The Schmidt Eightvoice is one of those synthesizers most players only ever see in photos or videos. Rare, expensive and famously deep, it has a reputation as one of the most ambitious analog polysynths ever built. Now Schmidt Synthesizer, working with UJAM, has released Schmidt Vi, a software recreation of the instrument, and it includes MPE support for compatible MIDI controllers.

The plugin became available around 10 to 11 November 2026, as reported by Synthtopia.

What's inside

Schmidt Vi follows the architecture that made the hardware famous. According to the launch coverage, it offers:

Multiple instances can run at once, which is a practical advantage over the original hardware, a single and very costly box.

MPE on a classic analog design

The Synthtopia report notes "MPE support for compatible MIDI controllers", plus expanded pitch-wheel and aftertouch assignments with multiple modulation destinations. The coverage does not specify whether aftertouch handling is polyphonic in non-MPE mode, so check the documentation if you use a poly-aftertouch keyboard rather than a full MPE controller.

Why does MPE on a recreation like this matter? Classic analog polysynths were designed in an era of global controls. A filter sweep or vibrato affected every voice at once. MPE changes that:

Per-note filter movement. With four filters in the chain, mapping slide (CC74) or pressure to cutoff lets each note of a chord open independently. On a filter-rich design like this, that can turn static pads into moving, voice-led textures.

Per-note vibrato and bends. Per-note pitch bend lets you add vibrato to a single melody note while the chord underneath stays steady, something the original hardware could not do.

Pressure-driven modulation depth. With 16 LFOs available, you could route pressure to the depth of an LFO, so modulation only appears where you lean into a note.

If you are new to bringing expression into this kind of patch, our guides to wiring MPE gestures into a modulation matrix and the five dimensions of touch are good places to start.

A trend: vintage recreations going MPE

Schmidt Vi joins a growing list of classic-synth emulations that now speak MPE. Recent examples include GForce's Oberheim Matrix-12 plugin and FabFilter's Twin 3 update. Developers seem to recognize that MPE controller owners want to play classic architectures with modern expressive control, and that per-note expression can reveal new sides of familiar designs.

Getting started: a simple MPE patch idea

Once you have the plugin loaded, a good first experiment is to start from a basic two-oscillator pad and build expression in layers. Set the pitch-bend range to match your controller, commonly 48 semitones for MPE, so slides land in tune. Next, route pressure to the cutoff of one of the Moog-style filters and slide to the cutoff of an Oberheim-style filter. Running the two in series or parallel lets each finger blend two filter characters on its own note.

Finally, assign pressure to a small amount of LFO depth on pitch. Notes you press lightly stay clean, while notes you lean into pick up gentle vibrato. It is a small change, but it is exactly the kind of per-note nuance that makes a vintage-style architecture feel alive under an MPE controller.

Price and requirements

Schmidt Vi costs €179 including taxes. It requires an iLok account and the iLok License Manager. Supported plugin formats were not listed in the coverage we reviewed, so confirm compatibility with your DAW on the official page before buying.

For MPE players, the key questions to check in a demo are the default pitch-bend range, which factory presets already map pressure and slide, and how the plugin allocates voices under MPE. Our MPE support buyer's checklist covers what to look for.

More information is available on the official Schmidt Vi page.