Exquis, the best expressive controller for Ableton Live
Intuitive Instruments, the French company behind the award‐winning Exquis expressive MPE keyboard, unveils a triple update that turns its flagship instrument into the ultimate, lightweight and compact creative hub for Ableton Live users Unlike pad‐centric grid controllers optimized for finger‐drumming and loop triggering, Exquis responds like a real acoustic instrument: its 61 soft silicone keys, each with independent five‐dimension MPE control, provide the nuanced touch and emotional depth needed for flowing melodies and harmonically rich chords.
Exquis Remote‐Control Script for Ableton Live
The brand‐new Python‐based Remote Script integrates Exquis seamlessly into Live’s native controller family, delivering Launchpad‐style Session control and an instrument‐grade expressive touch—courtesy of its MPE twist—that makes playing melodies and chords feel effortlessly natural:
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Session view – create, launch and delete clips or scenes without touching the mouse.
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Track mastery – arm, select, mute and solo any track, and get immediate access to volume, pan and aux sends
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Expressive performance – chords, melodies and drum racks flow through all 61 soft silicone keys with independant and polyphonic 5 dimensions controls.
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Hands‐on transport & harmony – set Live’s tempo, root note and scale directly from Exquis.
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Per‐track note layouts – recall any of the keyboard’s eight onboard layouts (or your own customs) automatically when
you change tracks — instantly reconfiguring Exquis into a specific instrument for every track, be it a bass, a percussive grid, or a soaring solo lead.
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One‐touch Favourites – call up Live racks or plugin presets in a heartbeat via Exquis’ exclusive favourites system.
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Device & mix control – tweak any parameter on any device and any track with using four push encoders and ten action buttons.
The script installs like any official Ableton controller template and requires Live 12.
Firmware v2.1 — Poly‐Hold Sustain & Developer Mode
In keeping with Intuitive Instruments’ drive for constant refinement, firmware v2.1 delivers two headline additions:
- Poly‐Hold Sustain – let chords ring out indefinitely while the onboard arpeggiator continues to evolve.
- Developer Mode – an open MIDI API that exposes every hardware element—keys, encoders, action buttons, RGB LEDs and even onboard memory—so developers can remap behaviours, write custom DAW scripts or integrate Exquis into bespoke performance setups.
The update also packs an array of stability improvements for an even smoother playing experience.
A visual and ergonomic approach to harmony
Exquis offers an intuitive way to guide you towards the right path, while allowing you to get off it. No hassle: simply choose a scale, and follow its luminous path to play in tune.
And with its default note layout, it's very easy to make chords; Exquisitely arranges notes that sound good together next to each other. You will be amazed how harmony falls under your fingers.
Expressiveness at your fingertips
No need to play a lot of notes when you can make them come alive; Exquis' expressive touches are designed to be mastered in moments while offering enormous potential for expert gestures.
Also benefit from 4 encoders and a 6-zone touch slider, increasing the sound control possibilities and making it easier to control actions on the application.
Composition at your fingertips
The Exquis cross-platform app is the perfect companion to the keyboard, akin to conventional composition software.
Compose entire songs in seconds thanks to a unique workflow that we have been perfecting for 15 years, now trusted by thousands of musicians around the world for its spontaneity and efficiency.
Universal, complementary and independent
The Exquis keyboard is a MIDI controller compatible with all software, MIDI synthesizers and modular synthesizers.
The Exquis app, although optimized for the controller, is also compatible with all MIDI controllers.
