The Seaboard Rise is super cool, for iPad synths (Animoog!), with Equator or anything else like for instance drums. I don’t care about most of the stuff not being MPE-compatible.
Main strengths: organic sounds, subtle blending in of sounds, recording of synth lines in one loop without having to add automations afterwards. It’s also extraordinarily good for jam sessions! Just connect it to an iPhone or iPad and go.
I’m thinking of biting the bullet and grabbing the 25 key roli seaboard as my only production tool and was wondering if anyone has had experience with it?
What did you think of the bundled software and general playability of it?
We talking the Rise or Block? I used to own a Rise. Fantastic technology and both Strobe and Equator are excellent synths. The latter in particular. 25 keys was just a little too limiting for me.
The other downer, as an Ableton user, getting the most out of MPE in that environment is a pain in the arse. I hope for this to charge in Live 10.
The new Block looks very interesting though. It’s modular style meaning extra octaves if needed though you can’t glide over the join just yet (they’re looking to add that). You don’t get Strobe with the block though and it’s Equator Player rather than a full version but you’ll get some serious mileage.
The rise. I would’ve loved to get the 49 key version but the price, my lack of space and inability to play the keyboard anyway put me off ha!
I am using Ableton, and was wondering what limitations you’re talking about? I assume the keyboard would already be mapped onto strobe and equator if they’re used as a VST within Ableton?
I’m nearly certain I will return to the Roli’s one day - the 49 would be fantastic. Two of the Seaboard Blocks may be ok though…Anyway!!!
Part of the problem with Ableton is my laziness but to get the full experience, you have to basically set up 10 midi tracks, group them, a little bit more mucking about before you get the MPE experience. Roli’s site is really good and will show you what you need to do. It’s just a convoluted experience that was a bit of a buzzkill for me. It’s not as simple as 1 midi track with Equator on it and getting all the lift/glide/etc functionality unfortunately.
I got a deal that included a full Bitwig licence and when used with that DAW it was a dream. I just like Push too much and decided not to make the switch keeping some faith that the guys at Ableton will include fuller midi integration in the next update when it lands.
Build quality is great though. They weigh a lot. And their support guys are brilliant. I had a 25 that ended up bricked (dodgy battery I think) but they had it replaced in 2 or 3 days.
Like I say, I will return to Roli one day. The Seaboard Blocks has nearly pulled me back in - if the wifi connection can work with the MPC Live down the line then I’ll be sold I think!
agreed when you have the 25… Expressivity are so excellent you really want to feel octave fast with no transpose. Then you want to split the keyboard Bass-Melody or Melody-String/Pad/textures… to find interesting combination. I think 2 Seabord block chained is the cheapest way to go but I don’t know if the feel and expressivity match the level of the RISE… I doubt it…
I think the second hand Roli Seaboard Grand Studio (37 Keys) is interesting too as equator synth is embed inside like a real synth. (and approximating the price of the Analog Four so it’s possible to afford it)
Unfortunately the grand is too expensive new and not poplar enough in the used market here for me to find one!
I’ve just been debating all day with myself whether to get the rise 25 or two of the seaboard keyboard blocks. I would plan to move one day to the grand or the 49 if I enjoy it though
I can’t say from experience but the block looks to play very much like the rise. It’s missing the X/y and touch strips and is less substantial but the playing experience looks intact.
It’s a tough call! With just a little more MPE support in the world the 49 would be brilliant.
If you got the full equator plugin with the blocks I would’ve snapped it up in no time
Roli definitely did this on purpose! but I think I’m gonna grab the 25 key rise and sell it for a seaboard grand or something like a prophet 8 once I’m settled and have a place of my own
Also you need to have in mind it’s exactly like the feeling when playing between a guitar and a piano/synth it will take time for you to learn to play it and create you personal way to play it… it’s nothing comparable…
it’s a new instrument on its own
I friggin love my seaboard rise. The synth apps that I got with it are also excellent. The combination is a really awesome musical experience. I love the 5D (Mpe) touch but also like playing it as a simple midi keyboard with non-Mpe synths. I’m also eye-balling that new little one. I would have that in my backpack everywhere I go (just like the op-1 and block are always with me). If you get a Roli you’ll love it.
That’s an awesome portable set up you’re planning.
I’m treating it as an instrument and planning on recording it through an audio channel. I would’ve got the 49 key version if it fit in my suitcase but I guess a 25 key version is a good place to start
yesterday I did something completely idiotic… by accident I ordered a roli seaboard 25. honest to god I’m a Muppet. anyway… just got an email that it’s going to be delivered tomorrow (on Sunday !!!
) So I’ve been reading and watching tutorials about it. I think it might be a good thing to keep to have more expression in my music… so I need to decide whether to keep it or to send it back. I’m not using too many vst synths… tbh I use only omnisphere, massive, kontakt . There are very few videos of users playing roli’s with hardware synths. I read it’s quite difficult to set them up. I’ve got Prophet 12 and Analog Keys, Mopho X4 and believe none of them are MPE compatible. Is there anyone who uses seaboard with hardware? I went through this post and am kind of confused. If I could do all those amazing things roli does in Equator with my AK and P12 then I’d be one happy chappy.
The AK will work fine with the Seaboard. While strictly speaking not MPE compatible, you have four voices, each on its own midi channel. I use mine with my Eigenharp.
yeah I thought that might the case with AK… but it seems I’d be only able to use a single midi channel with my Prophet 12 which is a real shame.
Anyone else been jumping on this train of late? Im looking at the Seaboard Block, it looks mint. Might have to try it out in store at some point…
How did you get on with this?
Although not supporting MPE, the seaboard does output polyphonic aftertouch, right?
So you should be able to get a fair amount of expression on the A4/P12.
Seriously thinking about dipping my toe in the water with a Block, but need to make sure can make it work well with my hardware.
I have a seaboard block and I really like it. I wanted a small bluetooth keyboard to use with an ipad, so it was the roli or a korg. The bluetooth is fine for noodling but I’d never perform with it, seems to jump around.
The lack of faders and no high C note on the block version is a bit annoying but no big deal, its a nice keyboard to play and small to chuck in a bag which is what I was after. The rise versions have the additional controls.
The sounds are great but if you create a patch using the desktop tool (equator) theres no way to transfer it to the iOS plugin which is a bummer. Theres also a utility you can use to set up what cc’s it sends, velocity/response curves and things like that for mac/windows but not ios. If you do make changes it will be saved on the device so you can set it how you want and still use it with ios, you just have to do it on a pc/mac.
Only a few ios instruments support mpe (the animoog ones), but using it as a normal midi keyboard works fine with non-mpe stuff. You can either configure which midi channels to send/receive in the the daw or synth app, but I typically dont bother and it usually all works fine.
You can configure it to send poly aftertouch or channel pressure iirc.
with A4 (i have AK) the overbridge comes real handy; if you set it up as 4 mono synths with the same patch loaded in each channel you get quite a lot control with the roli. I set the P12 as mono/unison synth, some really interesting results too.
