The Roli Seaboard Block is a portable and affordable MIDI controller on the market. It’s a great choice for beginner to intermediate producers and composers who want to get started with making music.
Features
The Seaboard Block is a 2 octave USB-C MIDI controller with Bluetooth connectivity and MPE compatibility. It features a soft, silicone surface that is pressure and velocity sensitive, allowing you to create expressive, dynamic performances. The Seaboard Block software also includes an arpeggiator, different synthesizer sounds and other things to get your music production started.
How does it play?
The Seaboard Block is an expressive MIDI controller that anyone can pick up and play. With its unique squishy keys, it’s both fun and intuitive to use. You can play some really cool sounds with this little device, and it’s a great way to get into music production.
Pros
Good connectivity: The Seaboard Block is class-compliant, which means that it can work with any MIDI software on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android without the need to install any drivers. In addition, it also has Bluetooth MIDI support for a wireless connection.
Portable: The Seaboard Block is very portable thanks to its small size and light weight. You can easily take it with you wherever you go.
Battery powered: The Seaboard Block is powered by internal batteries, which makes it even more portable.
Expressive: The Seaboard Block is a very expressive instrument thanks to its pressure-sensitive keys, MPE support and low-latency response.
Cons
The Roli Seaboard Block is an interesting and innovative MIDI controller that allows you to play and produce music in a variety of ways. However, it is important to be aware of some of the potential drawbacks before making a purchase.
First and foremost, the Roli Seaboard Block is not cheap. At $279, it is one of the most expensive MIDI controllers on the market for it’s size. If you are just starting out in music production, you may want to invest in a more affordable option. Of course other options in this price range don’t offer MPE support.
Another downside of the Roli Seaboard Block is that it does not have a built-in DIN MIDI port. This means you cannot easily connect it to synthesizers that don’t have MIDI over USB. It also lacks a sustain pedal input, which can be frustrating for some users.
Overall, the Roli Seaboard Block is a unique and powerful MIDI controller with a lot of potential. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations before making a purchase.
Alternatives
The Seaboard Block is a unique MIDI controller that offers a new way to play and perform music. While it shares some features with other controllers on the market, there are also some key differences that set it apart. Some alternative MPE MIDI controllers include the Keith McMillen K-Board Pro 4, the Roli Lightpad Block, the Sensei Morph, and the Expressive E Osmose. But those come with a even higher price tag, except for the Roli Lightpad Block which lacks a piano keyboard.
Each of these controllers has its own unique set of features and drawbacks, so be sure to consider all of them before making your final decision. Whichever MPE controller you choose, you’re sure to find a new way to make music.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Seaboard Block is a great little device that is very portable and fun to use. It is also a great way to get into music production, as it is very easy to use and does not require any special skills or knowledge. Overall, I would highly recommend the Seaboard Block to anyone looking for a portable and fun way to create music.