Definition

Polyphonic aftertouch sends a separate pressure value for every pad held at once, so each note can be modulated independently while you press.

Example

Hold a three-note chord across three pads and lean into just one of them. With polyphonic aftertouch, only that note's filter or pitch responds, while the other two stay put, something channel aftertouch, which moves all held notes together, cannot do.

Why it matters

Polyphonic aftertouch unlocks per-note expression on a pad surface, the kind of independent control acoustic instruments allow. It lets you swell one voice of a chord, add vibrato to a single note, or shape layered drums individually, making the controller far more expressive than channel pressure alone.

How to play or configure

First confirm your hardware actually generates polyphonic aftertouch; many pads send only channel pressure. In the instrument, route per-note pressure to a parameter such as cutoff or pitch, and make sure the sound engine handles per-note modulation. Practise isolating pressure to one finger so you can shape a single voice without disturbing the notes around it.

Further reading

MPC vs Maschine vs Push lists which controllers send poly pressure.