Roli has revolutionized the keyboard with its cutting-edge Rise and Grand instruments, which utilize a unique, soft silicone surface that lets you shape sound intuitively through five dimensions of touch. Designed for everyone, BLOCKS is a versatile music-making system for beginners who have never taken a music lesson, to professionals who want to shape sound in new ways. BLOCKS utilizes three modules (Lightpad, Live, and Loop) and lets you make music naturally through intuitive gestures on a touch-sensitive playing surface that connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to your iOS device and plays NOISE, a free iOS app.
The central performance Block from the system is the Lightpad Block, which is a wireless illuminated tactile control surface that responds to five dimensions of touch, including Strike, Glide, Slide, Press, and Lift. Users can build sequences, loops, play finger drums, and generate expressive control data. The Lightblock is made up of 225 LEDs arranged in a 15x15 matrix. The NOISE app can configure the Lightblock into three modes: 2x2 (for drum sounds), 4x4 (for drum sounds), and 5x5 (for melodic or pitched sound).
The Live Block adds a number of performance controls and is designed to be used in conjunction with the Lightpad Block. It includes the most frequently used functions for performance, including switching scales and octaves, playing chords and arpeggios, and sustaining notes, as well as toggling modes and adjusting the volume.
The Loop Block adds additional performance controls and like the Live Block, is designed to be used in conjunction with the Lightpad Block. It includes the most frequently used functions for recording and editing including dedicated buttons for mode, volume, click/tempo, snap, undo, play/recording loops, and learn.
All of the Blocks utilize a rechargeable battery and can operate for up to four hours. The Blocks all have magnetic DNA connectors, which can be arranged in any orientation. Additionally, the Loop and Live Blocks use the DNA connector to charge via the Lightpad Block.
There are a number of Soundpacks available through the Noise app including the exclusive 5D EDM, Giant Dubstep, World Colors, and Video Games, which are free to registered Block users. Additionally, there are several Soundpacks available via “in-app purchase” including RZA’s Spoonful of Grit and Steve Aoki’s Neon Future, as well as Hybrid Acoustic, Expressive Electronic, and Synthetic Leads. Additional Soundpacks will be released throughout 2017.
There are two cases available for the Blocks system. The Snapcase Solo is made of premium materials and attaches magnetically to your Lightpad Block to provide protection during transportation and storage. The cover is flexible and folds over the silicone surface to protect from spills, dust, and damage. The Snapcase Duo offers the same magnitude of protection for two Lightpad Blocks or a Lightpad, Live, and Loop Block.
