Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which instrument to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Dubspot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores or what we recommend (read our policy).
Contenders
The Expressive E Osmose is an expressive MPE synthesizer running the EaganMatrix engine, now with DAW control and a free Ctrl-e license via firmware 2.3.
u-he's cult-favorite synth, rebuilt from the ground up with spline-based wavetables, additive synthesis up to 1,024 partials, and an adaptive modular interface.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Expressive E Osmose | u-he Zebra 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €1,799 | €249 |
| Dubspot Score | — | 9.0 |
| Formats | Standalone, MPE Controller | CLAP, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Type | Expressive MPE synthesizer (hardware) | Modular wavetable / additive synthesizer |
| Engine | EaganMatrix by Haken Audio | — |
| Keys | 49 full-size gesture-sensitive keys | — |
| Voices | Up to 24 | — |
| Firmware 2.3 | DAW control, free Ctrl-e license, new action bar, redesigned USB-MIDI | — |
| Ctrl-e presets | 900+ across Vital, AAS, Kilohearts, Synapse Audio, Dawesome | — |
| Price | €1,799 | — |
| Partials | — | Up to 1,024 (additive) |
| Formats | — | CLAP, VST3, AU, AAX (macOS / Windows / Linux) |
| Released | — | April 2026 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.