ROLI Support

We're pleased to announce the public release of ROLI Studio Player v1.0.0 for MacOS 10.13+ and Windows 10.

ROLI Studio Player is the central plug-in for ROLI sounds, allowing you to explore and tweak sounds from ROLI and FXpansion's flagship synths Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2, and provides direct hardware integration for the Lightpad Block and Live Block, allowing you to get hands-on with modulation within ROLI Studio Player. ROLI Studio Player features macro controls, Smart Chords, a multi-layered Arpeggiator and Audio Effects, allowing you to customise and modulate sounds in ways that were not previously possible.

You'll need to ensure you've installed the latest version of ROLI Connect to download and authorise ROLI Studio Player, where you'll find the installer in the Apps tab once you've logged in:

• ROLI Connect v1.0.6 (Mac)
• ROLI Connect v1.0.6 (Win)

If you encounter any issues with ROLI Studio Player, pleased let our support team know by creating a new support ticket, or raise it in the Issues forum. If you want to discuss the features in ROLI Studio Player with other creators or share your ideas on how ROLI Studio Player could be improved, head over to the Feature Requests forum, or if you have any questions, you can ask them here.

While the beta forum is no longer available, we've collated your valuable feedback and are working on new features and improvements that we'll introduce in future updates. We'd like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed in sharing their thoughts, ideas and issues with the previous beta versions of ROLI Studio Player; it wouldn't be where it is today without your input!

You can find more detailed information about hardware integration below, as well as a list of features, fixes and known issues at the bottom of the page. Check out our handy Getting Started guide too, which explains each control within each area of ROLI Studio Player.

Lightpad Block Integration

One or more connected Lightpad Blocks running the latest BLOCKS firmware can now be dedicated to controlling the individual modules within ROLI Studio Player:

• Macro faders and XY pad
• Smart Chords module
• Arpeggiator
• Audio Effects
  
  

Equivalent controls for each module will be displayed on the Lightpad Block surface, allowing you to adjust parameters for each module directly from your Lightpad Block(s). Depending on the module you're controlling, it's also possible to navigate through the various modes of the module with buttons displayed on the Lightpad Block surface.

To assign a module (e.g. the Macros) to a specific Lightpad Block, simply click the icon in the top-right corner of the module (see below) and select the Block.

Alternatively you can assign a specific Lightpad Block to a module using the assignment button at the top of the ROLI Studio Player window, which will allow you to drag & drop your desired Block to a specific module (such as the Audio Effects).

Additionally, you can also use the mode button on the side of the Lightpad Block to cycle through each module. With ROLI Studio Player as a standalone application, a note grid is assigned to the Lightpad Block by default, which will also assume this behaviour if the current module mapping is removed.

Live Block Integration

Each button on a Live Block connected via DNA can be used to control the following, using the Mode button to change the behaviour:

• Volume
• Scale
• Preset selection
• Preset favouriting
• Arpeggiator enabling/disabling
• Smart Chord enabling/disabling

Seaboard Block and Seaboard RISE

Any Seaboard device connected to ROLI Studio Player can be used to trigger notes, and the Macro & XY controls on the Seaboard RISE can be used to modulate the Macro & XY parameters in ROLI Studio Player. Lightpad Blocks and Live Blocks connected via DNA to a Seaboard Block can be used to control ROLI Studio Player as explained above.

DAW Integration

We've aimed to make the experience as smooth as possible when using ROLI Studio Player as a plugin within your DAW of choice. As such, we've added features that allow different module assignments and configurations to be made between multiple instances of ROLI Studio Player within a single DAW projec.

For instance, with a setup of two Lightpad Blocks, you can use them to control the Macro and Arpeggiator modules in the first instance of ROLI Studio Player, but also assign them to control the Smart Chords and Audio Effects of the second instance. 

You also have the option to choose between two different behaviours for each connected Light Block. You can choose from either of the following:

• Set a Lightpad Block to update to whichever instance of ROLI Studio Player is brought into focus
• Dedicate a specific Lightpad Block to a certain instance of ROLI Studio Player by clicking the lock symbol. Locked Lightpad Blocks can be released from any other instance of ROLI Studio Player in your DAW by clicking the lock symbol again. 

For instance, the right-most Lightpad Block in the image below is 'locked' to the Smart Chords module:

ROLI Studio Player v1.0.0 features:

• Windows 10 and macOS 10.13+ support (64-bit)
• Compatible as a standalone, AU and VST plug-in
• Sound library comprising of selected Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2 presets
• Macro fader and XY control for each preset
• Smart Chords - generate entire chord progressions from single notes
• Multi-layer Arpeggiator for easily creating complex and evolving sequences
• Audio Effects to add further modulation to your sounds
• Support for Seaboard RISE, Lightpad Block, Seaboard Block and Live Block
• Lightpad Block assignment and control of Macros, Arpeggiator, Smart Chords and Audio FX
• Live Block control of various parameters and areas of ROLI Studio Player
• Support for user presets with dedicated browser filtering
• Configurable behaviour for each connected Lightpad Block to either:
  • Update controls to the instance of ROLI Studio Player in focus
  • Lock to a specific instance of ROLI Studio Player
• Prompt to switch to single-channel mode when launched in Ableton Live
• Output MIDI data from the Smart Chords and Multi-layer Arpeggiator (VST only)

Issues resolved in v1.0.0 from previous public beta version (v0.3.1):

• Arpeggiator display on a Lightpad Block can’t display triplets
• Lightpad Block macro controls only go between 3% and 96%
• Text is truncated on smaller window sizes
• GUI issues with Note Visualiser
• Jerky response on Arpeggiator ‘Hits’ Parameter from a Lightpad Block
• Chord 'Strum' control doesn’t reach far end of Lightpad Block
• Stepping when moving filter value on effects
• Effects XY control limits aren’t reachable on Lightpad Block
• Arp doesn’t trigger all notes of a strummed chord
• Slide can be unreliable when applied to arpeggiated notes
• Arp is on by default
• Irregular Arpeggiator rate with large buffer sizes

New features & Improvements in v1.0.0:

• RSP now retries authentication on a timer
• Notes of the Scale are now represented on the Smart Chord module
• UI tweaksthrough out
• Two new soundpacks - Cinematica and Chillwave Drifting
• Toggle Audio Effects on/off with Live Block
• Welcome screens added for first time users
• Scroll through which module a Lightpad Block is controlling via its mode button
• Control Blocks Hardware MIDI Channel range direct from ROLI Studio Player
• Improved Lightpad Block control for the Arpeggiator
• Host sync/synth engine disabling moved to advanced settings

Known issues in v1.0.0:

• Bluetooth connectivity can occasionally prevent hardware integration on Mac
• Unable to launch ROLI Hardware Driver with specific environments
• Pitch bend messages sent from a standard MIDI controller are unreliable with MPE presets

Future updates to ROLI Studio Player:

• Further support for existing and new Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2 presets
• Updated GarageBand, Logic and Ableton Live Lightpad scripts

Hi Xavier, I'd be happy to answer your questions below:

1. - Playlist functionality is not currently available in ROLI Studio Player browsing, but I'll share your feedback with the team to see if it's possible to introduce in a future update.

2. - We're working on fully supporting the entire factory libraries of Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2 in ROLI Studio Player - unfortunately this wasn't possible to complete for version 1.0.0, but we aim to add this support as soon as possible.

3. - This is a known issue with Connect - it should still be possible to launch Strobe2 as an application from your desktop (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).

Hi Lorenzo,

Other than ROLI Connect, ROLI Studio Player can run without requiring any other applications to be installed - a selection of Equator, Strobe2 and Cypher2 presets are installed as part of the ROLI Studio Player installation.

Hi Dougie, this is an issue related to ROLI Connect compatibility with Catalina that we're looking into. It's possible to resolve this issue for the time being by heading to System Preferences -> Security, where you can allow leveldown.node to be opened. Once this is complete, you can then open Connect again, allowing you to proceed with the installation.

When the "leveldown.node" prompt appears, you should now seen an additional "Open" button alongside "Show in Finder" and "OK" - clicking "Open" should then allow the installation to proceed. If this is not the case, please let us know what you're seeing and we'll take a look.

Hi Fabrizio, these packs are only currently available on mobile devices.

Dougie, if you're still experiencing installation issues with ROLI Connect on Catalina, please create a new support ticket and our team will be able to assist you.