ROLI Blocks Modular Music Studio | NAMM 2017

Published on Jan 19, 2017 Reverb.com

"The ROLI Blocks Modular Music Studio is the latest innovation from ROLI new in 2017. This device sits in a class of its own. It's part synth pad and part keyboard, but unlike anything we've seen before. ROLI Blocks works in tandem with a proprietary app allowing you to press down to make tones that are affected by how you manipulate its rubberized interface.

Hosted by: Justin Delay"

http://reverb.com

Heen presents the versatile ROLI controllers in this performance @SUPERBOOTH18

Heen presents the versatile ROLI controllers in this performance @SUPERBOOTH18 from HerrSchneider on Vimeo.

"ROLI now has several different controller concepts available - from the well-known soft-touch keyboard Seaboard to the small and powerful ROLI Blocks. In this performance by Keen you will get an idea of their creative capabilities."

The Future of Musical Devices? ROLI BLOCKS! (with Noise app & Omnisphere 2)

Published on Nov 7, 2016 Genshi Media Group

"::| A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IN ORDER TO HEAR THE WIDE RANGE OF FREQUENCIES |::
I had wanted to do a nice long review of the Roli Lightpad Blocks, but I was having a ton of technical issues with my new GoPro cameras (lost a half hours worth of footage) so I just cranked out this short quick jam session in frustration (I've also been running on only two hours of sleep lately.)

I show the Lightpad Block with the Roli Noise app for iOS, and then demonstrate how it works with a soft synth like Omnisphere 2 in Ableton Live. I wasn't able to get the 5D Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression happening in Omnisphere, but later researched it and found that it is possible, I just need to setup Omnisphere the proper way in order to achieve this. So, next video, I may go more in-depth with this if there is interest, and I'm also looking into how I can use the Blocks to control my Eurorack kit.

Oh, and I forgot to mention in the video... when I registered my Block, Roli's site gave me an unlock code for a full version of Cycling '74's Max 7! How cool is that!

————————————————————————————
Hear more of my music at - https://soundcloud.com/genshi
And on my record label - http://www.zerogenshi.com/index2.html

Follow me on Twitter - https://twitter.com/genshi
And on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/genshi/"

Seaboard RISE 2 Tutorial: Create Infinitely Expressive Music

video upload by ROLI

"Looking to get started with your Seaboard RISE 2? Join producer Taetro in this in-depth walkthrough and make infinitely expressive music. From perfecting your MPE settings; to mastering 5D Touch; to recording tracks in your DAW, this deep dive has all you need to begin. You'll also learn how to get the most from your included ROLI Studio and Equator2 software.

▬▬ Contents ▬▬
0:00 — Introduction
0:37 — Getting Started
1:23 — Connecting and Charging
3:51 — 5D Touch
6:30 — Expressive Settings
9:20 — Touch Faders & Side Panel Controls
10:15 — ROLI Dashboard
13:49 — MIDI Mapping
21:55 — ROLI Studio
32:42 — Equator2
36:32 — Setting up RISE 2 in LIVE 11
37:07 — Playing Techniques
38:00 — Caring for your RISE 2"

Seaboard RISE 2: The Music of Hans Zimmer

video upload by ROLI

"Seaboard RISE 2 is as expressive as an entire orchestra — and maybe even more!

Watch ROLI’s very own MPE maestro Heen Wai put this to the test in a jaw-dropping new performance inspired by one of the greatest film composers of all time: Hans Zimmer.

As one of the earliest fans of the original Seaboard, this medley is a fitting tribute to Zimmer’s inescapably epic soundtracks, including Gladiator, Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Dark Knight (Batman), Interstellar, Sherlock Holmes and Dune.

The track is performed on Seaboard RISE 2, featuring SWAM Cello and Violin leads by Audio Modeling. The backing track was rearranged entirely with Equator2’s Orchestral Ensembles soundpack and Kontakt factory library percussion.

Read the full story: https://roli.com/stories/the-music-of...
Learn more about Orchestral Ensembles: https://roli.com/stories/craft-sweepi...

▬▬ Featured ▬▬
0:00 — Pirates Of The Caribbean
0:59 — Dune
2:21 — The Dark Knight
2:53 — Sherlock Holmes
3:41 — Gladiator
5:02 — Interstellar"

ROLI Seaboard RISE 25 with Custom-Made Wood Strap-On Keytar Case

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

"Extremely beautiful custom-made solid wood case. The case was designed by me and custom-made using CNC for the Roli Seaboard 25 controller. It perfectly fits the Roli Seaboard 25 and is well-finished with no scratches or dents. You can strap it onto a board to perform live. The Roli Seaboard is in MINT condition with no sticky keys and is 100% functional. It comes with the original box."

CLICK FOR MORE »

FACT review: ROLI Blocks

Published on Apr 17, 2018 FACTmagazine

"New innovations in hardware design are making music production easier and more accessible than it’s ever been. Spearheading this revolution is ROLI, a UK startup that has challenged perceptions of electronic interfaces with its Seaboard RISE controller, a keyboard that responds to strikes, glides, slides and lifts like an acoustic instrument.

ROLI’s latest system, Blocks, aims to take this technology to the mainstream. This modular, snap-together collection of controllers can be used to make rhythms, play notes, generate chords and add effects, either by using them with Ableton Live, GarageBand and other compatible software or with ROLI’s own mobile app, NOISE.

With the recent introduction of the Seaboard Block and updated Lightpad Block M, we decided it was the ideal time to give Blocks and NOISE a go for ourselves in the first of a new series of video reviews from FACT’s Make Music section. Are Blocks as good to make music with as they look? Watch above to find out our verdict."

Introducing Seaboard BLOCK M: Infinite Expression. Anywhere.

video upload by ROLI

"Experience ultimate musical freedom with Seaboard BLOCK M. Compact and powerful, play any sound imaginable and express yourself effortlessly — wherever creativity finds you — on this evolution of the multi-award-winning original.

Seaboard BLOCK M is available now in limited pre-order batches. Order today to avoid disappointment.

Find out more about Seaboard BLOCK M: http://roli.com/products/blocks/seabo...

What’s new with Seaboard BLOCK M:
— Put Seaboard BLOCK M at the heart of your setup with a new MIDI out that enables direct control of other hardware instruments.
— Advanced customization of keywave response through a firmware upgrade, offering more nuanced MPE control.
— A more natural, intuitive playing experience with an improved velocity response curve.
— Durable design that has been refined to withstand the rigors of touring and extended studio sessions.
— Go computer-free with mode-switching on your BLOCK M – change between Single Channel, or MPE, and other modes once activated in Dashboard.
— Switch between your saved Equator2 or ROLI Studio presets by holding the side button and pressing the octave left and right buttons.
— Select your own ROLI Soundpacks to get you started with MPE.

Presets used:
SWAM: Cello
SWAM: Viola
Equator2: Aerial Saw Lead
Equator2: City Decay Bass
Equator2: Electric Tube Violin
Equator2: Brass Staccato
Equator2: Vintage Power Lead
Equator2: Tears in Rain
Equator2: Underwater Cathedral"

Best House music presets in ROLI'S Equator2 synthesizer

video upload by ROLI

"Elevate your House music productions with Equator2's hybrid synthesizer.

We've picked out five of the best presets for House music available in Equator2's expansive library, giving you endless possibilities for you to carve out your own sound. Experiment with unique sounds and explore MPE technology to create an authentic and distinctive sonic identity.

Read more on the ROLI blog: https://roli.com/stories/best-house-p..."

Creating MPE Sounds on the OB-6 with Roli LUMI Keys (No Talking)

video upload by MR TUNA Music

"MPE is the most exciting advancement in instrument technology since the inception of MIDI and I've just got my hands on the Roli LUMI Keys Studio Edition to take control of the newly updated capabilities of the awesome and analog Sequential OB-6 synthesizer.

Featuring per-note pitchbend and poly-aftertouch, the LUMI Keys makes for an incredibly expressive playing experience and brings the synth into completely new territories. It's an extremely satisfying way to enjoy the sounds of the OB-6 and something I hope you'll enjoy as I build up some patches from an initialized tone, going from basic to bonkers.

No talking or time-wasting, just pure sound design and exploration.

Roli LUMI Keys is first keyboard controller offering per-key pitchbend and polyphonic aftertouch, plus whole-key illumination for scales, performance, and composing.

Per-key pitchbend and polyphonic aftertouch
Whole-key illumination
Expandability through magnetic connectors
ROLI Studio software suite
DS5.5 sized keys
Compact and easily transportable

Its seriously a great tool for taking control in and out of the studio."

Seaboard BLOCK M: What's new?

video upload by ROLI

"Dive into the heart of music innovation with ROLI’s Seaboard BLOCK M! Join Joe Hauke, ROLI's own Creator Support Technical Lead, alongside the dynamic London-based producer Noxz in Noatune Studios, for an up-close experience with the latest musical game-changer.

Watch Noxz craft a beat with sounds from ROLI Studio while Joe adds melodic layers using Seaboard BLOCK M’s 5 Dimensions of Touch. This isn’t just a demonstration; it’s inspiration in action.

▬▬ Contents ▬▬

0:00 Intro
0:29 What's new with Seaboard BLOCK M
1:05 What's Included
2:39 MIDI Out
4:11 Changing Modes
4:37 Changing Expression Curves in Dashboard
5:20 Keywave updates
5:46 Changing Presets on device
6:14 Making beats with Noxz
6:26 Adding 5D magic to your drums
8:29 Adding expressive layers to your tracks
13:19 Noxz on Seaboard BLOCK M"

ROLI Introduces the next generation Lightpad Block: Super Sonic Surface

Published on Sep 28, 2017 ROLI

"The Lightpad M is the next-generation Lightpad Block from ROLI. The 225 microkeywaves on its soft silicone surface create an even more precise and sensitive playing experience. Play any kind of electronic or acoustic sound on a super sonic surface that fits in the palm of your hand. And connect more Blocks together to expand your instrument.

Touch even deeper musical textures

The redesigned interface of the Lightpad M builds on the touch-responsive powers of the original Lightpad Block. Lightpad M’s surface is deeper, softer, and defined by undulating microkeywaves — for an even more precise playing experience.

Enhanced tactile feedback

Based on the wave-like surface of ROLI's Seaboard instruments, the 225 microkeywaves of the Lightpad M add more tactile feedback, so you can interact with the surface in a deeper way and gauge each movement more precisely. A thicker, softer silicone layer enhances pressure-responsiveness.

Enhanced visual feedback

The surface of the Lightpad M is 50% brighter than the original Lightpad Block. It features higher-definition colors and a higher contrast display, so you can move more quickly between notes, instruments, and scales."

ROLI: Everything by Lido: Download the NOISE Soundpack

Published on Mar 16, 2018 ROLI

"Play the sounds of Lido’s stunning debut album, from distorted basses and soaring synths to sugar-sweet vocal stabs. Crafted by Lido himself, this pack has “Everything” you need to create gospel-infused electronic magic.

Read the full story: https://roli.com/stories/lido-everything

Download NOISE: https://roli.com/products/software/noise

Lido is a 25-year-old Norwegian singer-producer based in Los Angeles. He made his name as a producer for artists like Chance the Rapper, Halsey, and Ariana Grande — weaving his voice into chart topping tracks. Everything excited the music world because it marked the emergence of an artist whose intriguing signatures were unmistakable in others’ work. Still, no one was quite expecting this emotional appeal from the core of a mind on fire.

Lido’s voice is distilled in Everything by Lido, the new NOISE soundpack based on the album. “R&B-infused electronic” gets you some of the way toward understanding the album’s — and the soundpack’s — sound.

“I wanted to make emotional electronic music,” Lido says. “Everything is a concept album about going through a loss or a breakup. In my case it was a breakup where I felt like I had to get over everything. I worked a lot with the textures and the sound design of the album to give it a cinematic feeling that still feels intimate and personal.”

“There are some fun stories behind most of the sounds in the pack,” he says. “The vocal chops in the Murder Drum Kit come from a freestyle rap I did when I was 14. My favorite sound is the bike bells from Citi Bike Bass. We went to every toy store and bike store in LA, looking for bike bells that would be perfectly in key with this song, and we sampled them. Those are the bike bells that you hear. It was incredibly challenging and fun to experiment how to give all these sounds more dimensions with the Blocks.”

Everything by Lido is now available in the NOISE Soundpack Store for $6.99 (£5.99, €6.99)"

Sketching the evolution of the Seaboard

Published on Dec 31, 2018 ROLI

"Read more: https://roli.com/stories/2018-grand-e...

To celebrate the life of the discontinued Seaboard GRAND, we're releasing this special film from the ROLI archives, which charts the evolution of the piano keyboard, from the medieval organ all the way the Roland Lamb's revolutionary Seaboard design."

ROLI Introduces New BLOCKS Modular Music Studio Wireless Instrument

Uploaded on Nov 1, 2016 ROLI

A bit like a Korg Kaossilator on steroids. Note the surface is slightly flexible in the last video.

"Introducing BLOCKS, the most accessible and versatile music creation system ever made, opening the world of music creation to everyone.

The Lightpad Block is an easy-to-use wireless instrument powered by our free NOISE app. Use its illuminated surface to shape sounds using 5D touch. Create beats, play melodies, record loops and build songs. Connect to other BLOCKS for more performing and producing power."

"The Lightpad Block is the center of the BLOCKS system. You make music through natural movements on the Block’s smooth, glowing, pressure-responsive surface. Drop beats and shape melodies by striking, sliding, and pressing your fingers on the surface. Illuminated grids help you find your notes. Light Trails guide you to learn musical gestures quickly. To get started on BLOCKS, all you need is a Lightpad Block and NOISE, the iOS app."

"NOISE is the iOS app that powers BLOCKS. It’s free to download on iPhones and iPads. On NOISE you choose from over 100 sounds to play on your Lightpad Block. You also use the app to record loops — so you can easily make a track. Everything works wirelessly. With NOISE, BLOCKS becomes as powerful as a professional-grade synthesizer."

"The Live Block and Loop Block make it even easier to access the features you use most to make music. At the touch of a button you can record your beats, play them back, switch scales, play chords and arpeggios, and more. They connect to your Lightpad Block with a click, putting even more control at your fingertips."

"You can make music anywhere with BLOCKS. Play it on your knees, or play it on your kitchen counter. Take BLOCKS to the park. Each Block is lightweight and fits in your pocket, so you can carry them around as easily as a smartphone. Everything is wireless, so you don’t even need cords. BLOCKS opens up a new world of music-making — and a world of new places to make music."

https://roli.com/blocks

ROLI - Back To The Future - November 1st

video upload by ROLI

"Coming November 1st, get ready for the reintroduction of the most requested ROLI instrument ever! now upgraded and re-engineered!

Don’t miss out on your chance to experience infinite expression — anywhere.
Availability will be limited on a first-come, first-served basis so sign up below, set your alarms, pack your studio essentials, and get ready to return to the future."

ROLI Introduces NEW Beatmaker Kit: Unleash Your Beats

Published on Oct 11, 2018 ROLI

Playlist:
NEW Beatmaker Kit: Unleash Your Beats
NEW Beatmaker Kit: Take Your Beats To The Next Level
How I'm Learning Finger Drumming with the Beatmaker Kit and Melodics

"Beatmaker Kit gives you everything you need to take your beats to the next level, whether you’re making your first track or honing your technique. Learn finger drumming skills, play with hundreds of expressive sounds, and complete your track with a suite of software. It’s an all-in-one package for making beats, wherever you musical ideas strike.

Learn — Learn finger drumming and master beatmaking technique. Melodics teaches you how to take your tracks to the next level.

Play — Deepen your sound through 5D Touch on the Lightpad Block. Explore hundreds of expressive sounds in bundled ROLI software

Produce —Make tracks faster with the Loop Block, which gives you shortcuts to favorite production techniques. Edit and refine your track a huge range of included DAWs and software tools.

Travel —Beatmaker Kit travels with you wherever you want to make music. Wireless, lightweight, and with the surface area of a postcard, it empowers you to make your tracks anywhere."

3rd Wave // MPE with the ROLI Seaboard Rise2

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The 3rd Wave from Groove Synthesis has had an MPE upgrade so here I give it a workout with the ROLI Seaboard Rise 2. It's super easy to set up and adds a whole new dimension (or 5) to the 3rd Wave. I NEED to do more of this!

The ROLI software gives you fine control over the calibration settings of each dimension, plus the keyboard itself has the sensitivity sliders plus CC control, so loads to discover."

ROLI Seaboard Block review and MPE investigation

Published on Feb 17, 2018 Molten Music Technology

"An epic dive into ROLI Seaboard Block MPE controller. Looking at the hardware, the control, the data, the included software and how well it works with other things. How do you edit MPE information in DAWs? How well does the Seaboard work with Bitwig Studio, with non-MPE virtual instruments and synthesizer and modular hardware. I cover absolutely everything about MPE and this little squidgy device and share my thoughts on how useful it is in a studio and creative environment. Check out the links below to skip to the bits that interest you!

http://www.roli.com
https://www.patreon.com/robinvincent

Introduction - 00:10
Install and setup - 3:32
Seaboard demo - 6:18
Explaining MPE - 11:37
What does it feel like to play? - 14:12
Looking at MPE data in Cubase - 24:38
How do other DAWs handle MPE? - 30:56
MPE in Reaper - 32:01
MPE in Tracktion Waveform - 34:08
MPE in Bitwig Studio - 37:22
Bitwig MPE "Expressions" modulators - 41:50
Non-MPE instruments in Bitwig - 47:25
Non-MPE instruments standalone - 53:19
Seaboard with Softube Modular - 56:41
Using it with hardware modular - 1:01:18
How about a MIDI monosynth - 1:07:43
Using it as a piano - 1:11:56
Conclusions - 1:13:40
Summing up - 1:18:29"

Seaboard RISE 2: Cubase Walkthrough

video upload by ROLI

"Looking to make a track with your Seaboard RISE 2 in Cubase? Join producer Venus Theory in this in-depth tutorial and make infinitely expressive music in an MPE-compatible DAW.

From perfecting your MPE settings in Cubase to layering pads, basslines and plucks, Venus Theory's walkthrough has you covered.

For an even more in-depth Seaboard RISE 2 walkthrough that covers setting up, 5D Touch, ROLI Dashboard, ROLI Studio, playing techniques and more, check out this film: [posted here]

▬▬ Contents ▬▬
0:00 — Introduction
0:35 — First Steps in Cubase
0:50 — Using Equator2
1:38 — Laying down tracks
2:10 — Adding pads
2:48 — Recording a bassline
3:17 — Adding plucks
4:06 — Outro"