Equator is ROLI's custom-built, multi-dimensional software synthesizer that comes with the Seaboard RISE and GRAND. ROLI Studio Player offers the Equator engine, along with three other sound engines, composing and performing features and is bundled with BLOCKS. This article shows how to use the Lightpad Block and Seaboard Block with Equator/ROLI Studio Player.
To upgrade from ROLI Studio Player to full Equator, select "Upgrade" from the drop-down menu of the Equator page. Make sure you are logged into your ROLI account first!
As a playing surface
First, launch ROLI Dashboard and connect your Lightpad or Seaboard Block. By scrolling through the app list and selecting an app, or by clicking the "Edit" button, you can fully customize how your Block behaves, and you can also modify a Lightpad Block’s LED display.
Lightpad Block
If you're using a Lightpad Block, select "Note Grid." Make sure the following "MIDI Settings" are selected:
- MIDI Mode: MPE
- No. MIDI Channels: 15
- MPE Zone: Lower Zone
- Pitch Bend Range: 48
If you'd like you may use the "Pitch," "Play mode," and "5D Touch" options to control the number of pads your Lightpad Block displays, what key and scale it's in, and the responsiveness of the five dimensions of touch.
To use a 5x5 grid of notes, for example, go to "Play mode," and set "Mode" to 5. (You can also scroll through modes via the Lightpad Block's Mode button, and you can adjust the dimensions of touch with an attached Touch Block.)
Seaboard Block
If you're using a Seaboard Block, with your Seaboard Block selected in ROLI Dashboard, the current MIDI settings will automatically be displayed. Click "Edit" to make sure the following "MIDI Settings" are selected:
- MIDI Mode: MPE
- No. MIDI Channels: 15
- MPE Zone: Lower Zone
- Pitch Bend Range: 48
If you'd like you may use the "Pitch," "Play mode," and "5D Touch" options to transpose or change the Seaboard Block's range and control the responsiveness of the five dimensions of touch. (You can also adjust the dimensions of touch with an attached Touch Block.)
For more information about loading programs and the capabilities of ROLI Dashboard, check out our article, "Using ROLI Dashboard."
Setting up Equator
Next, launch Equator, go to the Settings menu, and inside of "MIDI Settings" ensure that your Lightpad Block or Seaboard Block is selected as a MIDI Input. Also, make sure that MPE Mode is On, and Channels are From 2 To 16. You'll now be able to play any of your Equator presets with your Block!
As a parameter controller
Using ROLI Dashboard, you can easily set up your Lightpad Block to modulate Equator parameters in real-time. We'll use the RISE Controller app in ROLI Dashboard so that you emulate the Seaboard RISE's Touch Faders and XY Touchpad to easily control Equator's Macros 1–5.
To use the Lightpad as a parameter controller in ROLI Studio Player, click the small down arrow on the synth engine module, then select the Lightpad.
 |  |
RISE Controller
With your Lightpad Block connected to ROLI Dashboard, load the RISE Controller app onto your Lightpad. You can navigate between the Touch Fader mode and the XY Touchpad mode by using the Mode button.
The three Touch Faders will control Equator's Macros 1–3, and the XY Touchpad will control Macros 4 and 5. Try it out on a few Equator presets and see how easy it is to modify the sound of each preset!