate, Trigger) for deep integration with modular systems, allowing you to send notes, CCs, aftertouch and pitch bend. Two additional MIDI sockets and a USB Host port facilitate DAWless set-ups (without STAN or Sequencer), while two footswitch outputs (expression or switch) offer even more control.

Unlimited customisation is at the heart of the Erae 2 experience. The free Erae Lab companion application lets you create, edit and manage your layouts with ease. Drag and drop elements such as keyboards, keygrids, drum pads, faders and buttons. Each component is fully customisable, from animations and colour palettes to MIDI and CV/Gate settings.

Designed to withstand the rigours of stage and studio, the Erae 2 boasts a robust aluminium construction. The silicone surface, the result of three years' research, ensures optimum durability while being replaceable in the event of wear.

The Erae 2 is more than just a controller; it's an open canvas for expression, offering unrivalled precision and total creative freedom to sculpt your music and performances.