ROLI Seaboard Block

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ROLI Seaboard Block

[Seaboard Block is played]

Seaboard Block

Super Powered Keyboard

[Various configurations are shown]

ROLI

www.ROLI.com

  • Overview

    The ROLI Seaboard Block helps you create intensely expressive music on its portable, super-powered keyboard, along with the companion app on your iPhone or iPad. Touch and shape your sound on Seaboard Block’s soft, pressure-responsive musical surface. Every movement becomes musical on the unique surface of the Seaboard Block. Searing solos and simple musical sketches start with one moment of touch.

    The Seaboard Block is a powerful standalone instrument, and its powers are extended when you connect it to other components in the modular BLOCKS system.

    Highlights

    Play any kind of sound from flutes to drums

    Shape sound through 5D Touch technology

    24 keywave, two octave playing surface

    More than 200 free sounds

    Connects to other Blocks in the expandable BLOCKS system — wireless with MIDI over Bluetooth

    Lightweight and portable

    Software bundle includes NOISE, Equator Player, Ableton Live Lite, BLOCKS Dashboard, MaxMSP

    What’s in the Box

    ROLI Seaboard Block

    10 NOISE Soundpacks

    BLOCKS Dashboard

    Equator Player

    Max MSP Licence (three months)

    USB-C to USB-A charging cable (1 m/3.28 ft.)

    Quick start guide

    Tech Specs

    Other Features: Bluetooth, Charging, Wireless

    Bluetooth Compatibility: Bluetooth 4.0

    Power Source: Battery power

    Height: 2.54 cm/1 in.

    Length: 9.5 cm/3.74 in.

    Width: 4.8 cm/1.89 in.

    Weight: 200 g/7.05 oz.

    System Requirements

    Operating System: iOS 9 or later; OS X 10.10 or later, Windows 10

    Manufacturer Information

    Part Number

    Mfr. Part Number: ROL-001142

    UPC or EAN No.: 814773020161

    Warranty

    Note: Apple’s one-year limited warranty does not apply to products that are not Apple-branded, even if they are packaged or sold with Apple products. Non–Apple-branded products may have the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty provided by the product manufacturer. Please see the product box and literature for details. Rights under the product manufacturer’s warranty are in addition to any rights you have under Australian consumer law.

  • iPhone Models

    iPad Models

    iPod Models

  • 5.0 Average
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 Stars(Read all reviews)
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    		15reviews
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    Write a review
    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Absolutely loving its expressiveness!

      The Seaboard has changed my music production workflow. I keep it running in Equator on my laptop, while working on projects in my DAW (on desktop) so I have a r The Seaboard has changed my music production workflow. I keep it running in Equator on my laptop, while working on projects in my DAW (on desktop) so I have a range of amazingly expressive sounds ready to go. Often i will just record the audio into the project and treat it after or use the idea for a different sound. Its only downside is that most DAWs still can not interpret the MIDI protocol (MPE) required to use the seaboard’s 5 dimensions of expression. I hope this will be added in future updates of most DAWs! (For now it works as a regular MIDI keyboard though)

      • Written by Vincent S from Montreal

      9 of 10 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Absolutely loving its expressiveness!

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Excellent!

      In terms of musical expression, ROLI is definitely your best choice. As professional producers, we must admit that the Seaboard Block has quickly become an In terms of musical expression, ROLI is definitely your best choice. As professional producers, we must admit that the Seaboard Block has quickly become an essential music production tool for our daily studio life. Once you fully understand its unique potential, you won’t be able to replace it with anything else. Its technology is game-changing: the combined action of its five dimensions of touch along with the Equator software completely revolutionised the way you can write music. It feels much more intuitive and natural and sounds unbelievably real. The BLOCKS Dashboard allows you to find the best setting for your DAW workflow. And the best part is that you can do all of this by comfortably lying on your couch. Personally, before the advent of the ROLI instruments I used to be a key player, now I can be a guitarist, a saxophonist or a director of an entire orchestra. Because of these reasons we sincerely recommend the ROLI products to anyone who wants to create music. The future is the present.

      • Written by B C

      5 of 5 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Excellent!

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      ROLI Seaboard Block - same great experience - SMALLER!

      Nothing in the keys world comes close to ROLI products in terms of playability & the sheer enjoyment you'll experience honing your vibrato whilst playing a doub Nothing in the keys world comes close to ROLI products in terms of playability & the sheer enjoyment you'll experience honing your vibrato whilst playing a double bass or sliding to simulate flute breaths - it's truly unique. Being a guitarist in a world more MIDI based than ever, I've struggled bringing performance expression into a more rigid electronic world. That ended when I discovered the SeaboardRise25 and since getting the SeaboardBlock it's pushed my performances even further and developed my sound. Beautifully packaged; every inch feels confidently designed for musicians that appreciate visuals. The feel is sleek and responsive whilst maintaining durability. Its smaller and less expensive than the RISE but the quality is still there, just lighter and more transportable. Initially the scale looks like you'd be hindered but quickly you discover the shorter scale makes everything closer and quicker. The scale's similar to the Akai mini, which before the Seaboard Block was my go to portable MIDI controller. Blocks Dashboard allows you to adjust the 5 Dimensions of touch to create a controller that knows YOU. This makes it a unique portable controller. It shines with DAW's & the experience continues with NOISE - ROLI's dedicated standalone BLOCKS app. I've performed live using an iPhone and SeaboardBlock - wirelessly with 0 latency! The astounding sound quality and variety in both NOISE and EQUATOR feels wonderfully authentic. The SeaboardBlock also soars with 3rd party and sampled sounds. You get a software bundle of Tracktion, Strobe2, Equator and Blocks dashboard for desktop and NOISE which allows you to sequence and perform using an IOS device and multiple BLOCKS live - EFFORTLESSLY. I'd recommend this product to anyone looking for something to push themselves creatively, enjoys music technology or someone who needs a composing tool that will match their creativity everywhere they go.

      • Written by Perry S from Purton

      3 of 3 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?ROLI Seaboard Block - same great experience - SMALLER!

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Probably the best portable keyboard in the world - even without the extras

      I've been traveling for a long time and I'm always going through keyboards, sometimes they break, sometimes they are big and bulky, and sometimes you get stopp I've been traveling for a long time and I'm always going through keyboards, sometimes they break, sometimes they are big and bulky, and sometimes you get stopped for taking them on planes. And I have to say, even without all the amazing fancy 5D touch stuff, this is probably the best portable keyboard you can get. The form factor is amazing, the same height as the Macbook Pro base, and it looks and feels amazing. Plus the whole bluetooth connectivity - with zero latency which is fantastic - just makes it so easy to use with both the iPad Pro or Mac. Then if do add in the whole 5D touch experience, that is really like a whole other level. In fact on this side of things you could probably say it is the best keyboard ever because being able to add vibrato and modulations is just amazing. Actually I played the Moog Model D the other day and it was weird that it couldn't do all this modulation just on the keys :) I guess the best thing I can say is that I just went out and bought another :) So now I have 2 octaves for on the plane or wherever, but can then pull out another 2 octaves and either play one synth with each hand or snap them together with the magnets (pretty strong but you do need them to be on a table, they don't snap strong enough to hold on your lap) to get 4 octaves. Only bad point is that whilst Logic and even Garageband on iOS make full use of the keyboard, Ableton still needs to catch up a little - even with version 10 :) I also loved it so much I bought the Lightblock M which is also very, very cool!

      • Written by Richard G from Imabari

      2 of 2 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Probably the best portable keyboard in the world - even without the extras

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      Amazing value

      I was very excited, years ago, to first lay my hands on a Seaboard Grand in a big music shop. The expressive potential was immediately obvious, and further expl I was very excited, years ago, to first lay my hands on a Seaboard Grand in a big music shop. The expressive potential was immediately obvious, and further exploration was hindered only by its price tag. Now, however, with the Seaboard Block, ROLI have made their expressive touch control available at an incredible reasonable price point. This does come at the expense of the extra controls of the Seaboard RISE, and the onboard sound engine of the Grand, but given how easily it pairs with other gear in the Block line, it hardly matters. Having played with a few ROLI products in the past, I was pleased to discover that the playing surface feels essentially identical, meaning it’s possible to play very expressively and accurately. The way this translates to software is very impressive, with next to no latency – it really feels like you have hands on control over the sounds you’re playing. Whilst a few software developers haven’t caught up with the MPE standard, it does seem to be catching on, so hopefully we’ll see native support for the Seaboard and other instruments soon. It’s a sturdily built bit of kit, and the integration with other ROLI Blocks is totally seamless, with data and power being shared across the magnetic connectors. My only gripe with the physical side of the product is that the bottom surface is not grippy enough, and so has slid around on most surfaces I’ve played it on. Easily fixed with some stick-on rubber feet though! All in all, this is a low cost way to get some next-generation musical expression into your arsenal. Highly recommended!

      • Written by Benjamin H from London

      1 of 1 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?Amazing value

    • 5.0 out of 5 stars

      What I have been waiting for

      I played piano and keyboards for 10 years and every time I move from home/studio (like holidays or simply a day out) I always got problems getting with me my wh I played piano and keyboards for 10 years and every time I move from home/studio (like holidays or simply a day out) I always got problems getting with me my white and black keys. Finally, what I was searching for is arrived. A very compact and so powerful keyboard MIDI controller that allow me to play out of home/studio. It has a very good battery life and the 5D touch expression is something completely awesome! You don't need wheels or pedals to add effects to your sound: just slide your hands and finger up and down, left or right, to get everything you need! Well done, ROLI. Truly something every keyboarded/pianist need.

      • Written by Giulio C from Caldiero

      1 of 1 people found this useful

      Is this review useful?What I have been waiting for

    Read all 15 customer reviews