Specifically, the Lightpad Block offers the same 5D expression as the Seaboard Rise. MIDI hardware/software instruments typically need to receive multiple MIDI channels of information for each sound, part of the reason why MPE support isn’t widespread yet.
PMCs support the still-growing MPE MIDI standard, which grants players expressive freedom through multiple gestures with each finger. It is by far the smallest and least expensive polyphonic multidimensional controller (PMC), a category of hardware that includes items like the Roger Linn Design LinnStrument and Roli’s own Seaboard Rise. The Lightpad represents a controller breakthrough that justifies what might otherwise be seen as an overly steep price.
It also handles motion across its LEDs very well to produce dazzling color effects that illustrate finger movement across the surface, charging from the USB-C cable (green) or connecting over Bluetooth (blue).
Its smooth but firm silicone multi-touch surface covers 225 LEDs arranged in a 15×15 grid that dynamically updates to serve as a 5×5, 25-note grid keyboard in the style of the Ableton Push or Novation Launchpad Pro scale modes a 4×4 drum pad a set of four faders and buttons an XYZ pad and others.
The innovative Lightpad Block serves as the entry point to a Blocks system. The Lightpad, Live and Loop Blocks Two Lightpad Blocks with a Live Block and a Loop Block. With a lot of development to go before it reaches v1.0, the Blocks Dashboard beta represents the first step for Roli’s Blocks to enter power users’ daily workflow.
The continually updated Blocks Dashboard beta gives the Blocks-especially the marquee Lightpad Block-expanding ability to control DAW software such as Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, Logic Pro X and Steinberg Cubase, as well as instrument like Spectrasonics Omnisphere and Native Instruments Massive and Kontakt. With the recent beta release of the Blocks Dashboard software, the professionally attractive Blocks began to escape a kind of limbo they were in between pro-level potential and the consumer/prosumer market.
They also included a 3-month license to Cycling ’74 Max, where users can install Blocks Objects from the Package Manager. However cool they were, they were still limited to connecting to either the iOS-only Noise app-a loop-based sound engine that would not let you edit synth presets or record your performances as songs-or a few software instruments that were compatible with MPE (Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression), such as UVI Falcon, Roli’s own Equator or the stock instruments of Bitwig Studio and Apple Logic Pro X. Their dynamic multi-color touch surfaces, magnetic Lego-style modularity, and Bluetooth connectivity with the Roli Noise app gave them the kind of futuristic wow-factor that Apple loves to showcase within its elite retail fiefdom. When Roli released its Blocks music-creation system late last year, they exclusively landed at Apple Stores.
While they’re not up to full speed yet, as Blocks Dashboard develops and third-party support for the MPE MIDI standard grows, the Blocks will only get better. The Bottom Line: With the Blocks Dashboard beta software, the Roli Blocks move beyond being a technologically impressive controller with limited applications to working with some of the most popular DAWs and soft synths for electronic music.
No DJ-specific software or workflows supported yet. A lot of setup needed to take advantage of 5D expression with certain desktop software. The Bad:Noise iOS app does not have full-song recording or audio export options. The Blocks Dashboard beta introduces much-needed compatibility for a growing number of Mac and Windows programs. 100+ great 5D sounds within the loop-based Noise iOS app. The Lightpad Block is the smallest and lowest-price PMC hardware available for MPE MIDI instruments, specifically using Roli’s 5D expression. The Good:A dazzling 225 LED display dynamically updates to different control layouts and provides motion feedback. Windows 10, 4GB RAM, 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 or faster. Mac: OS 10.11 or later, 4GB RAM, 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 or faster.