KVR Audio

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:45 am

sprnva wrote:Just spotted this on sonicstate: Seaboard Block. 2 octaves for $299. Buy two (or ten) and link em up like regular blocks.

I'm really interested in this, it's about the right level of "expressive keyboard" for me, but, I know nothing about these things because they have been priced way outside of the range that I've been willing to pay for a controller.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 4:56 am

ftech wrote:Yeah, the AUD price has been prohibitive for me, but I'm looking at just getting the Blocks version now, so price shouldn't be so scary...hopefully.
If I'd had the funds I may have gone with the 15% off the Rise25 (was that Store DJ on eBay?)

Yep, they sent around an email yesterday. Apparently the extra 15% off came from eBay, not them. I was very interested in the block version until I found out you need an Apple device to update the firmware. No thanks, I get enough Apple misery at work, I ain't gonna bring any of it home. The Block version also lacks the full softsynth. You just get a preset player version of it. And at Au$459, the Block isn't exactly cheap, either. You can buy a Korg Monologue for exactly the same price, or a Waldorf Rocket and a cheap MIDI controller.

ftech · Post by **ftech** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 5:18 am

BONES wrote: Yep, they sent around an email yesterday. Apparently the extra 15% off came from eBay, not them. I was very interested in the block version until I found out you need an Apple device to update the firmware. No thanks, I get enough Apple misery at work, I ain't gonna bring any of it home. The Block version also lacks the full softsynth. You just get a preset player version of it. And at Au$459, the Block isn't exactly cheap, either. You can buy a Korg Monologue for exactly the same price, or a Waldorf Rocket and a cheap MIDI controller.

I'm investigating (slowly) whether the Blocks keyboard or the actual Block controller itself will do what I want...which is basically adding another form of physical expression/control to the good ol' pitch and mod wheels of my synths, kinda like having a ribbon controller, which is a fun performance thing to use, even though the only one I currently have is the small one on my aN1x.

And, I'm a miserable Apple person, so the firmware update wouldn't be too much of an issue!

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 6:21 am

ftech wrote:
BONES wrote: Yep, they sent around an email yesterday. Apparently the extra 15% off came from eBay, not them. I was very interested in the block version until I found out you need an Apple device to update the firmware. No thanks, I get enough Apple misery at work, I ain't gonna bring any of it home. The Block version also lacks the full softsynth. You just get a preset player version of it. And at Au$459, the Block isn't exactly cheap, either. You can buy a Korg Monologue for exactly the same price, or a Waldorf Rocket and a cheap MIDI controller.
I'm investigating (slowly) whether the Blocks keyboard or the actual Block controller itself will do what I want...which is basically adding another form of physical expression/control to the good ol' pitch and mod wheels of my synths, kinda like having a ribbon controller, which is a fun performance thing to use, even though the only one I currently have is the small one on my aN1x.

And, I'm a miserable Apple person, so the firmware update wouldn't be too much of an issue!

We're kind of in the same boat. I just want a very small and very expressive controller. It will not replace my push or my other more mainstream controllers.

SteveElbows · Post by **SteveElbows** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 10:31 pm

BONES wrote:
ftech wrote:I was very interested in the block version until I found out you need an Apple device to update the firmware.

Are you sure about that? I can update the lightpad blocks firmware using the desktop software 'blocks dashboard', I dont have to use the iOS app. And it seems like the seaboard block has been integrated into the same desktop software as the other blocks, so I would expect firmware updates for the seaboard to be available via this route as well.

incubus · Post by **incubus** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 6:27 am

Apple only, and they are QUITE proud of it.

Less than half the keyboard, none of the benefits.

Oooops.

SteveElbows · Post by **SteveElbows** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:43 am

Ah yes, I see that although blocks dashboard is available for windows, firmware updates arent available on the windows version.

I doubt they are proud of it.

Mats Eriksson · Post by **Mats Eriksson** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 7:44 pm

Well, there you go about the Blocks. B'locks or should it be more paus between pronouncing the B and the rest of the word? Like in Bo-llocks... now listen. The thread is about Roli Seabord RISE, not about Roli products in general. We maybe should create on thread on each of them? Blocks, Rise, GRAND and so on? Otherwise the errors and issues reported with Blocks are different from the Rise Seaboards.

Otherwise the thread will turn out very unwieldy in the end.

incubus · Post by **incubus** » Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:42 pm

Yeah, I get into trouble for being too pointed, but windows users are people too

I still have interest in the product though. Maybe someday it will all get sorted.

And keep in mind, not everyone wants to start new threads. So it kinda makes sense that someone would talk about roli products in this thread too.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:35 am

SteveElbows wrote:Are you sure about that? I can update the lightpad blocks firmware using the desktop software 'blocks dashboard', I dont have to use the iOS app. And it seems like the seaboard block has been integrated into the same desktop software as the other blocks, so I would expect firmware updates for the seaboard to be available via this route as well.

I contacted Roli's support over it and what they told me was that the Windows implementation of MIDI over Bluetooth doesn't allow it. From that I concluded that you can only connect the Blocks via Bluetooth. Is that not the case? If you can connect it via USB, I am going to be seriously pissed off because I'd actually rather have a Seaboard Block than a Rise (I am seriously into mini-keys at the moment) but there is no way I'd trust Bluetooth for a reliable, low latency connection.

Taking a closer look at some of the photos, it looks like the Block keyboard definitely has a Type C socket, so I think I am pissed off now. If they haven't shipped my Rise, I may cancel it.

EDIT: OK, I read your second comment and I have calmed down. Although why they wouldn't have all the features on the OS with a 91% market share is more than a little baffling. Waldorf are as bad, it's like they aren't interested in selling too much product. They need to learn from Apple's experience with iPod - very little success until they put out a Windows version of iTunes, then massive success.

ghettosynth wrote:We're kind of in the same boat. I just want a very small and very expressive controller. It will not replace my push or my other more mainstream controllers.

Yeah, two octaves will never be enough for me, unfortunately, whereas 2.5 octaves works fine. So I'll still need my KeyStep but having something as ridiculously expressive as a Seaboard will be perfect for mono lines and solos and stuff.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:50 am

Ooops!

SteveElbows · Post by **SteveElbows** » Tue Jul 04, 2017 9:38 pm

BONES wrote:
SteveElbows wrote:Taking a closer look at some of the photos, it looks like the Block keyboard definitely has a Type C socket, so I think I am pissed off now. If they haven't shipped my Rise, I may cancel it.
....
Although why they wouldn't have all the features on the OS with a 91% market share is more than a little baffling. Waldorf are as bad, it's like they aren't interested in selling too much product.

I certainly expect the seaboard block to work with usb, the lightpad blocks certainly do and I dont trust bluetooth that much either although I will use it in some scenarios.

From what Roli told you about windows bluetooth midi, I'm guessing that perhaps they didnt add firmware updates to the windows version because they want the app to have the same functionality regardless of whether the user is using a bluetooth or usb connection. However it seems obvious to me that windows firmware updates over usb only is better than no windows firmware updates at all - maybe they will fix it one day.

Much as some other user(s) have reported on this thread, the bluetooth connection is useless on my rise 25. But it is much better on the lightpad blocks so I have some hope that it will be much better on the seaboard block than it was on the seaboard rise. If I am lucky I will find out in 11-12 days or so when they finally ship the seaboard block.

ChamomileShark · Post by **ChamomileShark** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 4:33 pm

Just to add - if you look in the requirements the version of dashboard for the Seaboard block for a PC it's Windows 10 (so it's different from the dashboard for the Rise.)

As a result I was thinking about getting a Rise - having read this thread and knowing I'm a bit of a techno dunce I'm not sure it's what I want to do.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:55 am

I got mine yesterday so I'll post up my experience once I get it up and running today and have a chance to play with it tomorrow. First things first, though, I have to find somewhere to put it.

Jace-BeOS · Post by **Jace-BeOS** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:55 am

BONES wrote:I got mine yesterday so I'll post up my experience once I get it up and running today and have a chance to play with it tomorrow. First things first, though, I have to find somewhere to put it.

This would be a great addition to the "quoted out of context" thread...

Roli Seaboard RISE