One of the more approachable entry points into MIDI Polyphonic Expression just got a lot more useful inside your DAW of choice. Intuitive Instruments has rolled out firmware 2.2.0 for its Exquis controller, paired with new integrations that turn the little hexagonal grid into a genuine control surface for Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, and Reaper — not just a note-input device.
What Exquis Is, in Brief
For anyone who hasn't encountered it yet, Exquis is a compact isomorphic grid controller built around 54 backlit, pressure-sensitive pads, four endless knobs, a touch slider, and six configurable buttons, plus MIDI and CV/gate outputs for reaching into modular gear. Each pad transmits on its own MIDI channel with three axes of expression — pitch bend, CC74 (timbre), and channel aftertouch — which is exactly what MPE-aware synths expect. Its isomorphic layout also means chord shapes stay consistent no matter which key you're playing in, a feature that has made it popular with players who want expressive control without needing years of keyboard technique. Starting at €299, it remains one of the most affordable dedicated MPE controllers on the market.
A Real Ableton Live 12 Remote Script
The headline addition is a free Ableton Live Remote Script built specifically for Live 12. Rather than treating Exquis as a generic MPE input, the script turns the pad grid into a genuine Push-style control surface: launching and deleting clips and scenes in Session View, arming and muting tracks, adjusting volume, pan, and sends, tweaking device parameters, and setting scale and tempo — all with visual feedback reflected back onto the pads themselves. Installation follows the same process as any official Ableton control surface, so existing Live 12 users can get it running in a few minutes via Live's preferences.
Bitwig and Reaper Catch Up Through DrivenByMoss
Bitwig and Reaper users aren't left out. Controller developer Jürgen Moßgraber has extended his widely used DrivenByMoss extensions to add native Exquis support for both platforms. The update brings a dedicated Play View that unlocks Exquis's full MPE potential inside Bitwig's and Reaper's note-expression engines, along with Track/Device/Parameter Selection views for navigating a session without touching a mouse, and Clip/Scene/Mix views for handling arrangement and mixing tasks directly from the grid. Because DrivenByMoss is free and open source, both updates are available immediately as downloads rather than paid add-ons.
Why This Matters Beyond Exquis
The bigger story here is what it says about where MPE hardware is heading in 2026: manufacturers are no longer satisfied with "note in equals sound out." Deep, DAW-specific mapping — clip launching, mixing, parameter automation, all routed through the same surface that's sending your expressive note data — is becoming the expectation rather than the exception. Squarp's Hapax and Ableton's own Push line have pushed in a similar direction, and now a sub-€300 controller is playing in the same space. For Exquis owners who've mostly used the pads for improvising melodic lines, the update is a good excuse to revisit the whole workflow.
Getting the Update
Firmware 2.2.0 and both DAW integrations are free downloads. Exquis owners can grab the firmware update through the Exquis companion app, while the Ableton Remote Script is installed through Live's standard control-surface preferences and the Bitwig/Reaper extensions are available directly from the DrivenByMoss project page. If you've been sitting on the fence about isomorphic grid controllers, this is one of the more compelling moments to plug one in.
A Small Controller Punching Above Its Price
What makes this update worth flagging beyond the feature list is the price point it's happening at. Most controllers that offer this level of DAW-native mapping — think Ableton's own Push or Squarp's Hapax — sit well north of €500, often closer to €1,000. Exquis starts at €299, which puts genuine session-view control, mixing, and MPE-aware performance in the same box for a fraction of the cost. That combination is likely to matter most to bedroom producers and students who want to learn expressive playing without committing to an expensive setup, and it adds pressure on competitors to bring similar depth of integration to their own budget-friendly controllers.