Roli: Equator 2 is here !

[Ploki]

90€ is just too much for upgrade. i dont think i'm dropping it on this one.

[plexuss]

Same. Seaboard 49 here. I rarely use Equator just because I have so many other synths to choose from. So shelling out $100US for Equator2 ... it's just not compelling enough to me for that. Oh well...

[VariKusBrainZ]

I reckon most of the audience in this thread will be saving their bucks for Vital Pro

[olivernash]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

What happened to their flagship seaboard grand with embedded dsp engine ?
It's nowhere to be seen on the site ..only the rise models

They stopped making it in 2018:
https://roli.com/stories/2018-grand-end ... 637850db97 (https://roli.com/stories/2018-grand-ending?autoplay&utm_source=Master+ROLI+Creators+List&utm_campaign=30a36083f4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_12_28_02_41&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0b59ea513b-30a36083f4-114396361&mc_cid=30a36083f4&mc_eid=637850db97)

[LoveEnigma18]

I own Strobe2 and received a voucher from FXpansion to be eligible for Equator2 upgrade for $99. Considering I got Strobe2 for free as a gift by my brother, it's a tempting offer.

I am loving the overall design and functionality of this synth (not into MPE though), but there is no demo and having Pigments 2 in the kitty means I need to think before I open my wallet. Also, their license transfer fee is quite high, $50.

They do have 30-day return policy though and while FAQ answer is positive, I have sent a query to confirm if this would be applicable to Equator2 upgrade too.

Anyone feels it is worth it for $99?

[SLiC]

I will not be upgrading, I probably wound not use it if it was free. I never really used Equator (came free with my Roli) as I have UVI Falcon and have found nothing better for MPE and it can do everything Equator can and a heck of a lot more.

[Examigan]

Anyone feels it is worth it for $99?

I didn't know much about it until just now, but after checking out the overview video and other info on their page it seems like a nice synth to me. I really like the look of it, seems easy to figure out, 6 sound sources at once is nice, routing seems good and has some great presets included. I'd say $99 is definitely not bad.

The only thing I would slightly be worried about (I read about it here) is about the sample location, which is a hassle if you only have smaller SSD and want to use a separate drive for samples.

EDIT: Just found this info:
Currently, ROLI Connect will only install the Equator2 Library and Equator1 Legacy Library to a location on the system drive, but we are aiming to introduce a custom installation location soon.

[SLiC]

Equator 2 is available now for a limited time for $199 and for an upgrade price from Equator, ROLI Studio, Cypher2 and Stobe2 for $99.

Normal price will be $249 and $149 respectively.

[Examigan]

I just saw this in the FAQs:

Once authorisation has completed, Equator2 can run without requiring ROLI Connect to be running for up to 4 weeks before needing to "phone home" again. Should this occur, you'll be prompted to launch ROLI Connect again.

Is that every 4 weeks, forever? Isn't that similar to the Roland Cloud?

[LoveEnigma18]

Anyone feels it is worth it for $99?

I didn't know much about it until just now, but after checking out the overview video and other info on their page it seems like a nice synth to me. I really like the look of it, seems easy to figure out, 6 sound sources at once is nice, routing seems good and has some great presets included. I'd say $99 is definitely not bad.

The only thing I would slightly be worried about (I read about it here) is about the sample location, which is a hassle if you only have smaller SSD and want to use a separate drive for samples.

EDIT: Just found this info:
Currently, ROLI Connect will only install the Equator2 Library and Equator1 Legacy Library to a location on the system drive, but we are aiming to introduce a custom installation location soon.

I am in exact same boat as you and feel literally the same. The synth looks beautiful, great sounding presets, the layout is excellent and functional. Just that, IIRC, I have never spent $99 on a single synth yet (bundles excluded). A bit surprising to me as well, but in this era of huge discounts and no-brainers, it's become quite common to not spend more than 30-50 bucks on any single piece of plugin. But this might well be that $99 synth for me.

Thanks for the info about the installation size issue. I do have around 50 GB space left on my system drive, so Equator2's ~7GB content should be fine, but I would definitely want it to be customizable in future. I hope they bring that update soon. I also have about ~15 GB of Arturia content on system drive, which I could move if needed since they have added the option recently.

I just saw this in the FAQs:

Once authorisation has completed, Equator2 can run without requiring ROLI Connect to be running for up to 4 weeks before needing to "phone home" again. Should this occur, you'll be prompted to launch ROLI Connect again.

Is that every 4 weeks, forever? Isn't that similar to the Roland Cloud?

My studio PC is always connected, so not a big deal, but still a bit annoying that they have this system. I tried Roland Cloud once and it is irritating like anything, I got rid of it immediately.

[LoveEnigma18]

I will not be upgrading, I probably wound not use it if it was free. I never really used Equator (came free with my Roli) as I have UVI Falcon and have found nothing better for MPE and it can do everything Equator can and a heck of a lot more.

UVI Falcon might be better and looks more capable, but I feel that Equator2 is much easier to use and has a significantly better GUI. Also, lower price too. But if you are comfortable with Falcon, I definitely understand your point.

Equator does not feel like a must have, but it is certainly tempting me. Maybe I should get rid of something else if I buy it. Pigments 2 is the closest to it in terms of features, but it will be difficult to part with it.

[WasteLand]

I will not be upgrading, I probably wound not use it if it was free. I never really used Equator (came free with my Roli) as I have UVI Falcon and have found nothing better for MPE and it can do everything Equator can and a heck of a lot more.

UVI Falcon might be better and looks more capable, but I feel that Equator2 is much easier to use and has a significantly better GUI. Also, lower price too. But if you are comfortable with Falcon, I definitely understand your point.

Equator does not feel like a must have, but it is certainly tempting me. Maybe I should get rid of something else if I buy it. Pigments 2 is the closest to it in terms of features, but it will be difficult to part with it.

it will always be personal, but pigments 2, yes 2 oscillators.. (o well, when the VA engine drives (..) 4...), is already great.
i have the comfort of soft synths, that cover what equator can do, like MSoundFactory or biotek2 or .. or.. and yes pigments 2. and when in need for more layers, o biotek2 can do it.. well no wavetables, but... o well. the comfort of an arsenal..

it is a great synth, i have equator (1) (and i always: a strange choice if you know how i work, but still i make presets in it that i like), cypher 2 is out of this world, literally, but that i like..

yes tempting, but the upgrade price, sorry, is ridiculous. €50, yes i would have bought, although, i don't want more synths, but it is the successor of equator.

you can't demo it, but it is an european company, 14 days money back.

by the way i bought equator and cypher 2, in june i think, in sale. upgrades. (i have roli seabord block + 2 ligthpad M blocks.)

and you have falcon! my most expensive synth was MSoundFactory... (€80.. when it came out, as a beta...). (well i don't count the synths in bundles, that you can also buy seperately..).

well, equator2 is really a sounddesign stuff thingy (falcon do more), already equator (1) is, if you handle it right.
i will play with equator (1) and.. and... and...

[LoveEnigma18]

@WasteLand: I agree, for $50 I would have jumped on it without any hesitation, too. Do let us know your views about Equator1.

I just got a confirmation from Roli that they have 30-day return policy, so I might give it a go. If I do, I will share my opinion on it.

[WasteLand]

@WasteLand: I agree, for $50 I would have jumped on it without any hesitation, too. Do let us know your views about Equator1.

I just got a confirmation from Roli that they have 30-day return policy, so I might give it a go. If I do, I will share my opinion on it.

o didn't know about the 30-day. i will wait. i opted for cubase 11...

i like equator (1) with all it's quircks, but i can get complex sounds out of it, i make presets from scratch, the visual feedback is great, for the curves, and yes! curves! pretty handy...

equator (1) wasn't that popular i believe, but after some days, it grew on me. because i don't have my roli controllers for that long, it was (is) also a great synth for learning to program MPE patches, that is quite another domain. the workflow, was already fast, for me. mainly multiple parameters to slide, for example, in different "directions", uni of bi. etc. so, the gritty sounds i got, but perhaps that is my doing, i like them... equator(1) is a stronger synth than i expected.

so i still enjoy equator (1), perhaps in a next sale.

i am curious, how you about your experiences with equator2.

[LoveEnigma18]

Thanks for sharing your views on Equator1. I am still enquiring a few things with Roli support and if it all goes well, I might consider buying Equator2 soon.