Hardware that keeps improving after launch is rare, and it is one of the best signs of a healthy MPE ecosystem. The Exquis from Intuitive Instruments is a good example. Its firmware 2.2.0, released alongside new DAW integration scripts, turned an already playable hex-pad controller into a more complete studio tool. If you skipped the update, or you are still weighing the controller, it is worth a closer look.
What is the Exquis?
Exquis is a compact MPE controller built around a grid of hexagonal, pressure-sensitive pads and four rotary encoders. Each pad responds to pressure and to X/Y finger movement, so you can shape every note of a chord independently. It is aimed at musicians who want per-note expression without the footprint, or the price tag, of a full keyboard-style MPE instrument. You can read more on the Intuitive Instruments site.
MPE Key Freeze: expression that stays put
The headline feature of firmware 2.2.0 is MPE Key Freeze. Hold one or more keys, press the fourth rotary encoder, and the X, Y and Z (pressure) values of those notes are locked. The notes keep sounding with their expression intact, even after you lift your fingers.
This matters more than it first appears. Normally, holding an expressive pad shape means keeping your finger in place. With Key Freeze you can:
- Sustain a chord with a specific timbre while your hands move on to other parts.
- Build evolving pads by freezing one chord, then layering a second.
- Free a hand for knobs, a second controller or a mouse in the DAW.
A playable score display
The update also adds a MIDI score display mode. Keys light up as MIDI notes arrive, so the Exquis doubles as a visual readout of what a sequencer or another instrument is playing. Octave buttons indicate notes that fall outside the visible range. For learning a part, checking a harmony or teaching, a lit hex grid is a very readable alternative to a piano roll.
Smaller improvements that add up
Firmware 2.2.0 includes several practical refinements:
- Sustain and expression pedal support through the MIDI IN port.
- Refined sensitivity curves and better handling of off-centre presses, which makes the pads feel more consistent.
- New default layouts and an on-screen display of tempo and firmware version.
DAW scripts for Ableton Live, Bitwig and Reaper
Alongside the firmware, Intuitive Instruments released workflow scripts. For Ableton Live, a Python Remote Script gives the Exquis Launchpad-style session control: create, launch and delete clips and scenes, and reach track volume, pan and aux sends. It recalls one of the eight onboard layouts when you change tracks, and it can set the tempo, root note and scale in Live 12.
For Bitwig Studio and REAPER, support comes through Jürgen Moßgraber's DrivenByMoss extensions, which provide a Play view, track, device and parameter selection, and clip, scene and mix views.
The firmware and scripts were reported as available to existing owners through the vendor's download page. Check the official site for the latest versions before installing.
Why it matters for the MPE community
MPE controllers often have a reputation as pure performance tools that fight with the rest of a DAW workflow. Updates like this one narrow that gap. Scale and root-note sync, clip launching and parameter mapping make an expressive controller feel like part of the studio rather than a separate instrument you have to babysit.
If you already own an Exquis, update the firmware and try Key Freeze with a pad sound that responds to slide. If you are shopping for your first MPE controller, the update is a reminder to look at a manufacturer's support record as well as the hardware specs. Long-term firmware support, documented DAW integration and an active user community are the details that decide whether a controller stays on your desk for years or ends up in a drawer after the first month of excitement.