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Hans Zimmer and Dune 2: Is this what the orchestra of the future looks like?

Published 10:34 am on Wednesday 18th December 2024 by Beat Magazine

Dune: Part Two mini-documentary: Hans Zimmer redefines film scoring with the Osmose musical instrument

What instruments and production techniques did Hans Zimmer use for Dune: Part Two, one of the most audacious sci-fi films of the decade? This exclusive report sheds light on the creation of the orchestra of the future, born from the close collaboration between Hans Zimmer and two pioneering companies in MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) and musical expressivity: Expressive E and Haken Audio. Discover the secrets behind one of the most emotionally stirring soundtracks ever composed.

In March 2024, Dune: Part Two conquered critics and audiences alike, driven by the vision of director Denis Villeneuve. More than just a background score, Hans Zimmer’s music (Gladiator, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean) transcended the cinematic experience, becoming a character in its own right, heightening the emotion of every scene.



To breathe life and humanity into the futuristic sounds of Dune: Part Two, Hans Zimmer needed a unique instrument. He turned to Expressive E, a Marseille-based company at the forefront of modern instrument design. Their flagship instrument, the Osmose, immediately captivated the composer, enabling him to infuse a groundbreaking sonic palette into the Dune: Part Two universe.

"This instrument allows us to play the music of an imagined future," Hans Zimmer said about the Osmose.

For those unfamiliar, the Osmose may resemble a traditional digital keyboard, but it’s actually a next-generation instrument offering a fresh array of sounds for 21st-century musicians while respecting their existing playing techniques.

The Osmose revolution lies in its keybed: every gesture—whether pressing or moving laterally—alters the sound with unmatched precision. Much like a voice or acoustic instrument, the Osmose allows pianists and musicians to instantly shape pitch, volume, intensity, vibrato, and countless other nuances previously absent from traditional keyboards. This innovation makes the musical experience far more intuitive, inspiring, and magical.

The Cinematic Power of MPE in Osmose

At the core of this sonic revolution is the MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) technology, which Expressive E has mastered. MPE delivers an unprecedented level of musical expressiveness, as each key on the keyboard transmits independent control data. This empowers musicians with full control over the articulation and dynamics of each note. It is this newfound expressivity that enabled Hans Zimmer to push the boundaries of film music, crafting the vibrant sound textures that define the Dune: Part Two universe.



In his quest for unique soundscapes, Hans Zimmer placed the Osmose at the heart of his creative process, bringing together three specialized musicians from Expressive E and Haken Audio at his Los Angeles studio. Guillaume Bonneau, chief of product and sound design at Expressive E, Christophe Duquesne, instrument maker-developer and sound designer, and Edmund Eagan inventor of the EaganMatrix from Haken Audio worked with the Osmose and the Continuum, paired with the EaganMatrix sound engine, to explore and design new sonic textures while supporting Zimmer’s team in their application.

"I believe this is an important instrument. It's a big leap forward and may well become the story of 21st-century music." (Hans Zimmer)

Steven Doar, percussionist and composer, used the Osmose to craft unique tribal percussion elements. For the Bene Gesserit female voices, Zimmer sought to capture an abstract essence while maintaining a connection to the characters’ humanity. The team developed an innovative software tool, "resynthesis" (still in prototype), to transform vocal samples from singers like Lisa Gerrard into manipulable sounds via the Osmose and Continuum. This groundbreaking approach, combined with the expressive power of the keyboards and MPE technology, introduced a unique dimension to Dune: Part Two’s sonic world.

Download your own orchestra of the future - Hans Zimmer Touch included

In the mood for soundtracks - perhaps inspired by Hans and Osmose? Then we have a goodie for you: We're giving you our DARK ORCHESTRA sound bank with 66 dark strings and epic instruments so you can get started on your next score straight away. A total of 1.5 GB of multisamples are waiting for you, which you can load into our zampler, your SFZ sampler or your Akai MPC.



Not in the mood to read? You can find the article as a podcast here



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