Roli Seaboard Grand Stage User manual
Seaboard GRAND Creator Manual
1 What is PolyThru?
When working with a DAW, you might use many mono-timbral software synth
plug-ins such as Native Instruments’ Massive and FM8. Normally, to use these
great plug-ins in your favourite DAW with the Seaboard, you would have to
create several tracks each with an instance of the specific mono-timbral plug-
in. Each track would have to receive MIDI from the GRAND on a corresponding
channel.
For example, to use the GRAND with Massive in Logic, you first have to create
severalinstrument tracks responding on MIDI channels 1–10 consecutively, for
example. Then launch an instance of Massive on each track and set each
1 What is PolyThru?
2 Introduction - Seaboard GRAND
3 Support and Feedback
4 Glossary of Selected GRAND Terms
5 Getting started
5.1 System Requirements
5.2 The Seaboard Software Bundle
5.3 Register on My ROLI
5.4 Installation: Mac and Windows
6 The Seaboard GRAND
6.1 Connections and Specifications
6.2 The Keywave Surface
6.3 The SoundDial
6.4 Make Music Now
7 Playing the Seaboard GRAND
7.1 Four Dimensions of Touch (4D Touch)
instance to the same preset. Now you would be ready to play Massive from the
GRAND, but wait—let’s say you adjust the frequency cutoff in the first instance
of Massive. Now you have to repeat that process nine more times in order for
Massive to respond properly, otherwise only one note in ten will respond
properly. As you can see this can get very laborious very quickly.
To improve this workflow and make this whole process much more
manageable we have developed PolyThru, a beta, Mac-only application.
PolyThru makes using the Seaboard with third party mono-timbral plug-ins as
easy as using a single plug-in. With PolyThru you only need to use a single
track and make an edit once. The mono-timbral plug-in functions as if it were
multi-timbral.
PolyThru works with AU and VST synth plug-ins. It can function as a stand-alone
application or as a plug-in in your favourite DAW. For more information on
when to use PolyThru and which plug-ins to use it with, please refer to the
PolyThru Beta Manual.
2 Introduction - Seaboard GRAND
Hello creator, and welcome to the Creator Manual for the Seaboard GRAND. 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 a Seaboard GRAND is investing in this vision of creativity
and therefore is also a co-creator of ROLI.
You may already be playing your Seaboard GRAND and discovering its creative
possibilities. This comprehensive Creator Manual explains all of the details
7.2 The four MIDI messages of the four
Dimensions of Touch
7.3 Playing Techniques
7.4 Adjacent Semitones
7.5 Embedded Equator
7.6 Changing the GRAND’s Settings (ROLI
Dashboard)
7.7 USB MIDI Class Compliancy
7.8 Connecting to Another USB Device
Directly
8 Care and Maintenance
9 ROLI Support and Feedback
9.1 My ROLI
9.2 ROLI Support
about your Seaboard GRAND to ensure that you get the most out of it.
The Seaboard GRAND is a multidimensional instrument and MIDI controller
whose touch-sensitive interface and Embedded Equator software synthesiser
open new possibilities for musical expression. While most conventional
keyboards offer one dimension of touch to control sound (initial velocity, or
what we call Strike), the Seaboard GRAND offers four dimensions of touch.
These can be mapped to a variety of sound parameters. A SoundDial allows
you to access presets and change the octave while performing.
There are three different models of the Seaboard GRAND: the Seaboard GRAND
Limited First Edition (LFE), Seaboard GRAND Stage, and Seaboard GRAND
Studio. The functionality and operation is the same for all three models except
where noted in this manual.
On the next page we have included a short list of terms specific to Seaboard
instruments. We will refer to these terms throughout the Creator Manual.
Please note that this is a digital manual updated regularly to reflect software
updates and other improvements. Be sure to check for updates on My ROLI.
This Manual is current up to Equator v1.9.7, ROLI Dashboard v3.2.7, and GRAND
V 2.0
3 Support and Feedback
We want you to have the best experience possible with our products and
would love to hear your feedback. Should you have any questions, experience
any problems, or just want to say hello, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The easiest way to reach us is to send a support enquiry fromsupport.roli.com.
We will respond as soon as possible.
4 Glossary of Selected GRAND Terms
Centre button:
The button located in the centre of the SoundDial which allows you to advance
preset banks and enter/exit Octave Shift mode.
Embedded Equator:
ROLI’s in-built version of Equator which runs directly on the Seaboard GRAND
and allows for stand-alone operation.
Equator:
ROLI’s custom-built, multi-dimensional software synthesizer and sound engine.
Equator enables refined control of the expressive capabilities of the keywave
surface. Equator and the Seaboard instruments work together to provide a
seamlessly integrated hardware-software experience.
The Four Dimensions of Touch (4D Touch):
The feature of real-time control and modulation of sound through the basic
finger gestures of: Strike, Press, Glide, Lift.
Strike: The velocity and force with which a finger makes contact with a
keywave.
Press: The pressure and continuous touch applied to the keywave after the
initial strike. Known as “aftertouch” in traditional synth terminology.
Glide: Horizontal left and right movements on a keywave and along the
ribbons.
Lift: The release velocity or speed of liftoff from a keywave.
Keywave:
A wavelike element of the keywave surface that corresponds to a single key on
a standard keyboard. Each of the Four Dimensions of Touch can be accessed
on a single keywave.
Keywave surface:
The entire playing surface including all keywaves and ribbons. The keywave
surface corresponds to a keyboard.
MPE:
Multi-dimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE) is a protocol for using standard
MIDI messages to communicate with and enable the operation of multi-
dimensional instruments such as the Seaboard RISE. MPE enables multi-
dimensional devices like the Seaboard to control multiple parameters of every
note independently such as pitch, timbre and other nuances when used within
MPE-compatible software like Equator. MPE accomplishes this by spreading
MIDI data that pertain to each note across a range of MIDI channels and
reserving one channel (usually the lowest) for global MIDI messages such as
program change, pedal, and fader positions. These global messages affect all
notes equally.
PolyThru:
An application designed by ROLI to make working with mono-timbral plug-ins
extremely easy, intuitive, and streamlined.
ROLI Dashboard:
An application for modifying and customising the internal settings of the
GRAND or RISE.
Software Bundle:
The software programs that come bundled with the Seaboard GRAND.
Currently these are ROLI Dashboard, and Equator, and PolyThru (Mac beta
version only).
SoundDial:
The SoundDial is the central interface to the GRAND for selecting presets and
transposing the octave.
5 Getting started
5.1 System Requirements
Macintosh
Mac OS 10.9 (Mavericks) or later
Minimum RAM: 4GB
Recommended RAM: 8GB
Processor: 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 or faster
Bluetooth connectivity: OS 10.10+
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