If you’re unfamiliar with ROLI’s technology, the rubberised keys on the RISE are, of course, the unique selling point of the hardware. Other than the playing surface itself, the features are simple, with just a small control panel section on the left-hand side of the keyboard, housing preset selection and octave shift buttons, touch faders to adjust the sensitivity of the expression parameters, an XY touch pad and the combined power button and mode indicator. The RISE can also transmit MIDI over Bluetooth, and the unit has a built-in rechargeable battery for completely wireless operation, with no need to plug in to a power supply. Like the larger Seaboard units, MIDI is transmitted over USB. It might be small and surprisingly thin, but the unit as a whole is surprisingly heavy and clearly built to last It might be small and surprisingly thin (less than one inch wide across its entire length), but the unit as a whole is surprisingly heavy and clearly built to last. I couldn’t speculate as to the long-term durability of the silicone rubber playing surface, but the solid feel of the rest of the unit is certainly reassuring. The unit comes packaged in a basic foam storage case, with a supplementary Flip Case available as an optional extra, priced at £40 if bought with the RISE or £99 if bought separately. With a 25-key keyboard, the RISE is the most basic model in the Seaboard range, but it still feels like a top-quality piece of kit. It’s now available in its general release as an 88-, 61- or 37-key unit, while the new Seaboard RISE fills in the gap at the more affordable end of the market.
Initially available as a limited-edition run of 88 units (one for each note on the standard seven-and-a-bit-octave piano keyboard), the Grand is a unique expressive control surface with a built-in synth engine. ROLI first appeared on our radar early in 2013 when they announced their flagship instrument, the Seaboard Grand.