Roli recently debuted the sequel to their amazing Seaboard Rise MPE keyboard, the Rise 2. The new version includes features requested by users, as well as other enhancements to improve the playing and expressiveness of the original.
The brilliant Roland Lamb invented the first Seaboard the 2009 and has continually pushed the envelope by utilizing silicon in his instruments, including the innovative Blocks products that came out afterwards. Coming from a Jazz background, Lamb was looking for ways to make the piano, who’d interface hasn’t changed much since the 1800’s, into an even more expressive instrument. It was a huge risk for a small company, but Lamb delivered, and the Seaboard was adopted by musicians worldwide.
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Roli Seaboard Rise 2
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However, it wasn’t only the physical keyboard that Lamb addressed. Roli has been on the forefront of MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) technology, which gives the Seaboard its Jedi powers. This entailed developing a MPE capable synthesizer, as well as middleware that allowed the Seaboard to communicate with the synth. No easy task.
Roli delivered. Not only was the Seaboard the best example of MIDI Polyphonic Expression hardware available, it was extremely fun to play.
Roli Seaboard Rise 2 Specs:
» Dimensions & Weight
—Width: 83.4cm
—Depth: 20.1cm
—Height: 2.3cm
—Weight: 5.5kg
» Connectivity & Ports
—3.5mm TRS MIDI Output
—Continuous foot pedal input (6.35mm TRS)
—USB-C port (Connection and Charging)
—Class compliant MIDI over USB and Bluetooth
» Battery
—8 hour battery life
—3 hour charge time
For the Seaboard Rise 2, Roli implemented feedback from users and included a USB-C port and a MIDI out connection. The range was increased to four octaves (49-key), and for the aluminum chassis, a blue-tinged color way replaced the original’s powder-coated matte black. Roli also enhanced the design of the silicon “Keywaves” – the Seaboard’s keyboard playing surface. The Keywave2 design tweaks the shape of the original Seaboard’s keys with a wider surface, honed edges and embossed ridges. It looks fantastic and Roli claims it provides a better tactile playing experience.
It should also be noted that Equator, Roli’s dedicated MPE synth, also received an update prior to this announcement, which expanded the voicing to provide more variety and a softer sound. Together they make a formable pair and with over 1400 presets to choose from, you’re sure to find something that inspires. That said, there are now more and more MPE-enabled synths available, so users can expand their sonic palettes beyond Equator.
We asked Jack Sutton, Roli’s new Head Of Communications, some additional questions about the Rise 2, MPE and the future of this exciting new technology.
FutureMusic: Has Roli made any modifications to the underlying MPE technology with the release of the Rise 2?
Sutton: “In terms of the underlying MPE technology,” Sutton remarked, “nothing fundamental has changed. Although Equator2 is much more impressive and developed than before. We’ve also adjusted the firmware responsiveness to certain dimensions of touch to be more intuitive, and updated the Roli Dashboard software as well — these last two changes will be made available to existing Seaboard owners.”
FutureMusic: We named the Seaboard Rise the 2015 Product Of The Year, but have been disappointed that MPE hasn’t been more widely adopted, what do you think is holding it back? And what would you like to see the industry do, as a collective effort, to make this tremendous technology more accessible?
Sutton: First of all I would say that in our opinion the industry IS adopting MPE, but at a slower pace than we’d ideally love to see. The most significant and exciting development recently was the fact Ableton added MPE functionality into the latest version of their DAW, which opens MPE up to a huge new audience.
The Seaboard was first launched into a world where the software tech failed to live up to the accompanying hardware. But with Rise 2 we’re launching into a world now where most of the major DAWs do have at least a level of MPE compatibility, and our own software offering is much stronger too.
As an early flagbearer for MPE, Roli has certainly suffered from being a little ahead of the curve. I can’t speak for Roland [Lamb] himself here, but I believe the solution is in continuing to de-mystify MPE, explaining the immediate benefits to a much wider audience of music makers. We’ve been trying to do that since our inception, and perhaps we got ahead of ourselves in pitching Blocks to hobbyist producers. But the new changes to Seaboard Rise 2 to make it more accessible to piano players I think is a great next step. But we can’t spread the MPE word alone though — we need others in the industry to help!
FutureMusic: Equator showcases the amazing expressiveness and versatility of MPE, but we just haven’t seen this implemented across the hardware keyboard industry. Is extreme cost holding back manufacturers, such as Moog, Dave Smith Instruments and others, from creating analog hardware products?
Sutton: Obviously from our perspective we’d love Roli to be the go-to for MPE hardware. I can’t speak for other companies, but yes it’s no easy task to manufacture MPE hardware as we’ve learned over the years, and I imagine some of the bigger players are more risk averse. But as we’ve now shown with Lumi Keys, it is possible to add expressivity even into a more traditional keyboard design, so it is surprising we’ve seen little of this yet from the names you’ve mentioned. Again as the word of MPE keeps spreading though, I wouldn’t be surprised if that changes.
Jack Sutton’s honesty is refreshing, especially with Blocks, an innovative concept that Roli continues to evolve to find the right audience. In fact, other companies have clearly replicated Roli’s Blocks concept and introduced their own product. The fact is that pioneers such as Roli should get more credit and respect in an industry that places less and less emphasis on innovation, and more on imitation.
