Spanish synth maker Endorphin.es and synthesist Loopop have collaborated to create the PLUS 3, a desktop expression and sustain controller.

PLUS 3 essentially gives you a desktop controller that takes the place of expression and controller pedals. It’s designed to “unlock” features in MIDI controllers, synthesizers, effects pedals and semi-modular synths, Eurorack instruments and DAWs, for people that don’t want to deal with foot pedals.

The PLUS 3 controller includes a fader for expressive performance and automation, a momentary sustain key, and a “drone mode” toggle switch. In drone mode, the momentary key’s functionality changes, letting you swap droned notes with new ones.

PLUS 3 comes bundled with three cables in the box: a 1 meter TRS cable for the expression side, a 1 meter TS cable for the sustain side, and a TRS breakout cable for connecting PLUS 3 to semi-modular and Eurorack gear. This breakout cable allows use of PLUS 3’s expression side as an attenuator, and its sustain side as a gate control for CV for a greater degree of sonic control.

As a completely passive unit, the PLUS 3 requires no outside power source to function. Further, it features an aluminum encasing, so it’s sturdy, light, and portable. Its sustain key is based on standard mechanical keyboard-style keys and can be customized, so users can swap the key out and use the key of their own choice.

Features:

• PLUS 3’s sustain side unlocks instrument capabilities with a sustain jack, subject to the instrument’s own capabilities:
  • A momentary sustain button for instruments that don’t have a dedicated physical sustain control
  • A dedicated drone/hold/arp latch switch for instruments that don’t have one. It’s important to note that even if an instrument has a hold button, its sustain jack may unlock additional functionality or behavior (for example, a button that simply holds notes does not cause Piano VSTs to resonate sympathetic strings in the way using sustain does).
  • Momentary and toggle control of any parameter mappable in a DAW synth’s mod matrix/menu system, or effect pedal (for example, sostenuto, freeze effect, dry/wet bypass, swapping presets, etc.)
• PLUS 3’s expression side unlocks features for instruments with an expression jack that include:
  • The device is useful for adding an expressive physical fader to MIDI controllers that don’t already have faders, but have an expression jack (for example, Native Instruments Kontrol MK3, or M32; or Korg’s KeyStage).
  • Use PLUS3’s fader for direct access and expressive control of any single parameter mappable in your DAW, effects pedal or synth in ways not possible with a regular keyboard (for example, bowing a violin, an orchestral swell, fine tuning a track’s level in the mix)
  • For DAWs. synths with a mod matrix or effect pedals with expression jack mapping capabilities (e.g. many Chase Bliss, Boss, EHX pedals, and Endorphin.es’ own Ghost and Golden Master pedals), use PLUS 3’s fader as a macro control to change multiple parameters at once – almost similar to preset morphing, based on your instruments ability to map its expression input to multiple parameters.

PLUS 3 Overview & Demo:

Topics covered:

0:00 Intro
2:10 Overview
3:15 Drone mode
3:50 Unsustain
4:05 Sustain
4:40 Expression
5:30 Mech key
6:05 Hidden jumper
6:15 SUSTAIN IDEAS
6:25 Sustain vs hold
8:40 Arp riffs
9:05 Character
9:25 Sostenuto
11:00 Arp latch
11:35 DAW toggles
12:10 EXPRESSION TIPS
12:25 Fixed param
13:35 Last param
14:20 Easy assigns
14:45 Sostenuto level
15:00 Aftertouch?
15:40 Arp AT?!
15:55 Hate joysticks?
16:15 Synth macros
16:50 Pedal pairings
17:10 Pedal macros
17:45 Macro ideas
19:15 Macro toggle!
20:20 Attenuator
21:10 CV Gate & tips
23:10 Floyd’s VFG
24:30 Jumper swap
25:30 Test equipment?
27:05 CC Killswitch!
28:50 Outro

Pricing and Availability:

The PLUS 3 is available now for $79 / €79.