The MPE controller market keeps expanding, and the latest entry comes from French audio technology company Aodyo Instruments, already known for the Anyma Phi synthesizer. Their new Loom — a multidimensional MPE MIDI controller — recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over €160,554 from 459 backers, and is now heading toward a first production run of 500 units targeted for Autumn 2026.

What makes the Loom stand out in an increasingly competitive field isn't any single feature — it's the breadth of playing styles it accommodates within a single compact form factor.

Four Playing Modes, One Controller

Most MPE controllers are designed around a single interaction paradigm. The ROLI Seaboard 2 is a keyboard. The LinnStrument is a grid. The Haken Continuum is a continuous surface. The Loom takes a different approach: it offers four distinct performance modes that fundamentally change how you interact with the surface.

Keyboard mode turns the Loom into a standard MPE keyboard layout, with per-note pressure (Z-axis), lateral slide, and full pitch bend tracking per finger. Aodyo has implemented a patented system for detecting impact force — not just sustained pressure, but the velocity with which a finger strikes the surface. This opens up articulation nuances closer to what you'd find on a percussion instrument than a typical keyboard.

Ribbon mode treats the entire surface as a continuous, pressure-sensitive ribbon — ideal for playing long, gliding single-line melodies or sound design sweeps. Strum mode simulates a string instrument layout, where vertical lines represent strings and horizontal movement mimics strumming and bowing gestures. Drum kit mode transforms the surface into a pad layout with per-hit pressure tracking, making it relevant not just for melodic players but for beat-oriented producers as well.

Physical Design and Controls

The Loom is a compact 2-octave device (a 3-octave extended version, cheekily named the Looom, is also available). To the left of the main playing surface sits a pressure-sensitive action zone, and two dedicated thumb controllers handle modulation: a slider for continuous modulation tasks and a bar for toggle-style functions like sustain or cymbal chokes.

The device stores 24 preset slots directly on board, each configurable with a playing mode, MIDI mode (Mono, Poly, or MPE), and custom gesture mappings. No computer or companion app is required to switch between setups — a practical consideration for live performance.

MPE Implementation and DAW Compatibility

The Loom transmits standard MPE over USB and operates in MIDI Poly Pressure mode for compatibility with hosts that don't yet support full MPE channel-per-note routing. It works with any MPE-compatible DAW — Bitwig Studio, Ableton Live 12, Logic Pro, and REAPER all handle it correctly.

For software instruments, pairing the Loom with expressive plugins like Arturia Pigments 5 or Surge XT allows full exploitation of its per-note dimensions.

Why the Loom Matters

The MPE controller space tends to attract one of two types of players: dedicated keyboard performers who want something more expressive than a standard synth action, and explorers drawn to completely new interfaces. The Loom's multi-mode design makes it unusual in trying to serve both audiences — and the drum and strum modes specifically invite producers and players who wouldn't normally reach for an expressive keyboard.

Whether that breadth of functionality translates to a better instrument than a purpose-built device remains to be seen once units start shipping. But the Kickstarter response — 459 backers funding nearly three times the original goal — suggests a real audience for a versatile, compact MPE controller.

First batch: 500 units, targeting Autumn 2026
Kickstarter campaign | Official site | Coverage at MusicRadar