Roli releases "blocks"

Catch all the latest news here.

Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever

tomto66
Senior Member
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:00 pm
Location: Belgium

Roli releases "blocks"

Post by tomto66 »

Roli did the seaboard and the Rise (I own one of the latter and absolutely love it) - and now they release something new: Blocks. I haven't made my mind up whether I like it or not but hey it's innovative. Check it out!

https://roli.com/products/blocks
Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49
User avatar
Timo
Platinum Member
Posts: 3106
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2002 8:53 am
Location: Kaoss central, England
Contact:

Post by Timo »

Everyone already has a touch sensitive pad (their smartphone/tablet). Not sure this can do anything that a smartphone, tablet or something like a Novation launchpad or Kaoss already can't. It's like having yet another touch surface to lug around, purely for the sake of it. Why didn't they just make this as an app?
Last edited by Timo on Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ksynth
Platinum Member
Posts: 1225
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:32 pm
Location: Northern California, USA

Post by Ksynth »

These seem pretty expensive. Perhaps they are a lot more useful than they appear in the video.
peterk
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: nottinghamshire

roli

Post by peterk »

i think Roli might have had a typo error when naming this product. sure it should be called bollocks :lol:
User avatar
Kontrol49
Platinum Member
Posts: 1280
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:03 pm

Re: roli

Post by Kontrol49 »

peterk wrote:i think Roli might have had a typo error when naming this product. sure it should be called bollocks :lol:


:3drofl:
User avatar
karmathanever
Platinum Member
Posts: 10482
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:07 am

Post by karmathanever »

Possibly quite amazing but this is a terrible terrible marketing video.
Seems to be aimed at those who would play games on their phones on the train on their way to work.
Perhaps it isn't meant to be a serious product - who is it for??? ..... :?

Pete :D
PA4X-76, Karma, WaveDrum GE, Fantom 8 EX
------------------------------------------------------------------
## Please stay safe ##
...and play lots of music :D
------------------------------------------------------------------
gjvti
Senior Member
Posts: 327
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:28 am
Location: Riga, Latvia

Post by gjvti »

Just be warned. New Noise app completely destroys previous Noise app functionality and while previous version was great example how you can use 5D touch technology using any controller, new one doesn't seem usable with anything else than Blocks hardware - so DON'T UPDATE if you used old app for something meaningful.
tomto66
Senior Member
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:00 pm
Location: Belgium

Post by tomto66 »

If you watch the launch video, Roli claims this also targeted for serious production work. Wait & see whether that'll happen ...
Kronos X-88, Nanopad2, Tascam US122 MKii, Roli Rise 49
Kevin Nolan
Approved Merchant
Approved Merchant
Posts: 2524
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:08 pm
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Contact:

Post by Kevin Nolan »

tomto66 wrote:If you watch the launch video, Roli claims this also targeted for serious production work. Wait & see whether that'll happen ...

Well, it works with any 3-party application, including MAX. So this will likely integrate very well into Ableton also, in particular.

Their ads are all focused on playing their app - "Noise" from Blocks - but (as a Roli Seaboard owner) when I log into the Roli web site I see the guides for a plethora of generic applications.

I think anyone can register with Roli to gain access to these documents. I anticipate using these for realtime triggering of sequences, for their expression capabilities, and even the realtime control of sound spatialization using IRCAM and FLUX "Spat" spatial processor. To me, these are a god send - they go beyond Push 2 and even the QuNexus in terms of gestural control, at my whim.
Bertotti
Platinum Member
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:37 pm
Location: Middle of nowhere

Post by Bertotti »

If it is a software synth compatible with mpe it will work with blocks lightpad. You can not change the midi cc for each parameter of touch but I think they are normal values used. A dashboard with some ability to adjust these things would be nice. I was reading their facts about its use with Logic and max and other items.
TJ80
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:11 pm
Location: Leicestershire

Post by TJ80 »

I have just read through the app spec for the Noise update compatibility with the Seaboard and it mention that it is also the wireless synth engine for Seaboard. I can only guess tha there is some way to switch the app between Blocks and Seaboard. I am unable to verify this as my iPad and iphone are no longer compatible since the update and was going to buy a new iPad tomorrow in order to continue using the Seaboard with the app, but won't bother if it won't work.

Can anyone else advise please?

Thanks.
Korg Kronos 2 88, Roland: JP80, Integra 7, V synth GT, V synth XT, MKS70, JD990 x2, A90 x3, JD800, D70, AX7 x2, A110, A880. Access Virus Ti. Yamaha DX7 & KX5. Casio VL Tone.
Bertotti
Platinum Member
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:37 pm
Location: Middle of nowhere

Post by Bertotti »

Roli has done a great job at making an item with a lot of functionality look like a toy trinket. Read more about it and you will see it is quite versatile. I was hoping they would create a pad item similar to the maschine hardware pads, I have a mk2, that would be as expressive as the Rise, which I love, and integrate with my DAW, logic. I actually think they did a good job with this, marketing let it down.

I hope they create a dashboard for it so we can assign our own midi cc to the five dimensions of touch. I can honestly say the more I think about the more I like it.
User avatar
Sharp
Site Admin
Posts: 18221
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2002 12:29 am
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Post by Sharp »

Zero effort required, instant gratification.

Does it have a Selfie mode?
TJ80
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2016 7:11 pm
Location: Leicestershire

Post by TJ80 »

In answer to my own post.

https://support.roli.com/

They are going to fix it in under a month. No need to get a new iPad just yet then.
Korg Kronos 2 88, Roland: JP80, Integra 7, V synth GT, V synth XT, MKS70, JD990 x2, A90 x3, JD800, D70, AX7 x2, A110, A880. Access Virus Ti. Yamaha DX7 & KX5. Casio VL Tone.
Bertotti
Platinum Member
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:37 pm
Location: Middle of nowhere

Post by Bertotti »

Sharp you don't think this new Roli has any uses?
Post Reply

Return to “Latest News”