ROLI Seaboard Block

Give more expression!

Let's make a reservation right away that the product from Roli is an unusual beast even by the standards of non-standard MIDI keyboards. Instead of the classic key design, it uses a tricky silicone surface, under which there is a special touch pad. Yes, the same 24 keys, but they essentially form a wavy touch canvas and work together in a tricky 5D mode. Instead of standard taps with different strengths, here we actually have five control methods: strike, press, glide, slide and flip.

5D keys

On paper it sounds strange, but in reality it turns out very convenient and intuitive. For example, you can hit the keys hard to make the sounds explode, slide from one key to the next, floating across the notes like a guitar, or gently vibrate your finger over a key to create a vibrato effect and control the opening of the filter at the same time. Naturally, for all types of clicks, you can set the necessary "twists" inside the virtual synthesizer, as when setting up the modulation wheel.

Tool from another planet

The impressions of playing on Seaboard Block are of a completely different order. For beginners, this will be a fun process, even without knowing the notes, here you can simply crawl over the same Seaboard key, getting an unusual range of sounds at the output. Experienced musicians will find themselves in a parallel universe where everything is subject to the same fundamental principles, but works differently. The expression turns out to be beyond, no modulation wheel and foot-pedals can achieve this. Plus, there are no additional controls, buttons and a dozen faders. Just pick up and play.

Give more software with MPE

The disadvantages of Seabord grow from the same place as the advantages. Software manufacturers are confident that MPE will replace conventional MIDI in the future, but due to the complexity of the technical process or old-fashionedness, they are in no hurry to jump to a new format. Notable synths with MPE support include Serum, UVI Falcon, Cypher2, Equator, Aalto, and some ensembles in Reaktor. The rest are just talking about the implementation of MPE. And many popular DAWs like Ableton, FL and Studio One do not officially support MPE, so you have to mess with crutches there.

Minimum controls

The absence of additional controls can be seen as both a plus and a minus. On the one hand, there are fewer troubles, on the other hand, if you suddenly need an additional set of faders, a block with drum pads or a couple of regulators, then you will have to buy them as separate blocks. They turned out to be as unusual as the Seabord itself, but they also cost decently.

Well, the Seaboard Block itself will cost 2-3 times more than a regular compact MIDI keyboard. But it's worth it.