Roli Seaboard Block Creator Manual Download Page 1

Seaboard Block Creator Manual

1 Introduction

Hello creator, and welcome to the Creator Manual for the Seaboard Block. We
think of the people who buy and use ROLI’s products as creators more than
customers. Our products are designed to expand the bandwidth of creative
expression and thereby empower people as the creators they are. Everyone
who buys and uses BLOCKS is investing in this vision of creativity and therefore
is also a co-creator of ROLI.

BLOCKS is the most accessible and versatile music creation system ever made.
It is a modular music studio that lets anyone make music whether they’re a
professional musician or a total beginner. Each individual Block is powerful and

1 Introduction

1.1 Support and Feedback

2 Glossary of Selected BLOCKS Terms

3 Getting Started

3.1 Charging

3.2 What is BLOCKS?

3.3 What's in the Box?

3.4 System Requirements

3.5 Product Registration and Setup

3.5.1 Connect Blocks

3.5.2 Updating Firmware

4 Hardware

4.1 Connections and Specifications

4.2 The Keywave Surface

4.3 Controls

4.4 USB Connection

4.5 DNA Connectors

Summary of Contents for Seaboard Block

Page 1: ...a co creator of ROLI BLOCKS is the most accessible and versatile music creation system ever made It is a modular music studio that lets anyone make music whether they re a professional musician or a...

Page 2: ...hese can be mapped to a variety of sound parameters The separate optional Touch Block adds another layer of expressive control allowing you to tune the touch responsiveness of the keywaves to match yo...

Page 3: ...irelessly through Bluetooth Block s The individual hardware components of the BLOCKS system including the Lightpad Block Live Block Loop Block Seaboard Block Touch Block and Developer Kit Control Bloc...

Page 4: ...aboard Block s keywaves and Lightpad Block s playing surface It features a simpli ed user interface that allows you to easily modify the most important characteristics of a preset If you d like to cre...

Page 5: ...gle keywave Keywave surface The entire playing Seaboard surface including all keywaves and the ribbons above and below them The keywave surface corresponds to a keyboard Lightpad Block A Master Block...

Page 6: ...and software synthesizers Loop Block A Control Block that provides quick access to music production functions so creators can easily layer sounds into a song in NOISE The Block s 10 buttons include co...

Page 7: ...in the grid layout of the Lightpad Block and NOISE Seaboard Block The Seaboard Block pairs the powerfully expressive keywave surface of the Seaboard GRAND and Seaboard RISE with the portability and m...

Page 8: ...self and a male connector on the included USB C to USB A cable 3 Getting Started 3 1 Charging You should charge your Seaboard Block as the rst step before proceeding When connected to a suitable power...

Page 9: ...that when charging via a computer that you must use the ROLI supplied USB cable to connect to the host computer When using a laptop computer please make sure that it is plugged into a wall outlet and...

Page 10: ...iPads and responds to 3D Touch technology on newer iOS devices It also pairs with BLOCKS hardware via MIDI over Bluetooth and becomes the software synthesizer and sound engine for BLOCKS NOISE and BLO...

Page 11: ...er Bluetooth BLOCKS supports MIDI over Bluetooth and connects to any compatible MIDI over Bluetooth enabled iOS or OSX device and app The Seaboard Block must be in pairing mode to do this BLOCKS Dashb...

Page 12: ...with Mac OSX and Windows 3 5 Product Registration and Setup Once your Seaboard Block is charged it s ready to make music with NOISE Download NOISE from the Apple App Store Launch the iOS Settings app...

Page 13: ...during this setup It is essential that you update to the latest rmware as periodic updates ensure functionality and introduce new features To update the rmware launch NOISE and connect your Block In...

Page 14: ...remaining in order to update the rmware If you are not able to update your Block s rmware make sure it is charged rst and try again After updating your Block s rmware you may re connect it to NOISE 4...

Page 15: ...r of notes on a standard keyboard the keywaves represent the same pitches and intervals found on a piano The touch sensitivity of the keywave surface allows tactile control of parameters such as pitch...

Page 16: ...d Block on and off and contains two independently controlled LEDs indicating battery status connectivity status The left LED displays current battery level green for full yellow for medium and red for...

Page 17: ...EDs indicating instrument status The mode LEDs are off when a project has not been loaded and are white during rmware updates Used in conjunction with the Octave Shift Buttons the mode button can chan...

Page 18: ...ressing the right octave shift button once raises the Seaboard Block s pitch by an octave and pressing the left octave shift button once lowers the Seaboard Block s pitch by an octave The current octa...

Page 19: ...a USB MIDI controller It is USB powerable and its battery will charge when connected to a computer that itself is plugged in to AC power To use your Seaboard Block to control ROLI s NOISE for iPhone...

Page 20: ...rrows in the image above With DNA connectors you can connect multiple Seaboard Blocks to create a larger range and you can connect other Blocks like a Touch Block and Lightpad Block to make a powerful...

Page 21: ...ck Connect any additional Blocks that you have purchased to the DNA ports of the Seaboard Block to register them now Once your Blocks are connected select Register Block Your Blocks will now be regist...

Page 22: ...USB 5 Playing the Seaboard Block 5 1 Five Dimensions of Touch or 5D Touch The Seaboard Block is a multi dimensional instrument that lets you modulate sound through ve dimensions of touch Through simpl...

Page 23: ...time Glide is typically assigned to pitch but it can be assigned to other sound parameters Slide Vertical movements up and down a keywave Slide is assigned to various expressive parameters in NOISE an...

Page 24: ...top and or bottom of the keywave surface Glide bends can be up to two octaves long in either direction Continuous Press modulation While sustaining a note increase and decrease downward pressure on th...

Page 25: ...nicates its dimensions of touch by using standard MIDI messages Strike sends note on messages in addition to velocity 0 127 Press sends channel pressure aftertouch Glide sends pitch bend Slide sends M...

Page 26: ...ional Polyphonic Expression The Seaboard Block supports MPE multidimensional polyphonic expression a protocol for using standard MIDI messages to communicate with and enable the operation of multidime...

Page 27: ...s it is also compatible with any other software instruments which you might also use in your chosen DAW In many DAWs a single track can receive multiple MIDI channels from the Seaboard Block and send...

Page 28: ...e and Maintenance Basic care and attention will protect your Seaboard Block and help it stay in optimal condition for years to come Avoid excessive force on the keywave surface and try to keep the Sea...

Page 29: ...elp answer initial questions about your Seaboard Visit our Support page at support roli com for a wider range of resources that should help answer questions about the Seaboard and its software The pag...

Page 30: ...ch as a plug in adapter or laptop or via the DNA connectors Circuitry ensures selection of the correct power source if a USB source is present this takes precedence The presence of an external supply...

Reviews: