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Roli seaboard grand User Manual

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User Manual
V2.3.0
May 2015


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  • Page 1 User Manual V2.3.0 May 2015
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  • Page 2 Seaboard, except under direct instruction by ROLI staff. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. ROLI Ltd., and the Seaboard GRAND, conform to the European Union’s Directive 2002/95/EC on Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and the requirements of the European Union’s Directive 2002/96/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    About This user manual is a complete guide for using the Seaboard GRAND. For Seaboard GRAND Limited First Edition stand assembly instructions see the Quick Start Guide. The most current version of the User Manual is also available at www.roli.com/seaboarders. If you are prompted for a password, please enter TouchSound.

  • Page 4: Product Overview

    The following list of connections is from left to right on the rear panel. A. Pedal Jacks 1, 2 and 3 – User definable: connect a passive sustain pedal, foot switch or expression pedal (please note that the Seaboard GRAND Studio does not have a third pedal jack) B.

  • Page 5: System Requirements

    Seaboard GRAND Product Specifications Seaboard GRAND Limited First Edition • Dimensions: 51.7” x 13.3” x 1.0” (1313 x 338 x 25.7 mm) • Weight: 22 lb (10 kg) Seaboard GRAND Stage • Dimensions: 36.9” x 13.3” x 1.0” (937 x 338 x 25.7 mm) •...

  • Page 6: The Seaboard Grand

    In the future we will also release an onboard sound engine for the Seaboard GRAND, which will be made available to all Seaboard owners through a firmware upgrade.

  • Page 7: The User Dial

    1.3 The User Dial The User Dial is located on the top panel of the Seaboard. You can use it to navigate between presets of Synth Squad and other virtual instruments There are 3 elements to the User Dial: the Center Button, the Control Ring and the Light Ring.

  • Page 8: Octave Shift

    Octave Shift The Octave Shift mode transposes the Seaboard’s playing pitch up or down. Hold down the Center Button until the Light Ring displays a wide band of light across the top center. Turn the Control Ring counter-clockwise to shift the pitch an octave down.

  • Page 9: Software

    2. Software 2.1 Installation In addition to Dashboard, the Seaboard's installer package bundles a special edition of FXpansion’s Synth Squad which is optimised for use with the Seaboard, a light-weight Player edition of Synth Squad to get you started quickly, and also PolyThru, a tool for connecting your Seaboard to any software instrument.
  • Page 10 Installer Once you have Gatekeeper disabled you can run through the installer. During the installation: • In the Installation Type window, please de-select any packages of software you don't want to install - we recommend you install all four packages for the optimal experience with your Seaboard.

  • Page 11: Roli Dashboard

    2.2 ROLI Dashboard The ROLI Dashboard is designed for customising performance settings as well as keeping the Seaboard's firmware up to date through automatic updates. Getting Started To begin, please make sure that the power supply is connected to the Seaboard.

  • Page 12: Main Menu

    Main Menu The main menu of Dashboard has three sections: Channel Settings, Pitch Settings and Pedal Mappings.
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  • Page 13 Channel Settings Select a mode by clicking on it. The mode selected will always be highlighted in blue to indicate that it is active. Single Channel Mode Single Channel mode causes the Seaboard to send all its data to one MIDI channel, just like a standard MIDI controller keyboard.
  • Page 14 Pressure Mode Pressure Mode will determine how changes in playing pressure are transformed into MIDI data. The options are Poly Aftertouch and Channel Pressure. Select Channel Pressure to affect all notes at once. Select Poly Aftertouch to give independent pressure control over individual notes. Historically, very few controller keyboards have been capable of producing polyphonic aftertouch.
  • Page 15 Pitch Bend Tracking Use the Pitch Bend Tracking options to determine which note will have priority during performance when in Single Channel mode. Last Note Played uses the pitch bend value of the most recent note and applies it to all notes. Highest Note Played uses the pitch bend of the highest note and finally Lowest Note Played uses the lowest note.
  • Page 16 Multi Channel Mode In Multi-Channel mode, the Seaboard will send its data to multiple MIDI channels, with every note assigned to a different MIDI channel. This allows the user to control the pitch-bend polyphonically. Channel Range allows the user to control the number of channels used: the greater the range, the greater the pitch bend and aftertouch polyphony.
  • Page 17 Pitch Settings Octave Shift This feature is an alternative to the User Dial transposition method. It allows for a maximum transposition of two octaves in either direction. Transpose This feature transposes the range of the Seaboard lower or higher, in semitone increments.
  • Page 18 • Pedal 2 - CC67 Soft pedal • Pedal 3* - CC66 Sostenuto *Not available on Seaboard GRAND Studio. The Seaboard treats a pedal mapped to CC64 (sustain) slightly differently from other pedals. When this pedal is pressed, the Seaboard holds the peak continuous pressure values of any notes that are sounding and filters out any values lower than this.
  • Page 19 Type There are two broad categories of electronic piano pedals: switch-type and continuous. Switch-type pedals are sensitive only in two states, pressed and released. These are most often used to mimic the pedals of an acoustic piano. Continuous (or expression) pedals can measure the pedal’s angle of travel as it moves from fully pressed to fully released.

  • Page 20: Synth Squad Player

    2.3 Synth Squad Player Overview Synth Squad Player for Seaboard is a lightweight edition of FXpansion’s Synth Squad software that is designed specifically for getting started quickly with the Seaboard. The Player has 48 custom-made presets which can be modified via 8 Macro controls.
  • Page 21 Audio Preferences Choose the desired audio outputs. These can be either the built- in core audio outputs or outputs from a connected audio interface. The default buffer setting is 256. If you experience crackles in the audio try setting the buffer to a higher value.
  • Page 22 MIDI Preferences The Seaboard should be selected as a MIDI input device by default. If Synth Squad is not responding to the Seaboard make sure it has not been unselected.
  • Page 23 Presets Synth Squad's preset structure can be navigated with the User Dial. The presets are divided into four banks of twelve: A01-12, B01-12, C01-12, D01-12. Pressing the Center Button will advance to the next bank in a clockwise direction. However, use the Control Ring to navigate through presets in either direction. Each full revolution of the Control Ring advances to the next bank.
  • Page 24 • B01 - PLUCK - Steel Pluck • B02 - PAD - Sea of Platinum • B03 - KEYS - Solid Tines • B04 - BASS - Analog Pluck • B05 - LEAD - Classic Analog • B06 - PAD - Calm •...
  • Page 25 Editing Synth Squad Sounds with Macros The eight Macro knobs control different sound parameters within the Synth Squad sound engine. Control them with a mouse, or with a standard MIDI controller using the MIDI Learn function. Since each preset has different sounds attributes (e.g.
  • Page 26 1. Click the MIDI Learn button. This enables the MIDI assign mode (the Synth Squad interface will turn green). 2. Click the knob you wish to assign with the mouse. Then turn a knob or fader on your controller. When MIDI assignment is confirmed, the knob will turn blue.

  • Page 27: Synth Squad For Seaboard

    Seaboard through appropriate MIDI channel assignments. For information on how to get started with Synth Squad for Seaboard, please see the Synth Squad for Seaboard Quickstart Guide at www.roli.com/seaboarders. 2.5 Using Virtual Instruments The Seaboard can be used as a MIDI controller for many virtual instruments.

  • Page 28: Polythru

    2.6 PolyThru PolyThru is a new app developed by ROLI that lets your existing software synths support polyphonic pitch bend. While it is still in development, we have made the Beta version available to all Seaboard GRAND customers. It comes in standalone, VSTi and AU formats, and is installed as part of the ROLI Dashboard installation package.

  • Page 29: Playing The Seaboard

    3. Playing the Seaboard 3.1 Keywaves A keywave is an elastic, multi-dimensional tactile interface that allows for nuanced expression of parameters such as pitch, volume and timbre in one continuous gesture. The layout of the keywaves is identical to the traditional keyboard.

  • Page 30: Techniques

    3.2 Techniques Playing with Pitch Bend Vibrato As a note is being played, create vibrato by moving the hand left to right causing the fingertip to rock side to side. This technique is similar to executing vibrato on a string instrument. Varying the speed of the hand will change the intensity of the vibrato.
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  • Page 31 Pitch Bend Gestures The Seaboard interprets the playing of two adjacent notes in succession (C → C ♯ ), as pitch bend. This is achieved via a smooth legato gesture, varying the pressure during the duration of the gesture. It’s possible to extend the pitch bend even further by continuing the legato gesture chromatically (e.g.
  • Page 32 Ribbon Glissando The pitch ribbons at the top and the bottom of the keywaves are designed for seamless glissando. You can base your playing entirely on the ribbon if you want, or you can use it for glissandos simply by dragging your finger left and right.
  • Page 33 Playing with Velocity The Seaboard detects the velocity of each keywave you play. Striking hard will increase the amplitude while striking soft will decrease it. Remember that the pitch ribbons responds will respond to velocity. Try integrating velocity into pitch bend gestures for more expressive sound.
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  • Page 34 Playing with Pressure The Seaboard’s ability to respond to continuous pressure is a powerful feature. Unlike traditional keyboard aftertouch, the continuous pressure control begins as soon as you touch the key. This results in a bigger physical range and a considerably higher digital resolution.

  • Page 35: Updates And Maintenance

    There are two elements of the Seaboard that need updating: Dashboard and the Seaboard's Firmware. ROLI is always working to improve performance and features for the Seaboard. If an update becomes available a push notification will appear when Dashboard is opened to alert the user of an available update. All updates require an internet connection.
  • Page 36 Manual Dashboard and Firmware Updates: Use the Check for Update at anytime to update Dashboard or the Seaboard Firmware manually. If an update is available a dialogue appears. Click Install and Restart. Agree to the license terms. The software update completes in a few moments. The firmware takes 4-5 minutes.

  • Page 37: Cautions And Care

    4.2 Cautions and Care • As noted in the warranty, the Seaboard’s case is not an Airline Transport Association [ATA] specification flight case, and it should not be treated as such. • When in use, the Seaboard should always be connected to its power supply.

  • Page 38: Troubleshooting And Support

    5. Troubleshooting and Support 5.1 Troubleshooting Seaboard is not powering on • The Light Ring always illuminates in some manner if the Seaboard is on. No light means no power. • Check the power switch on the back and make sure it is in the ON position. •...
  • Page 39 Pedals are not functioning properly • If the pedal is in ‘Auto Detect’ mode and is sometimes inverted (so ‘up’ is ‘down’ and vice versa), make sure that it is not held down while turning on the Seaboard. • Hold down the Center Button for about a second, until the Seaboard is in ‘octave shift’...

  • Page 40: Support

    Use the Dashboard Help menu to: • Report an issue • Get the latest user manual • Go to the support section of the ROLI website Note all of these options require an internet connection.

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