Expressive E Touché User manual
USER MANUAL
!
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does
not represent a commitment on the part of Expressive SAS.
“Expressive E”, “Touché”, "Lié" and associated logos are registered trademarks of
Expressive SAS.
Ableton is a trademark of Ableton AG.
!
Mac, MacOS, OS X, GarageBand, Logic, are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
!
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of them
does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
Document authored by the Expressive E team.
EXPRESSIVE SAS
Atrium
104 Avenue de la Résistance
93100 MONTREUIL
France
www.expressivee.com"
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1. Introduction 5
1.1. Downloads & Updates 5
1.2. Installation 5
2. Touché 6
2.1. Overview 6
2.1.1. What is Touché ? 6
2.1.2. Slave and Standalone 6
2.1.3. Default Behaviour 6
2.2. Mechanism 7
2.2.1. Concept 7
2.2.2. Shiings 7
2.2.3. Skin 8
2.2.4. Cylinders 8
2.2.5. Slider 8
2.3. Controls 9
2.3.1. Buttons 9
2.3.2. Encoder 9
2.3.3. LEDs 9
2.4. Connectivity 10
2.4.1. Ports 10
2.4.2. Data 11
3. Lié 12
3.1. Overview 12
3.1.1. What is Lié ? 12
3.1.2. System Requirements 12
3.1.3. Plug-in Formats 12
3.2. Interface 13
3.2.1. Menu 13
3.2.2. Settings 14
3.2.3. Browser 15
3.2.4. Slot Center 16
3.2.5. Plug-In Preset Specificities 17
3.2.6. Hardware Preset Specificities 18
3.2.7. Memory View 20
3.2.8. Scope 21
3.2.9. Sensitivity Curve Editor 22
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4. Workflow 23
4.1. DAW Setup 23
4.1.1. Ableton Live 23
4.1.2. Logic Pro 24
4.1.3. Cubase 25
4.1.4. Presonus Studio One 27
4.1.5. GarageBand 28
4.2. Creating a new plug-in preset 29
4.3. Creating a new hardware preset 32
4.4. Loading a hardware preset in Touché’s internal memory 35
4.5. Adjusting your sensitivity 37
4.5.1. By Parameter 37
4.5.2. For the Top and Bottom Shiings 37
4.5.3. For the Le and Right Shiings 37
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1. Introduction
1.1. Downloads & Updates
Touché comes with Lié, its companion soware. When you receive Touché, you need to update its firmware to make
it work properly with Lié.
You can find the latest version here : https://www.expressivee.com/downloads
1.2. Installation
Once Lié is downloaded, you can start the installation : Double click on "Lié.dmg" to open it.
Inside the installation folder you will find this screen :
• "UVI Workstation.pkg" : You will need this file If you want to install Lié’s factory presets.
• "Lié.pkg" : You will need this file to install Lié.
In order to have Lié’s factory presets, double click on "UVI Workstation.pkg" to install it, and follow the instructions.
Then, double click on "Lie.pkg" and follow the instructions as well.
Once Lié is installed, launch your DAW. Lié should appear in your plug-in folder. If not, it might be because your DAW
doesn’t automatically scan for new plug-ins. Scan them to refresh your plug-in list (learn more at DAW Setup).
The rest position of your Touché is calibrated when you power Touché. Therefore, when plugging Touché to your
computer, please make sure that Touché is in a stable position (not moving, on a horizontal surface, and without
touching the Skin). This process is automatically done each time you power Touché, either from a computer or from
a standalone power source.
Then, on your computer, open Lié in a DAW, it will invite you to update Touché’s firmware and to scan your Plugins.
If you skip those steps, you still can perform them in the Settings.
You are now ready to discover Touché !
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2. Touché
2.1. Overview
2.1.1. What is Touché ?
Touché is an instrument that gives you a unique tactile approach of both soware and hardware synthesizers.
Shaping and controlling their sound with a simple pressure of your hands, Touché gives you a powerful and natural
connection with music.
Touché controls your synthesizers with four independent Shiings : Two vertical and two lateral Shiings.
These four Shiings are extremely precise and sensitive, reacting to the smallest pressure, the slightest movement
of your fingers.
This opens up a wide variety of genuine instrumental gestures : progressive slides, subtle vibratos, percussive taps,
hand-made LFOs, etc. Each of the four Shiings can be independently mapped to one or several parameters of your
synthesizers.
2.1.2. Slave and Standalone
You can use your Touché in Slave mode when using it with Lié,or as a Standalone.
• Slave : Touché is connected to Lié. Touché behaves as specified in Lié.
• Standalone : Touché is not connected to Lié. Touché behaves as specified in the currently selected preset
from its internal memory (learn more in the Memory View section).
2.1.3. Default Behaviour
Aer the firmware update, all the slots of Touché’s internal memory are filled with the default preset :
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USB and MIDI
top shiing : CC17
bottom shiing : CC16
le shiing is CC18
right shiing is CC19
CV
top shiing : CV2
bottom shiing : CV1
le shiing : CV3
right shiing : CV4
All with 0/+5V
2.2. Mechanism
2.2.1. Concept
Touché reacts to the pressure and gestures you apply to the wooden part, which is called the Skin.
It possesses two pairs of complementary Shiings : Top and bottom / le and right.
Those need to be calibrated before you play, it is automatically done when you plug Touché. Plug your Touché to
your computer, and make sure that it is in a stable position (not moving, on a horizontal surface, and without
touching the Skin), because it will be calibrated from this position. In other words, the rest position will be
calibrated when you power Touché. This process is automatically done each time you power Touché, either from a
computer or from any other USB power source. !
!
You can also re-calibrate Touché by pressing the le and right buttons simultaneously until the LEDs start blinking.
2.2.2. Shiings
Top and bottom Shiings work with vertical pressure. You can play with the top or bottom Shiings by pressing on
one end of the Skin or the other (the "bottom" is the end close from the Encoder and the Buttons, the "top" is the
opposite). You can also play with both at the same time by pressing in the middle. Aer pressing , if you release all
pressure, it will naturally recover its equilibrium position.
Depending on which part of the Skin you apply pressure on, the pressure will be more or less distributed onto the
top or bottom Shiings thanks to a lever arm mechanism. It gives you a great precision and control over the
blending of both Shiings.
You can for instance slide from the top to the bottom Shiing in a smooth and progressive way, or quickly hit one
end in a more percussive style.
Le and right Shiings, on the other hand, work with a horizontal movement, sliding from one side to another. They
don’t blend together as with the top and bottom Shiings, which is very useful to control parameters as pitch for
instance, letting you do nice and subtle vibratos.!
!
You can change the sensitivity of the four Shiings (learn more in theAdjusting your sensitivity section).
"
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2.2.3. Skin
The wooden surface at the top of Touché is conceived to give you a great, smooth instrumental touch. This skin is
magnetised in order to be removed and locked easily, making an easy access to the Cylinder and the Slider
underneath.
Be careful when replacing it, it must be put in the right position.
The Cylinder must face the two little wooden parts, otherwise the skin won't be properly magnetised.
2.2.4. Cylinders
The top and bottom Shiings use cylinders, which are responsible for Touché's pressure feedback.
One is located just under the Skin , another is underneath Touché, inside the little trapdoor.
Both cylinders can be removed from their support by releasing them from their rail. Do not try to take them off
directly by pulling them or you might irreversibly damage them.
2.2.5. Slider
Under the Skin, you will find a Slider which allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the le and right Shiings.
•
By placing the Slider on the bottom position, it will loosen the right and le Shiings.
•
By placing the Slider on the upper position, it will stiffen the right and le Shiings
Learn more in the Adjusting your sensitivity section.
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2.3. Controls
2.3.1. Buttons
In Standalone mode, you can select a preset from Touché’s internal memory by using the le and right buttons.
Touché has an internal memory of 6 banks of 4 presets each, for a total of 24 presets. Each bank has its own colour
(learn more in the Memory View section). The preset’s number matches the amount of LEDs lit, and the colour of
those LEDs indicate which bank you’re in.
•
Pressing the right button will load the next preset from the bank
•
Pressing the right button when the current preset is the last of a bank will select the first preset of the next bank.
•
Pressing the le button will load the previous preset from the bank
•
Pressing the le button when the current preset is the first of a bank will select the last preset of the previous
bank.
•
Pressing le and right buttons until the LEDs start blinking will re-calibrate Touché.
In Slave mode, You can use the right and le buttons to navigate through Lié’s presets, as you would in Standalone
mode. Pressing le and right buttons until the LEDs start blinking will re-calibrate Touché.
Moreover, in Slave mode only, the Buttons send the following CCs :
•
Le : CC 80
•
Right : CC 81
2.3.2. Encoder
In both Slave and Standalone mode, the Encoder allows you to define Touché’s sensitivity. Turning it towards the
right will increase sensitivity, turning it to the le will decrease it. The Encoder has 8 sensitivity steps, and the four
LEDs will display the sensitivity steps whenever you turn the Encoder, by being incrementally lit from le to right
(Learn more in the Adjusting your sensitivity section).
The Encoder also gives you a special feature called “Freeze” : pushing the Encoder will freeze the data sent from the
four Shiings. Touché shows that it is freeze mode when its four LEDs are blinking. If you release your hand from
Touché while it is in Freeze mode, or press it in any way, it will maintain the controlled parameters at the frozen
value. Pushing again the Encoder will unfreeze Touché.
2.3.3. LEDs
LEDs gives you a visual feedback on different aspects :
•
White LEDs display sensitivity levels ; there are 8 different levels of sensitivity going from low (le) : one LED on
intermediate brightness, to high (right) : all LED on maximum brightness. Slave mode always displays sensitivity.
Standalone mode displays sensitivity when the Encoder is being turned.
•
Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Purple LEDs display the different banks when Touché is in Standalone
mode. The preset’s number matches the amount of lit LEDs .
•
Pink LEDs display the bootloader mode : Touché is installing or waiting for a new firmware.
•
Blinking light indicate that Touché is frozen : Pushing the Encoder will freeze the data sent from the four
Shiings. Pushing again the Encoder will unfreeze Touché.
•
Fast blinking white LEDs for a short period of time confirms the re-calibration of Touché."
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2.4. Connectivity
2.4.1. Ports
USB
Touché is USB powered. You can power it by plugging it to a computer, but also by using a standard USB
smartphone charger. 0.5A from your USB port is required to power Touché.
In order to connect Touché, we recommend to use the USB cable supplied. You can use any suitable USB cable but
we strongly recommend to use short USB cables (less than 2 meters), labeled with an identification code that ends
with "24/2C", "24AWGX2C" or "AWG24X2C".
Ground Loop
Ground Loop is an unwanted background noise or hum that arises when one connects different devices together
with different power supplies.
If you face this kind of problem, we recommend to use the anti-ground loop adapter supplied. Connect the antiground loop adaptor to Touché as follows :
The Ground Loop Adaptor possesses three ends : Two male USB connectors, one female USB connector.
Plug the longest segment of the two male connectors to an electrical outlet and the shortest segment to your
computer, then plug the female connector to Touché’s standard coat USB Cable.
MIDI
Touché possesses a MIDI IN and a MIDI OUT/Thru ports. To use the Touché with an external MIDI device, use the
included adapters (5-pin DIN to ⅛” jack ) and a standard MIDI cable.
CV
Touché possesses four Control Voltage outputs. You can choose different ranges for CV outputs, up to - 10/+10V
(Learn more in the CV Page section).
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USB Power
Computer
Touché
2.4.2. Data
Input
Touché has two sources of MIDI inputs :
All datas received in MIDI IN or USB IN are sent to both MIDI Out ( MIDI Merge ) and USB out, in the exception of USB
IN to MIDI OUT for a plug-in preset in Slave mode.
Output
When Touché is in Slave mode, its USB output always sends the following CCs to control Lié :
•
Top shiing : CC 17
•
Bottom shiing : CC 16
•
Le shiing : CC 18
•
Right shiing : CC 19
MIDI and CV outputs sends data according to the selected Hardware Preset within Lié. Please refer to the
Hardware Preset section to learn how to set up the MIDI and CV outputs of Touché in a Hardware Preset.
When Touché is in Standalone mode, its MIDI, USB and CV outputs send data according to the selected preset in the
memory. Please refer to the Memory View section to learn how to save presets in Touché’s internal memory.
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3. Lié
3.1. Overview
3.1.1. What is Lié ?
Lié is a powerful soware with a simple design. Lié works hand in hand with Touché in a clear, simple workflow. Lié
is a host of plug-ins and is available in both VST and AU flavours, making it compatible with all major DAWs.
!
Lié has advanced features like sensitivity curves, speedmapping, min/max values, CV voltages editing, MIDI CC
editing, internal memory managing, preset recalling, tags...
!
Lié also comes with tailor-made sounds and configurations for a selection of synthesizers, as well as tools to make
your own hardware and soware presets.
All of Lié’s provided soware presets were made in partnership with UVI Falcon, and are ready to be played within
UVI Workstation, included in Lié’s package.
3.1.2. System Requirements
Minimum required to run Lié :
•
Processor : Intel Core i5 1.4Ghz (or equivalent)
•
RAM : 4GB memory
•
OS : macOS 10.10 and above
Minimum required to UVI Workstation :
•
Processor : Intel Core i5 2.5Ghz (or equivalent)
•
RAM : 4GB memory (recommended: 8GB)
•
1GB hard drive space
3.1.3. Plug-in Formats
Lié is compatible with any DAW that supports VST or AU plug-in formats. Lié can then itself host any VST. To learn
how to host a VST with Lié, please refer to the Settings section.
For more informations about configuring Ableton Live, Cubase and Logic pro to load Lié, please refer to the DAW
Setup section.
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