Latest version: ROLI Studio Player v1.3.0




ROLI Studio Player is the amazing new way to access all ROLI sounds and effects, all in one place, and make great music with them.


Our cutting-edge sound engines Equator, Strobe2, Cypher2 and Equator2 are for the first time unified in one program that easily works with your DAW. And not only that. ROLI Studio Player introduces fun new features that help you compose and perform faster. Smart Chords helps you create complex chord progressions just by holding down a note, and the Multi-Layered Arpeggiator lets you create rhythmic patterns in seconds.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction


ROLI Studio Player combines the three previous Player engines into a single interface:

  • Equator

  • Strobe2

  • Cypher2

  • Equator2


A number of modulation sources now feature in ROLI Studio Player too, which help to bring sounds to life:


  • Macro/XY control

  • Smart Chords

  • Multi-Layered Arpeggiator

  • Audio Effects


Authorisation of ROLI Studio Player is handled by ROLI Connect. ROLI Studio Player can run as a standalone application or as a VST or AU (Mac only) plug-in in a host DAW environment.



Browser


'Explore' view


Sounds from all engines can be selected, filtered and added to a Favourites list in ROLI Studio Player using the browser.



All presets in ROLI Studio Player can be filtered by:


  • Engine
  • Source
  • Instrument
  • Soundpack
  • Library


Each preset will also display its own Engine's logo above the preset cycling menu in the Synth module (see Macros below).



'Play' view


In the ‘Play’ view (accessed using the 'Play' button above the preset list), a minimal version of the browser displays presets from the current filter selection. Filters can be viewed by clicking 'Filter', then cleared by clicking 'Clear Filters' at the bottom of the filter window or 'Clear All Filters' above it.


Further filters can be chosen from this menu and presets can be ‘favourited’ by clicking the heart icon in the preset list for the corresponding preset. The favourites list can then be accessed by clicking the heart icon next to the search bar.




Macros


The Synth module of ROLI Studio Player contains an instance of either the Equator, Cypher2, Strobe2 or Equator2 engine, along with the five macro controls (1, 2, 3, X & Y). When a preset is selected, each of the macro controls will be labelled to describe the way it affects the sound.



The audio engine is enabled by default, but can be disabled from the Advanced Settings menu (plugin version only). This allows the Smart Chords and Arpeggiator to output MIDI data from ROLI Studio Player to trigger other instruments, so long as ROLI Studio Player is running as a VST in a DAW that supports MIDI out from plugins.


For a full guide to this, please see Using ROLI Studio Player to control other plugins.


The five macro controls will be automatically mapped to a connected Seaboard RISE or Songmaker Kit. The Lightpad Block running the ‘RISE Controller’ script can also be used.



Smart Chords


The Smart Chords module generates a specific chord shape when a single note is triggered. This chord shape is then modulated according to a set scale.





Key/Scale

The key and scale can be determined at the top of the module (default is C minor), and every note triggered will automatically shift the harmony of the chord, to ensure it is bound within the key/scale. This makes it possible to easily create quick, fun and in-key chord progressions without any prior knowledge of music theory.


Add Bass

In addition to the chord, a bass note an octave below the root can be added to each chord.


Faders

Each chord of the scale can be set using the faders, ranging from simple major 3rd/minor 3rd triads through to more unusual jazz intervals such as 11th.


Auto Invert

Chord voicings are inverted to sound more natural in relation to the previous chord voicing.


Strum

The ability to automatically strum through the notes of a chord is also possible using the dedicated horizontal fader, where an up or down strum of varying speed can be achieved by increasing the distance from the centre.


MIDI output from ROLI Studio Player as a VST can be affected by Smart Chords. See Using ROLI Studio Player to control other plugins.



Multi-Layered Arpeggiator


The Arpeggiator features three independent, fully-controllable layers for achieving complex polyrhythms. A selection of presets are also included.





Conventional controls of the Arpeggiator are present, such as number of hits, their position, the rate and the octave range. The display in the centre will update with any changes made to these parameters. A number of presets are also provided.


To hear the effect of the Arpeggiator once it’s been activated (by clicking the on/off icon in the top-left of the module), simply trigger and hold down one or more notes.


Layers

There are three layers to the Arpeggiator. By default, only the first layer is enabled. To activate the second and third layer, ensure that the Hits value is greater than 0.


Hits

An Arpeggiator pattern is determined by the number of “hits”, i.e. notes that are triggered in the pattern. Increasing the number of hits from 0 will increase the frequency of notes triggered by the Arpeggiator.


Offset

This parameter affects the start point of the hits in the Arpeggiator pattern. Changing the offset can lead to creative and syncopated patterns, especially when combined with multiple layers.


Rate

The speed at which the pattern is played is determined by the Rate, which is synchronised to ROLI Studio Player’s internal tempo (either as dictated by ROLI Studio Player itself, or when locked to a host DAW tempo as a plugin). The rate will always be a division or multiple of the tempo (e.g. 1/32).


Octave

By default, if a single note or multiple notes are held, the arpeggiator pattern will only cycle around that specific note/s. If the Octave range is increased, the pitch of the note/s will move up and down octaves at various points in the pattern, depending on how the previous parameters affect the pattern.


Straight/Dotted/Triplet

The timing of the arpeggiator pattern can be shifted to a dotted or triplet timing, which when combined with other timings using the other two layers of the arpeggiator, can achieve some very unique results.


Pattern Type

The Pattern Type parameter, next to the Straight/Dotted/Triplet parameter, allows you to dictate the ordering of the notes in the Arpeggiator pattern.


Hold

Once this is enabled, triggering notes will cause them to continuously cycle through the Arpeggiator pattern, even once the notes themselves are no longer being triggered. To stop the notes, simply click the Hold button again to disable the feature.


MIDI output from ROLI Studio Player as a VST can be affected by the Multi-Layered Arpeggiator. See Using ROLI Studio Player to control other plugins.



Audio Effects


The Audio Effects module features four effects slots with corresponding XY pads that host a variety of effects types. To apply an effect to the preset, click and drag around the corresponding XY pad whilst playing notes, to hear it affect the sound.





A number of audio effects presets are included; from delay, distortion and reverb to filters and pitch modulation, with more to arrive in the future. These effects can be applied to any preset in ROLI Studio Player.


Multi/Single

With the default Multi view, all four XY pads are accessible at once. Alternatively, the XY pad for each effect can be displayed independently using the Single tab. 


Hold

The option to Hold each effect, so that the effect is enabled indefinitely, is also available for either Multi or Single view. If Hold is not enabled, the effect is only applied when interacting with the XY pad.


ROLI BLOCKS integrations

The ROLI BLOCKS range integrates seamlessly with ROLI Studio Player. For example, use the Lightpad Block as an XY effects pad or dial in Smart Chords, and use the Live Block to trigger an arpeggiator or add your favourite sounds to the favourites list!


Check out Using Blocks with ROLI Studio Player for the full feature set.



Audio & MIDI settings


When using ROLI Studio Player as a standalone application, Audio & MIDI settings can be accessed in the top-right corner of the window, allowing you to select your desired audio device and MIDI input.



Note Configuration 


Further MIDI settings can be adjusted using the Note Configuration menu. Click the eighth-note icon in the bottom right corner to open the menu.






Troubleshooting/FAQ


What is the minimum operating system requirement for ROLI Studio Player?


ROLI Studio Player requires Windows 10 or macOS 10.13+ to launch successfully. Unfortunately, it is not supported in earlier operating system versions.


Does ROLI Studio Player and Drums work with the M1 chip in my Mac?


ROLI Studio v.1.3.0 and above now features Apple M1 native support.


How can I find out more about each parameter in ROLI Studio Player?    


Tooltips are provided for every parameter/feature in ROLI Studio Player. Simply mouse-over the area, and information will be displayed in the bottom-right corner of the window.


Can I assign my ROLI hardware to each module within ROLI Studio Player?


Yes! Take a look at this support article for more information on hardware integration.


How can I tell if ROLI Studio Player is seeing my hardware?


If you’re running ROLI Studio Player as a standalone application, click the small nut symbol in the top-right corner of the window, where you can access Audio & MIDI settings. ROLI Studio Player should select and enable any ROLI hardware automatically if “Auto Connect to ROLI Hardware” is enabled. If not, please try disconnecting the hardware, quitting ROLI Studio Player, re-connecting the hardware and then opening ROLI Studio Player again.


I can hear a stuck note! How do I disable it?


Stuck notes can be cancelled using the icon at the bottom-left of the window next to the Seaboard visualiser.


How much disk space does ROLI Studio Player need?

    

The unpackaged application and content require ~1.1 GB of disk space.


How many presets are included?


ROLI Studio Player currently ships with 16 individual soundpacks, but we'll be introducing more content in the future.


I've downloaded the Equator2 Factory and Equator Legacy libraries but I don't see them in ROLI Studio Player.


The Equator2 Factory and Equator Legacy Libraries contain important samples from the respective synths to enable all presets to work correctly in ROLI Studio Player, but they do not contain specific presets.


It is important that these samples are installed before launching ROLI Studio Player to ensure that all presets recall successfully but you won't see any new presets in the browser.


The Equator2 Library contains all of the factory sample instruments, granular instruments and wavetable files that the Equator2 presets use.


The Equator1 Legacy Library contains a curated selection of the sample instruments that were part of the original Equator release, as well as some extra sample instruments from our vaults.


If you own Equator2 and have already installed these libraries as part of the Equator2 installation, you do not need to install them again.


Can I use my own sounds in ROLI Studio Player?

    

ROLI Studio Player supports user-created presets, which can be found in the User filter in the browser.


Can I use ROLI Studio Player on an offline machine?


ROLI Connect must be running for ROLI Studio Player to launch and authorise successfully.