ROLI Airwave - User Manual


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction


You’re about to discover a new way to play, learn, and create music. 

Welcome to ROLI Airwave — a revolutionary motion-sensing device that puts your hands at the heart of the music-making experience. Whether you’re just starting your musical journey or expanding your creative workflow, Airwave opens up entirely new possibilities.

Learning piano? Airwave pairs with the ROLI Learn app to give you instant, intuitive feedback on posture, finger position, rhythm, and more, helping you build good habits from day one. 

Creating your own music? Airwave becomes a powerful, expressive controller, letting you shape sound in the air in real time with natural hand gestures for synths, effects, and DAWs. 

One device. Endless ways to learn, play, and perform.

In this manual, you’ll learn how to set up your Airwave, connect it to the tools you love, and start exploring its features — whether you’re here to play your first notes or push the boundaries of your sound.

Happy exploring,

Team ROLI

Getting started

Unboxing

Unbox your Airwave carefully. Check the contents to make sure that nothing is lost or damaged. We recommend saving all packing materials, just in case.


Inside the box

  1. Airwave

  2. Airwave Player

  3. 1x USB-C to USB-C cable (45cm)

  4. 1x USB-C to USB-C cable (1m)

  5. 1x USB-C to USB-C cable (2m)

  6. 65W Power block (multi-region)

  7. Pedal dongle - 3.5mm TRS Male to 6.35mm TRS Female

  8. 2 x USB-C Magnetic adapter

  9. Quick Start Guide

  10. Two-Year Full Warranty document

If you’re here to learn piano:

  1. Connect your Airwave to power.

  2. Connect your Airwave to your tablet.

  3. Create an account from the ROLI start page.

  4. Download the ROLI Learn app from the App or Play Store and sign in.

  5. Connect your keyboard by following the instructions on screen.

  6. Tune up your Airwave by following the instructions on screen.

  7. Start playing!

If you’re here to make your own music:

  1. Download ROLI Connect from the ROLI start page. 

  2. Register Airwave using the barcode icon in the top-right corner of ROLI Connect or by logging into your account on the ROLI website. 

  3. Download ROLI Airwave Control from the Apps tab in ROLI Connect.

  4. Download ROLI Airwave Player from the Apps tab in ROLI Connect.

  5. Open ROLI Airwave Player and follow the Getting Started instructions on screen to complete the setup.

  6. Make music!

Looking after your Airwave

The top section of your Airwave houses infrared cameras to support its hand-tracking technology. Avoid touching or scratching the black plastic camera cover. Smudges, dust, dirt or scratches can degrade Airwave’s performance. 

If your camera cover requires cleaning, use the cleaning cloth included with your Airwave. Alternatively, you can use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or 75% ethyl alcohol wipe. Do not use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. 

Only ever apply light pressure when cleaning. The cloth should always be clean when used — to ensure this, wash it between uses. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge your Airwave in any cleaning agents. Never use glass cleaner or other chemical cleaners.

When handling your Airwave, make sure you grasp it from the sides or base — never the top. When transporting, please use the packaging provided. Following these steps will help to protect your Airwave and maintain optimal hand-tracking performance.

Scratching the camera cover could void your product warranty.

The Front Ports are designed exclusively for use with the ROLI products listed in the ‘Connections’ section of this manual. To connect a ROLI product, you must use one of the included USB-C magnetic adapters in the respective port, depending on the specific device (see ‘Connections’ section on pages 20-21).

Only use ROLI USB-C magnetic adapters included with your Airwave. Incorrect use of the port may trigger a safety shutdown to protect your Airwave. If this occurs, first remove power and then disconnect any objects from the Front Ports, then power the device back on.

If you lose or damage your USB-C magnetic adapters you can purchase replacement adapters here: https://roli.com/us/product/airwave-usb-c-mag-adaptor

The included power cable is rated for 60W. If using other cables you must ensure this specification is met to ensure correct operation. If a lower capacity power supply is used then charging of attached hosts and peripherals will be limited. If no power supply is used then the device will draw power from the host and not charge peripherals.





Learn piano with Airwave

Using Airwave with the ROLI Learn app can help you develop better habits and progress further with personalized practice tips and real-time feedback on your technique. To get started with the lessons, games, exercises, and 1,200+ songs included with your ROLI Learn subscription, follow these steps:

  1. Create an account on the ROLI start page.

  2. Buy or activate a subscription for the ROLI Learn app. A subscription is required to access content and features on the ROLI Learn app.

  3. Download the app and sign in

  4. Follow the steps to set up your Airwave and ROLI keyboard with the app

  5. Tune up your Airwave

  6. Start playing your favourite songs

On iPadOS make sure to follow these steps to activate the camera driver:

Activate camera driver
The app will prompt you to turn on the camera driver in the settings app. Please go to your iPad’s settings app, search for the ROLI Learn app, and toggle this driver on. 

This allows your iPad to communicate with Airwave, and the app to track your hands.

Unplug Airwave from your iPad, then re-connect it
Once you’ve returned to the app, you may need to unplug the Airwave from the iPad and re-connect it for your iPad to recognize Airwave.

You will then be able to tune up your Airwave as per the fifth step.

Minimum device requirements

Learning with Airwave requires ROLI Piano or Piano M and the ROLI Learn app. Supported tablets for this setup include:

  • iPad Air (5th Gen) or newer

  • iPad Pro (5th Gen) or newer

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 or newer

Our compatibility testing is focused primarily on recent tablet models from Samsung and Apple (with an Apple M1 or later processor).

Note: Airwave is not supported for use with mobile phones.

Minimum operating system requirements

The ROLI Learn app used with ROLI Airwave is supported on the following versions of both iPadOS and Android™:

  • iPadOS 17+

  • Android 11+

The ROLI Learn app may still work on older operating systems, but we can't guarantee full compatibility as we prioritize testing on the operating system versions listed above.

To download the ROLI Learn app, search for it on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Setting up your Airwave

In order to get the most out of your Airwave, follow these tips when setting up:

  • Avoid strong natural light

  • Remove any watches or wrist coverings

  • Avoid any clutter around your keyboard or Airwave

Tuning up your Airwave

In order to get the most out of your Airwave, make sure to tune it up by following the steps in the ROLI Learn app. This makes sure your Airwave can accurately track your hands, and can improve the precision of the real-time feedback that it gives you.

To tune up your Airwave, follow the steps during the app onboarding when signing into a new account.

Learning with Airwave

Using the Airwave with the ROLI Learn app doesn’t just help you learn which notes to play, it helps you learn how to play them. Choose one of the 1,200+ included songs and try using these features to learn good habits from the start:

Learn Mode

This mode can be found on the Song page of “400+ First Steps and Beginner Songs”.

Choose a song and play along one note at a time, matching the color of the finger to the color of the key. Learning the correct finger to use makes it easier to play faster and more accurately when you add rhythm later on.

Guided Practice Mode

This is the default practice mode, and can be found on all songs within the ROLI Learn app. In Guided Practice Mode, you’ll be guided through incremental changes in speed.

On slower speeds, within the app’s default Cascade View, virtual strings on your tablet’s display guide you. They show your hands the way to the correct part of the keyboard and guide your fingers to the correct notes as you play.

In between each practice, the app uses information from Airwave and your keyboard to give you specific, personalized feedback.

Posture Score

Playing for extended periods of time with incorrect hand and wrist posture can lead to bad playing habits and even injuries. The app uses Airwave to score you based on your wrist and hand posture as you practice.

Position Score

Learning finger positions may seem tricky in the beginning, but following the guidance for each note makes subsequent notes easier to play. Mastering this skill early will make the rest of your learning journey both easier and more enjoyable. The app uses Airwave to score you according to how often you use the recommended fingers to play each note as you practice.

Create music with Airwave

ROLI Airwave Player

Airwave comes with ROLI Airwave Player, an inspiring instrument compatible with most DAWs and packed with expressive sounds and stunning 3D visuals that react to your movements. Each preset has been carefully crafted by our team of expert sound designers and calibrated to respond intuitively to each Dimension of Air.

How to install ROLI Airwave Player (applies to VST3, AU, and standalone app versions):

  1. Download ROLI Connect from the ROLI start page. 

  2. Sign in to ROLI Connect using an existing ROLI account, or by creating a new one.

  3. Register Airwave using the barcode icon in the top-right corner of ROLI Connect.

  4. Download ROLI Airwave Control from the Apps tab in ROLI Connect.

  5. Download ROLI Airwave Player from the Apps tab in ROLI Connect.

  6. Open ROLI Airwave Player and follow the Getting Started instructions on screen to complete the setup.

The Getting Started instructions can be re-accessed at any time from the menu button in the top-right corner.

Getting Started in ROLI Airwave Player:

macOS:

  1. Activate the camera driver
    Install and open ROLI Airwave Control from ROLI Connect, then follow the on-screen instructions to activate Airwave. If Airwave was connected to your computer prior to activation, Airwave must be unplugged and plugged back in.

    See below for further information on this process. 

  2. Connect to a computer
    Connect Airwave directly to your computer using the 1m USB-C cable provided.

    If you need to use a USB hub, ensure it’s a mains-powered USB 3.0+ hub and keep any cables under 6’ / 2m.

  3. Connect a keyboard
    If your ROLI keyboard has a USB port on the back, snap it to the front of Airwave using the included magnetic adapter.

    Alternatively, connect your keyboard directly to the computer using USB or Bluetooth.

  4. Connect power
    When connecting compatible ROLI keyboards to the front ports, connect Airwave to power with the included 2m 65W USB-C power supply.

  5. DAW setup
    Air Dimensions are sent via a dedicated MIDI device called ROLI Airwave Expression. Ensure the ROLI Airwave Player track receives MIDI from both your keyboard and Airwave Expression. Most DAWs do this by default.

    To play back recorded MIDI in a DAW, unarm the MIDI track to prevent live Airwave Expression data from overriding the recorded MIDI.

  6. Playing Airwave
    Use a pedal to sustain notes and control how they sound by moving your hands in the air above the keyboard.

If you don’t have a sustain pedal, play notes with one hand and control the Dimensions of Air with the other, or enable Hold.

Windows:

  1. Connect Airwave to your computer
    Connect Airwave directly to your computer using the 1m USB-C cable provided.

    If you need to use a USB hub, ensure it’s a mains-powered USB 3.0+ hub and keep any cables under 6’ / 2m.

  2. Connect a keyboard
    If your ROLI keyboard has a USB port on the back, snap it to the front of Airwave using the included magnetic adapter.

    Alternatively, connect your keyboard directly to the computer using USB or Bluetooth.

  3. Connect power
    When connecting compatible ROLI keyboards to the front ports, connect Airwave to power with the included 2m 65W USB-C power supply.

  4. DAW setup (part 1)
    Air Dimensions are sent via a dedicated MIDI device called ROLI Airwave Expression.

    You must virtually connect ROLI Airwave Expression to your DAW. We recommend a free utility called loopMIDI. Click “+” in loopMIDI to create a new port called ROLI Airwave Expression.

  5. DAW setup (part 2)
    Ensure the ROLI Airwave Player track receives MIDI from both your keyboard and Airwave Expression. Most DAWs do this by default.

    To play back recorded MIDI in a DAW, unarm the MIDI track to prevent live Airwave Expression data from overriding the recorded MIDI.

  6. Playing Airwave
    Use a pedal to sustain notes and control how they sound by moving your hands in the air above the keyboard.

If you don’t have a sustain pedal, play notes with one hand and control the Dimensions of Air with the other, or enable Hold.

Activating the camera driver (required for macOS only):

  1. Open ROLI Airwave Control

  2. The first time you open ROLI Airwave Control you will be prompted to enable the macOS system extension required to use Airwave

  3. If you don’t enable the system extension in this initial prompt you can do it manually through your Mac’s System Settings:

    1. macOS 26: Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Click (i) for ROLI Airwave Control Extensions > Enable Driver Extension

    2. macOS 15: Open System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Click (i) for Driver Extensions > Enable UltraleapUVCDriver

    3. macOS 14 and older: Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow System software from developer ‘Luminary ROLI Ltd’.

  4. To complete activation, follow any remaining instructions presented in ROLI Airwave Control

For the most up-to-date instructions visit the ROLI website.

ROLI Airwave Control includes:

  • Drivers required for Airwave to work

  • A background process that translates data from Airwave’s infrared camera into MIDI CCs for Air Dimension control.

When downloading and installing ROLI Airwave Player, be sure to download and install the ROLI Airwave Player factory library sub-package too.

ROLI Airwave Player can run without requiring ROLI Connect to be running for up to four weeks before needing to "phone home" again. Should this occur, you'll be prompted to launch ROLI Connect again.

What are the Dimensions of Air?

Dimension name

How to use

How is it calculated?

Air Raise

Hand movement up

Absolute wrist height above the keyboard surface

Air Tilt

Hand rotation around the wrist

Absolute wrist position left or right

Air Glide

Hand movement left or right

Absolute wrist position forwards or backwards

Air Slide

Hand movement forwards or backwards

Absolute hand angle relative to the keyboard surface

Air Flex

Hand angle downwards

Absolute hand angle downwards

Air Grasp

Make a fist

A flat hand is 0% and a fist is 100%

You can adjust the range of motion for each Dimension of Air in Airwave Player’s Preferences, accessible via the menu in the top-right corner.

Further notes on how values are calculated for each dimension of air:

  • Air Dimensions are only calculated for hands that are above the keyboard.

  • For most Air Dimensions, each hand is calculated separately and the larger of the two values is used.

  • The exception is Air Grasp, which is commonly used to mute a sound. For this Dimension, the left hand value is added to the right hand value, i.e. grasp both hands to reach 100%.

  • Air Glide and Air Slide measures wrist position from the point the wrist moves upwards through the Air Dimension bottom boundary plane, the point in the air above your keyboard that Airwave begins tracking from.

  • Each Air Dimension resets to 0% if tracking is lost and no notes are held.

  • Wrist position is measured using the center of the wrist.

  • Airwave ignores finger position. It’s the position of your hand, as defined by the “plane” created by your metacarpals that matters.

Macros

Use the macro controls to easily tweak or transform the selected preset in real-time.


Hold

Use Hold to perform Air gestures without a sustain pedal.

This works just like the ‘hold’ function in many arpeggiators: when turned on, the notes keep playing even after you release the keys. They’ll continue until you play new notes or turn off Hold.


Recording Air Dimensions in a DAW

Air Dimensions are sent to your DAW via a dedicated MIDI device named ROLI Airwave Expression, separate to the notes played by a MIDI keyboard.

Note: it is possible to record Air Dimensions without a MIDI keyboard

To record in a DAW, set a MIDI track to receive MIDI input from all inputs to ensure MIDI from both the keyboard Airwave Expression is recorded.

In Ableton Live for example, set MIDI From to be “All Ins” (i.e. all inputs)

In Logic Pro, set MIDI Input to “All”

Since ROLI Airwave Expression sends continuous MIDI data in real-time, you’ll need to unarm the MIDI track after recording. Otherwise, live Air Expression data will override the recorded data.

Additionally, when manually mapping CCs using MIDI Learn Mode in ROLI Airwave Control, you will need to mute the Air Dimensions in during playback. Otherwise, live Air Expression data overwrites the recorded data.

Each hand is sent separately on the following CC numbers:

  • CC21 — Air Grasp

  • CC22 — Air Slide Left

  • CC23 — Air Slide Right

  • CC24 — Air Glide Left

  • CC25 — Air Glide Right

  • CC26 — Air Raise Left

  • CC27 — Air Raise Right

  • CC28 — Air Tilt Left

  • CC29 — Air Tilt Right

  • CC30 — Air Flex Left

  • CC31 — Air Flex Right

ROLI Airwave Control

Airwave Control provides:

  1. Drivers required for Airwave’s infrared camera

  2. A background process that translates data from Airwave’s infrared camera into MIDI CCs for Air Dimension control

  3. MIDI mapping functionality, to assign Air Dimensions to 3rd-party software

How to use MIDI Learn

By default, hands will be tracked automatically, i.e. only when ROLI Airwave Player is open. To assign Air Dimensions to DAW and plug-in parameters without requiring Airwave Player to be open, change the Tracking Mode in ROLI Airwave Control to “Always on”.


To MIDI map in a DAW, we must send Air Dimensions in isolation. In Airwave Control, we disable Air Dimensions by clicking MIDI Learn mode. Then, in step three below, we briefly send just the clicked dimension.


Steps:

  1. In Airwave Control, enable MIDI Learn mode

  2. In your DAW, enter MIDI mapping mode

  3. In Airwave Control, click the Air Dimension that you want to assign

  4. In your DAW, exit MIDI mapping mode

  5. In Airwave Control, exit MIDI Learn mode



During playback you will need to disable the Air Dimensions in ROLI Airwave Control using the Air Dimensions power button. Otherwise, live Air Expression data overwrites the recorded data.

Alternatively, unarm the track so it does not receive any more MIDI information from the Airwave.

Windows setup notes

In 2026, multi-client MIDI support will be added to Windows. If you’re using a version of Windows without multi-client MIDI support, you will need to virtually connect ROLI Airwave Expression to your DAW.

We recommend using a free utility called loopMIDI.

Download loopMIDI here: https://www.tobias-erichsen.de/software/loopmidi.html

How to set up loopMIDI:

  1. In loopMIDI, click “+” to create a new port called “ROLI Airwave Expression”

  2. Once added, the correct loopMIDI configuration looks like this

Windows users might see the following warning. This is unrelated to loopMIDI, and the functionality of Airwave will not be affected.

DAW setup notes

Ableton Live

Enabling MPE:

  1. Enable MPE Mode on the ROLI Airwave Player device by right-clicking the device’s top bar.

MIDI CC Mapping:

  1. Ensure “Remote” is enabled for the ROLI Airwave Expression MIDI Input Port, in Ableton Live’s preferences.

Editing Air expression data recorded in a MIDI clip:

  1. Go to the “Envelopes” tab in clip view (top middle of the MIDI Note Editor or piano roll).

  2. In the bottom-left corner, select the CC number corresponding to the Air Dimension you want to edit. CC numbers are listed in a previous section.

Logic Pro

Editing Air expression data recorded in a MIDI clip:

  1. “Show/Hide Automation” in the Piano Roll.

  2. Select the CC number corresponding to the Air Dimension you want to edit. CC numbers are listed above under “Recording Air Dimensions in a DAW”.

MIDI CC mapping:

  1. Close ROLI Airwave Player and disconnect any connected ROLI MIDI controllers, or disable them under Logic’s Settings > MIDI > Input  (both will send SysEx messages which will interfere with the MIDI Learn process). 

  2. In the same menu, ensure that ROLI Airwave Expression is still selected as a MIDI input.

  3. Open ROLI Airwave Control and enable MIDI Learn Mode.

    1. It’s helpful to enable ‘Keep on top’ at this stage.

  4. Click the parameter in Logic you want to map and press cmd-L

  5. In ROLI Airwave Control, click the CC you want to map to Logic.

  6. In Logic, disable MIDI Learn. 

  7. Then in ROLI Airwave Control, also disable MIDI Learn.

    1. Doing this in the wrong order can cause errant MIDI CCs to be mapped from hand movements.

  8. Under Value in MIDI Learn settings, Ensure Format = Unsigned and Mode = Scaled.


9. The Air Dimension is now mapped to the parameter and can be controller via the Airwave. When you’re done mapping, you can also now reconnect your ROLI MIDI controller.

Cubase

Enabling MPE:

  1. After inserting ROLI Airwave Player as a new Instrument Track, under Routing in the Inspector for this track, change the Output Group and Channel from “Channel 1” to “Any”.

FL Studio

FL Studio does not support MPE; to enable pitchbend and aftertouch when using a ROLI keyboard:

  1. In ROLI Dashboard set MIDI Mode to “Single Channel”.

General setup:

  1. In Options > MIDI settings,

    1. Ensure ROLI Airwave Expression and the keyboard are “enabled”.

    2. Set the same port number for ROLI Airwave Expression and the keyboard.

  2. Set the same port number in ROLI Airwave Player’s MIDI Input port in the detailed plug-in options (the cog icon in the top-left corner of the plug-in window).

Recording Airwave expression:

  1. In the Browser, open Project > Generators > ROLI Airwave Player

  2. Right-click MIDI CC 21 > Link to controller.

  3. Select the port set in step 1, set Channel to “1”, set Ctrl to “21”, and select Omni (so other instances of the plug-in are mapped too).

  4. Repeat for CC’s 22-31.

  5. To use these mappings in other projects, delete the plug-in and save the project as a template. As long as ‘Omni’ was chosen during mapping, any new instance of ROLI Airwave Player will use the previously set mappings.

Reaper

General setup:

  1. In Preferences > MIDI Inputs, ensure ROLI Airwave Expression and the keyboard are enabled and included in “All MIDI Inputs” (right-click “Enable input for track record input” and “Include input in ‘All MIDI Inputs’”).

Editing Air expression data recorded in a MIDI clip:

  1. Double-click the recorded MIDI clip to open the MIDI note editor.

  2. Using the dropdown menu in the bottom-left corner, select the CC number corresponding to the Air Dimension you want to edit. CC numbers are listed under “Recording Air Dimensions in a DAW” above.

Updating Airwave’s firmware

When you use Airwave with ROLI Dashboard, the application automatically checks the firmware running on the device. If a later version is available, you will be prompted to update. This is optional, but it’s advisable to update to receive new features and fix bugs. While using the ROLI Learn app, firmware updates automatically happen in the background.

Troubleshooting

Why isn’t my keyboard connecting to the front Airwave ports?

If your keyboard isn’t connecting to the front Airwave ports, it’s likely due to insufficient power being supplied through the USB-C connection. While most host computers provide adequate power for Airwave’s infrared camera, headphone port, and pedal port, connecting ROLI keyboards directly to the Airwave’s front ports always requires additional power. Please ensure you’re using the included 65W USB-C power supply to provide the necessary power for your keyboard to function correctly.

Note: ROLI Piano’s power supply looks similar, but isn’t compatible with Airwave. If you forget which is which, check the underside of the power supply: Airwave’s will say “65W”, and ROLI Piano’s will say “30W”.

Why won't Airwave connect to my Windows PC

Some computers may experience difficulties connecting to Airwave via USB-C.

If you encounter this issue, we recommend the following steps:


  1. Use the included power supply (PSU) to power Airwave.


  1. Connect the USB-C cable for data only, not for power.


If the problem persists, try connecting Airwave to your computer using a USB-C to USB-A cable instead.


Why aren’t my hands being tracked correctly?

If your hands aren’t being tracked correctly by Airwave, try the following:

  1. Recalibrate Airwave using ROLI Airwave Player.

  2. Make sure Airwave is centrally aligned to your keyboard and within 70cm of your hands.

  3. Remove or reposition objects like keyboards, mice, wallets, and drinks on your desk.

  4. Remove or reposition any additional keyboards, pianos, or MIDI controllers near Airwave.

  5. Remove or adjust the angle of any nearby reflective surfaces, such as laptop screens or computer monitors.

  6. Try reducing bright lighting or strong shadows by drawing curtains.

  7. Try different clothing: on rare occasions the color of hands can blend in the color of clothing, when viewed through Airwave’s infrared camera..

  8. Avoid overlapping your hands, as viewed from the perspective of Airwave’s infrared camera.

  9. Try showing Airwave both hands — if only one hand is visible, Airwave may mistakenly track an object on your desk as the second hand.

  10. Try expressing Air Dimensions closer to the center of the keyboard.

  11. If a virtual hand is ‘stuck’, hover over it with the matching hand.

  12. If Airwave can’t find a hand, try slowly waving your hand around slightly above the keyboard surface, and then press a key in the center of the keyboard with spread fingers.

  13. For non-ROLI keyboards, try raising Airwave to the height of the keyboard surface (this also provides more air space for gestures). You can also move Airwave’s base closer or further away from the keyboard.

Why don’t I hear any sound from the headphone port?

  • Ensure that the audio output on your computer or tablet is set to “Airwave Audio”.

  • Ensure the volume is turned up on your host devices (computer or tablet).

  • Ensure the headphones are securely connected to the headphone port.

Why isn’t my pedal working correctly?

In ROLI Dashboard, check that Pedal Type and Pedal Model are set correctly.

For “Pedal Model”, "Default" works with a large number of popular models. If your pedal isn’t listed, a similar one may work.

If your pedal behaves in reverse (e.g. sustain is active when the pedal is not pressed), check whether your pedal has a polarity switch (often found on the underside) and toggle it. If your pedal doesn’t have a switch, try reconnecting the pedal while your ROLI hardware is powered on, as polarity is sometimes set at startup.


Why isn’t calibration in ROLI Airwave Player working?

  • Ensure the Pitch Transpose parameter in ROLI Dashboard is set to 0

Why is Air Dimension visual feedback jumpy/glitchy?

  • In ROLI Dashboard, ensure the keyboard isn’t in single-channel mode, or configured with a very small number of MIDI channels

Why doesn’t ROLI Dashboard recognise Airwave?

Make sure that ROLI Connect is updated to version 1.5.0 or later. To check which version you currently have, click the three dots in the top-right corner of ROLI Connect and select About.

ROLI Connect normally updates itself automatically. However, if you are on Windows and you are stuck at version 1.2.2, the auto-update may not work. In this case, please download the latest version directly from the ROLI start page.

Why is my Mac getting hot when it’s asleep?

Even when your Mac is asleep, some background processes can continue running, especially if certain peripherals are active. Airwave continuously tracks hand movement when tracking is enabled, which can engage your Mac’s CPU and contribute to heat buildup. This is particularly noticeable if other apps or background processes are also active, pushing your Mac toward its thermal limits.


To check if hand tracking is running, open Airwave Control. By default, tracking is set to “On Demand”, meaning it only runs when ROLI Airwave Player is open. You can change this behaviour to manually force tracking on or off. If your Airwave is unplugged, you don’t need to check Airwave Control — hand tracking will not be active.


Why can’t I see ROLI Airwave Player or ROLI Airwave Control after registering Airwave in ROLI Connect?

Make sure that ROLI Connect is updated to version 1.6.0 or later. To check which version you currently have, click the three dots in the top-right corner of ROLI Connect and select ‘About’.

ROLI Connect normally updates itself automatically. However, if you are on Windows and you are stuck at version 1.2.2, the auto-update may not work. In this case, please download the latest version directly from the ROLI start page.

Why is Airwave changing preset in Arturia Analog Lab?

If you notice Arturia Analog Lab unexpectedly changing presets when using Airwave, it may be due to MIDI CC conflicts. Specifically, Airwave uses CC28 (Air Tilt Left) and CC29 (Air Tilt Right). While these CC numbers are officially undefined in the MIDI standard, some third-party plug-ins or software (like Analog Lab) may use them internally for preset switching or other functions.

Why is ‘Hold’ in ROLI Airwave Player not working in Ableton Live?

In the ‘Link, Tempo & MIDI Settings’ section of Ableton’s preferences, make sure ‘Control Surface’ for ‘ROLI Airwave Expression’ is set to ‘None’.

Why am I having issues activating the camera driver in Airwave Control when using macOS Sonoma 14.3?

If you experience issues using Sonoma 14.3, please update to Sonoma 14.7.8 or newer.


Why can’t I see my hands in ROLI Airwave Player?

If you previously purchased a Leap Motion controller, check if you have the Ultraleap Hand Tracking app still installed and uninstall it.


Appendices

FAQs

For an up-to-date list of answers to our most frequently asked questions about Airwave, visit the FAQ page on the ROLI website. 

Specifications

Expressive controller

ROLI Vision hand-tracking Camera

3.5mm TRS headphone output

3.5mm TRS pedal input (incl. 6.35mm dongle)

2 x USB-C ports (data and power)

Magnetic USB port for use with compatible ROLI hardware

Class-compliant MIDI over USB

Class-compliant audio interface

65W USB-C PD power supply 

221mm x 122mm x 369mm / 812g


Connections

Front ports

Using the included USB-C magnetic adapter, you can connect the following keyboards to one of Airwave’s front ports:

  • ROLI Piano

  • ROLI Piano M

  • ROLI Seaboard M

  • ROLI Seaboard Block M

  • LUMI Keys Studio Edition

Use the left port if you’re only connecting one keyboard. Use the right port if you’re using two keyboards snapped together.

The following keyboards should be connected directly to your computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth:

  • ROLI Seaboard 2

  • ROLI Seaboard RISE

  • ROLI Seaboard RISE 2

  • ROLI Seaboard Block

  • 3rd-party MIDI keyboards

Back ports

USB-C ports

  • Connect Airwave to your computer or tablet using the cables provided. We recommend using the:

    • 45cm USB-C to USB-C cable to connect Airwave to your tablet

    • 1m USB-C to USB-C cable to connect Airwave to your computer

  • If required, connect Airwave to power using the 2m USB-C power supply (see power requirements below)

Headphone port

  • 3.5mm stereo output

  • When headphones are plugged in, they will appear as a separate USB device named “Airwave Audio”

Pedal port

  • 3.5mm (3.5mm to 1/4” adapter is included)

  • Compatible with sustain pedals and expression pedals

  • Pedal CC value is configurable via ROLI Dashboard

  • Pedal messages appear in DAWs via a separate MIDI port named “ROLI Airwave Pedal”

Power requirements

Most host computers and tablets supply sufficient power via USB-C to power Airwave’s infrared camera, headphone port, and pedal port.

You’ll need to use the included 65W USB-C PD power supply when connecting compatible ROLI keyboards directly to Airwave’s front ports. If used with this power supply, the keyboard and host device (computer or tablet) will also be supplied with power.

3rd-party USB-C PD PSUs rated 60W or higher may also be compatible.

3rd-party USB-C cables rated 60W or higher may also be compatible.

Can I connect Airwave using a USB hub?

We recommend connecting Airwave directly to your computer without using a USB hub. If you do need to use a hub, we recommend a mains-powered one with USB 3.0 (or better) from a reputable brand. If using a USB adapter or extension, ensure that the total cable length between Airwave and your computer is under two meters, and that all components are rated USB 3.0 or higher.

Airwave LED status


White (pulsing)

Airwave is powered but isn’t recognized by the host device

White (solid)

Airwave is powered and recognized by the host device

Red and Yellow Flashing

Airwave has detected a short circuit in one of the front ports and is in safety shutdown mode.



Warranty, returns, and repairs

To return or have your Airwave repaired or replaced under warranty, you must obtain an RMA (Return Material Authorization) number. If you have ordered from the ROLI website, please complete a request for return here. You will need your original order number on hand for requesting a return. You will need your original order number on hand for requesting a return. 

If you have ordered from an authorised retailer, then please contact the original store should you need a return. If you need a replacement under warranty or out of warranty, please reach out to our Support Team via the ROLI website. You must have your original purchase receipt when contacting the retailer or ROLI.

Once you have received the RMA number please carefully pack the ROLI Airwave and ship the product using the pre-paid return label following the instructions that we have provided.

Once received, we will examine the product for any obvious signs of user abuse or damage as a result of transport. If the product is abused, damaged in transit, or is out of warranty, we will contact you with an estimate of the repair cost. Warranty work and return shipping will be performed free of charge only in supported territories, meaning countries or regions where we officially provide service coverage. Customers outside of supported territories may be responsible for shipping costs and/or additional service fees.

Warranty and repair policies are subject to change.

Please see all of ROLI's most current policies here.