Softube-Modular-RISE

Softube Modular is a software plugin that is a virtual analog modular synthesizer, combining the power and expandability of analog modulars with the accessibility and ease of use of a software plugin.

The Softube's ROLI Seaboard RISE module is an interface between your Seaboard and Modular, featuring 38 CV outputs and seamlessly bringing 5D Touch to the world of virtual analog modular synthesis.

This guide will give you an overview of how to use the ROLI Seaboard RISE module with Modular. For full details, please see the Softube Plug-Ins Manual.

While the module is designed specifically for the RISE, GRAND creators may also use it – the module's Slide, X and Y, and CV outputs will simply be inactive.


ROLI Dashboard Settings

Ensure that the MIDI Settings in ROLI Dashboard are set as shown below.

We have selected:

  • MIDI Mode: MPE
  • MPE Zone: Lower
  • No. MIDI Channels: 4 (Modular's ROLI Seaboard RISE module supports four voices)
  • Pitch bend range: 48 semitones


Setting Modular to Respond to the Seaboard

Modular is a plugin rather than a standalone application, so you'll need to load it within a digital audio workstation (DAW), ideally one that supports multiple MIDI channels per track (for example, Bitwig, Cubase, or Logic). This will allow you to use the Seaboard with Modular polyphonically. If you need help setting up your DAW to respond to the Seaboard, you may search for a guide for it here.

Once you've loaded Modular into your DAW, open up Modular. To get started right away, open one of the 18 included presets designed for the Seaboard – these presets all include "ROLI" in their names. When you load a ROLI preset, a number of modules will appear, including the ROLI Seaboard RISE module. Play a few notes on your Seaboard to hear how Modular responds.

To see what the Seaboard is controlling, mouseover an input or output on any module. All of the preset's virtual patch cords will appear, and by following these connections you'll see what the Seaboard's dimensions of touch – and XY Touchpad, Touch Faders, and pedal – are controlling.

In addition to the 38 CV outputs, the module has two selectable buttons:

  • Glide to Note turns on or off the module's response to the Seaboard's Glide.
  • POLY ROTATE / POLY LOWEST / MONO controls how the Seaboard's voices are assigned to the module's voices.
    • POLY ROTATE selects cyclic voice allocation; a new voice is assigned round-robin style with each MIDI note received from the RISE.
    • POLY LOWEST means that when only one note is triggered, it will be assigned to the lowest channel (channel 1). If this note is held while a second note is added, the second note will be assigned to voice two, and so on.
    • MONO means that only channel 1 is triggered by the RISE.

The CV outputs are assigned as follows:

  • CV 1: Left Touch Fader
  • CV 2: Center Touch Fader
  • CV 3: Right Touch Fader
  • PEDAL: Sustain Pedal (MIDI CC64)
  • X: XY Touchpad's X axis
  • Y: XY Touchpad's Y axis
  • NOTE: Pitch
  • GATE: On or Off depending on whether a note on this channel is currently being played
  • Strike, Press, Glide, Slide, and Lift correspond directly to each of the RISE's five dimensions of touch


You can assign these sources to modulate the parameters of your choice in your preset and start making music with the Seaboard and Modular.


For more information

For more information, please see the Softube Plug-Ins Manual.