The Seaboard is a USB Class Compliant device. It can be connected directly to other USB Class Compliant devices which have a USB host, receive MIDI data, and produce sound in response.

Diagram – Seaboard to hardware instrument

Once you are connected, check out our guide on setting your synth to be controlled by the Seaboard.


Connecting to another USB device

Use the USB cable supplied with your Seaboard to connect the Seaboard RISE's USB type B port or Block's USB-C port to another device's type A port. You should not attempt to connect the Seaboard to other hardware using the RISE's type A port; it does not transmit data and the Seaboard will not behave as a host device.

USB type A and B

The Seaboard's MIDI will be sent to the connected device automatically. Now you just need to set up your other hardware to respond to the Seaboard's Dimensions of Touch.


What's a USB host/client?

The Seaboard behaves as a USB "client" – it connects using a type B (RISE) or C (Block) port.

A USB client needs to connect to a USB "host" like a computer – which has a type A port.

Host devices are in charge of all data transmission in a connection, and two client devices are not able to communicate without a host. Although the RISE has a type A port, it is not a host so you cannot use it to connect to other USB devices which only have a type B port.


To connect via 5-pin MIDI DIN

For more on USB MIDI hosts and connecting via 5-pin MIDI DIN, see Connecting the Seaboard and Lightpad via 5-pin MIDI DIN.