Roli was one of many first poster kids of the emergence of MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression). The corporate has had its justifiable share of struggles over the previous 10 years, however it’s nonetheless attempting to unfold the MPE gospel. His first product after filling for administration within the UK (a little bit of a chapter) and rebranding as Luminary Roli was a redesigned model of its Seaboard Rise. This can be a professional-level flagship MIDI controller, with a worth to match ($1,399). New Block M of the coast takes the corporate’s signature squishy, seamless keyboard and places it in a way more reasonably priced and transportable bundle.
The $349.95 Facet The Block M options the identical 5D Contact know-how as its huge brother. Which means, when paired with the appropriate instrument (and arrange accurately), you may play extremely expressive melodies and chords by sliding your fingers, urgent firmly on the foam-like floor, or tapping it shortly for sustained pinching.
Whereas the Coastal climb 2 is a 49-key controller, with a number of macro controls and its premium steel body, the Block M has solely 24 keys and a clear set of controls. Nevertheless, you may join two Seaboard blocks collectively to create a 48-key modular keyboard.
Whereas Roli does not explicitly say what it is made from, aside from “premium supplies…constructed to resist the pains of touring,” it appears secure to imagine that the Block M is primarily plastic. It additionally appears to lack the Rise 2’s “precision frets”, which made it a lot simpler to orient your self on the keyboard just by contact.
It has not less than inherited the devoted MIDI output jack from the Rise 2. Which means you should utilize it to regulate a setup with out a DAW and ignore the pc altogether. That is turning into rather more widespread on MIDI controllers, no matter worth, however it’s nonetheless a welcome growth.
After all, the variety of devices – {hardware} or software program – able to taking full benefit of MPE controls right here continues to be considerably restricted. The Block M comes with ROLI Studio and provides you some choices for expressive enjoying. It is not as highly effective as Ecuador 2the corporate’s flagship software program synthesizer.
Lastly, Roli says you may anticipate round 10 hours of battery life with Bluetooth enabled. Nevertheless, you may nonetheless join on to a tool with USB-C for zero latency and with out worrying about battery life. The Seaboard Block M is obtainable for pre-order now for $349.95, however it’s not anticipated to ship till March 2024.
