Pairing by MIDI-over-Bluetooth allows you to play your ROLI instrument wirelessly and is different from normal Bluetooth pairing.


Have you followed the special instructions for pairing your ROLI device by MIDI-over-Bluetooth? If so, please continue below.

Check my device's compatibility


MIDI-over-Bluetooth is not supported by all Bluetooth devices

Mac desktop and laptops
✔
Mac OSX 10.12 or higher with a Bluetooth LE chip
Windows desktop and laptops
✗
Windows doesn't yet support MIDI-over-Bluetooth sufficiently for ROLI instruments.
iOS devices
✔
iOS 8 or higher. See detailed minimum requirements here.
Android devices
✔
Pixel devices only. See more on Android support here.


What about Windows support for MIDI-over-Bluetooth?

Although Windows has recently introduced some support for MIDI-over-Bluetooth, it is not yet adequate for use with the RISE or BLOCKS. We hope to see MIDI-over-Bluetooth functionality for Windows in the future, and in the meantime we recommend connecting via USB.


What is Bluetooth LE and does my device have it?

Bluetooth LE is a modern Bluetooth chip and is required for any device to pair by MIDI-over-Bluetooth. Many modern phones are equipped with this chip, as are most iPads and iPod touches which are able to run iOS 8.


If your device does not have a Bluetooth LE chip, it will not be possible to connect by MIDI-over-Bluetooth.


How to check if a Mac computer has Bluetooth LE

  1. Click  ➝ About This Mac from the top-left of your screen.
  2. Select More Info > System Report (for older Mac's, just select System Report)
  3. Under Hardware in the list on the left, select Bluetooth, then look for LMP Version in the new pane that is displayed on the right.
  4. If the number to the right of LMP Version is 0x6 or higher, your device has a Bluetooth LE chip, so can be connected by MIDI-over-Bluetooth.



Connection sometimes drops out

Check the following tips to improve your Bluetooth connection’s reliability:

  • Interference from nearby large bodies of water, such as fish-tanks
  • Interference from multiple nearby Wifi networks
  • Distance between your ROLI product and Bluetooth device. The optimum distance is approximately 10m (see Bluetooth Core Specification)
  • Other Bluetooth devices nearby
  • Connecting the devices in a different area. It’s quite common to find a Bluetooth connection that is reliable in one room, but not another.



Connection doesn't start

If a connection cannot start on a compatible device, it often helps to restart the Bluetooth chip in your device.


macOS - Reset Bluetooth

  1. Open System Preferences
  2. Click the Bluetooth icon
  3. On the left, click the button to switch Bluetooth off
  4. After a few seconds, switch it back on again

iOS - Reset Bluetooth

Go to your device Settings, then tap Bluetooth. Switch the Bluetooth off, wait a few seconds and switch it on again.

It can also help to restart the device completely.


Pixel - Reset Bluetooth

In Settings, go to Connected Devices. Switch the Bluetooth off for a few seconds before switching back on.



Bluetooth Latency

First, make sure that you're not using Bluetooth headphones or Bluetooth speakers, as these introduce latency.

The most likely cause of noticeable latency on a desktop computer is the audio buffer.

  • While using ROLI software in standalone mode, you can change the buffer size in Audio & MIDI settings. Open Settings then go to Audio/MIDI settings. Select a lower value next to Audio Buffer Size.
  • While using ROLI software as a plug-in, the buffer size is controlled by the DAW hosting the plug-in. Adjust the buffer size in your DAW's Audio Preferences/Settings.