Review MIDI keyboard Roli Seaboard Rise 49. Where to buy it?

ROLI is a London-based music technology company known for its high-tech musical instruments, in particular the Seaboard. It was founded by American musician and entrepreneur Roland Lamb in 2009. I’ll tell you how this post is built. First I list the features of this Roli Seaboard Rise 49 keyboard. Then you have a video or two, purchase links and useful comments from other users and then you have one of the most useful parts; comparison tables with similar keyboards so you can compare.

• 49 ‘keywaves’
• Input for continuous pedal (6.3mm jack)
• USB B port (power and MIDI output)
• USB to port (for charging peripherals)
• DC 9-12V port 2a
• Internal battery
• Full MIDI support over USB and Bluetooth
• Includes software licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform, Cypher2 Player, Max MSP 3 (3-month trial) and Seaboard Dashboard
• Dimensions: 834 x 210 x 23 mm
• Weight: 5.5 kg

This MIDI keyboard is typically priced at around €1199/£1,088/$1,195 and offers 49 ‘Keywaves’ keys/pads with new dimensions of tactile interaction, simulating the true dynamic range of any instrument.

Combining the intimacy of acoustic instruments with the versatility of electronic music, you can customize the patches using the trackpad and touch-sensitive faders.

Create new sound possibilities by mapping sound parameters to unique gestures. Perform and record tracks with subtle and sensual details that previously required post-production. Includes built-in MIDI over Bluetooth with up to 8 hours of continuous performance

Now that we have seen the features of this Roli Seaboard Rise 49 keyboard, watch these related videos to learn more.

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• MIDI Basic Guide.
• Midi Keyboards by Brand.

Roli Seaboard Rise 49 vs Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition

The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 MIDI Keyboard is priced at €1199/£1,088/$1,195 when the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition is priced at €349/£311/$345. Let’s move on to the face-to-face:

• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 provides 49 ‘Keywaves’ keys, with a range of 4 octaves similar to a keyboard. The Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition provides 24 ‘Keywaves’ with a range of 2 octaves similar to that of a keyboard. Keywaves are pads/keypads on which you can use 5D-Touch Technology: Tapping, Pressing, Rubbing, Sliding and Lifting.
• In addition to the Keywaves, the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 offers a trackpad and 3 touch-sensitive faders, plus octave up/down buttons and movement buttons.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 features an integrated sustain pedal input, a USB-A connection, a USB-B connection and a power supply input, and offers Bluetooth MIDI. The Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition integrates a USB-C port as MIDI output and also power supply, it also has Bluetooth MIDI.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 includes the software licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform, Cypher2 Player, Max MSP 3 (3-month trial) and Seaboard Dashboard. The Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition includes the licenses for Roli Studio (includes Roli Studio Player and Roli Studio Drums), Strobe2 Full, Ableton Live Lite 9, Max MSP 8 (6-month free trial), Roli Dashboard and Roli Connect.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In our first comparison, we have two Roli MIDI controllers, on one hand, the Seaboard Rise 49 which offers 49 ‘Keywaves’ and on the other hand the Seaboard Block Studio Edition which offers 24 ‘Keywaves’, which we can use in 5 different dimensions: Push, push, pull, slide and lift. This is a great way to express yourself.

As an advantage of the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 we have a normal size controller with 49 ‘Keywaves’ and also certain control functions like 3 faders and a touchpad that will also allow us to modify different parameters. The Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition has the advantage of a much lower price and a more compact and lighter model. If you want to have a full expression with a wide range of 4 octaves you will go for the Roli Seaboard Rise 49. And if you want the same expression but with a more compact and portable controller, besides being affordable, the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition will be a better choice. As a note, it should be noted that the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition can be joined with another similar model to form a controller with a wider range of notes.

Here is a video of the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition review.

Roli Seaboard Rise 49 vs Roli Seaboard Rise 25

The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 MIDI Keyboard is priced at €1199/£1,088/$1,195 when the Roli Seaboard Rise 25 is priced at €755/£679/$749. Let’s move on to the face-to-face:

• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 offers 49 ‘Keywaves’, with a range of 4 octaves similar to a keyboard. The Roli Seaboard Rise 25 provides 25 ‘Keywaves’ with a range of 2 octaves similar to that of a keyboard. Keywaves are pads/keyboards on which you can use 5D-Touch Technology: Tapping, Pressing, Rubbing, Sliding and Lifting.
• Apart from Keywaves, both offer a trackpad and 3 touch-sensitive faders, plus octave up/down buttons and movement buttons.
• Both feature a sustain pedal input, a USB-A connection, a USB-B connection and a power supply input, as well as offering Bluetooth MIDI.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 includes software licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform, Cypher2 Player, Max MSP 3 (3-month trial) and Seaboard Dashboard. The Roli Seaboard Rise 25 includes the licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform and Seaboard Dashboard

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this comparison, we again have two Roli MIDI controllers, the Seaboard Rise 49 on one hand and the Seaboard Rise 25 on the other. After that they generally have the same functions and features, both having a great possibility of expression using the 5 different dimensions: Pulsation, pressure, rubbing, sliding and lifting. If you need the 4-octave range go for the Seaboard Rise 49, if you are fine with 2 octaves go for the Seaboard Rise 25.

And here is a video of the Roli Seaboard Rise 25 keyboard

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Roli Seaboard Rise 25 review.

Roli Seaboard Rise 49 vs Kawai VPC1

The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 MIDI Keyboard is priced at €1199/£1,088/$1,195 when the Kawai VPC1 is priced at €1268/£1,168/$1,295. Let’s move on to the face-to-face:

• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 provides 49 ‘Keywaves’, with a range of 4 octaves similar to a keyboard. Keywaves are pads/keys on which you can use 5D-Touch Technology: Tapping, pressing, rubbing, sliding and lifting. The Kawai VPC1 offers 88. wooden keys with RM3 Grand II hammer action. They have keyboard mechanics with 3 sensors.
• Apart from the ‘Keywaves’, the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 offers a trackpad and 3 touch-sensitive faders, plus octave up/down buttons and movement buttons. The Kawai VPC1 offers a graphical interface that allows the output signal to be modified.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 features an integrated sustain pedal input, a USB-A connection, a USB-B connection and a power supply input, and offers Bluetooth MIDI. The Kawai VPC1 integrates the external power supply input connections, Soft, Damper and Sostenuto pedal inputs, very similar to a digital piano. And so does a MIDI input and output.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 includes the software licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform, Cypher2 Player, Max MSP 3 (3-month trial) and Seaboard Dashboard.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this comparison we have on the one hand the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 with the functions and interesting features we have already analyzed, we also have on the other hand the Kawai VPC1 which is a MIDI controller very similar to a digital piano, it offers a master keyboard with 88 keys with Stage Piano Design and hammer mechanics, it offers a simulation of Let-off and Ivory Touch key surface. A really great and stylish controller.

We have a comparison of controllers with similar prices but very different functions. On one hand, the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 which is a very current controller, with a possible expression that really serves a lot to experiment, and for electronic music for example will be an excellent choice. On the other hand, the Kawai VPC1 has a more “vintage” design and functions, it is practically a digital MIDI piano.

And here is a video of the Kawai VPC1

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Kawai VPC1 review.

Roli Seaboard Rise 49 vs Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2

The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 MIDI Keyboard is priced at €1199/£1,088/$1,195 when the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 is priced at €945/£866/$955. We will move on to the face-to-face:

• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 offers 49 ‘Keywaves’, with a range of 4 octaves similar to a keyboard. Keywaves are pads/keys on which you can use 5D-Touch Technology: Tapping, pressing, rubbing, sliding and lifting. The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 features a Fatar keyboard with 88 hammer-action weighted keys.
• In addition to the ‘Keywaves’, the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 offers a trackpad and 3 touch-sensitive faders, plus octave up/down buttons and movement buttons. The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 offers a 4D push encoder, 8 assignable knobs, 3 transport buttons (network, play, pause) and buttons with different functions.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 integrates a sustain pedal input, a USB-A connection, a USB-B connection and a power supply input, and offers Bluetooth MIDI. The Native Instruments Kompletete Kontrol S88 MK2 features an integrated MIDI input and output, two assignable pedal inputs and an external power supply, as well as a USB connection.
• The Roli Seaboard Rise 49 includes the software licenses for Equator Synth, Strobe2, Bitwig 8-Track, Tracktion Waveform, Cypher2 Player, Max MSP 3 (3-month trial) and Seaboard Dashboard. The Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2 includes KOMPLETE SELECT.

Let’s put the features of these keyboards in a table so you can compare

In this last comparison we have on the one hand the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 with its functions and features that we have already analyzed before and on the other hand the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MKII that offers a Fatar keyboard with 88 hammer-action weighted keys, 4D push encoder, 8 assignable knobs, 3 transport buttons (network, play, pause) and buttons with different functions.

The advantage of the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 is its great capacity for expression thanks to its 5-dimensional touches: Push, press, rub, slide and lift. In addition to its Bluetooth MIDI function that allows it to be used without cables. And by the Native Instruments Kompletete Kontrol S88 MKII as advantages, we find certain control functions as its 8 assignable knobs, or its 4D encoder that allows being used in 4 dimensions. If you need a current MIDI controller, and to experiment there is no doubt that the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 will be your best option, but if you need a more standard controller with its more traditional and classic functions and with a quality keyboard, go for the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MKII.

And here’s a video of the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MKII

If you want to know more about this option, click on the following link to see the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MKII review.

Which is the best of these MIDI keyboards if I am a beginner on a low budget?

While the answer to this question lies mostly in what specific need you have, for example, if you want to have a keyboard with the widest range of notes possible, or if you want to have as many control functions as possible, or perhaps a mix between the two, that is without leaving behind the different connections and software licenses that most MIDI controllers offer, we will give an objective opinion according to our experience in music production and thus also with the price that the controllers demand, a kind of value for money.

In this post, we find high-end MIDI controllers, so they are not the cheapest, but they also offer certain functions or features that other lower-end controllers do not. As an ideal MIDI controller for a beginner, we can comment on the Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition which is an unconventional MIDI controller but offers 24 ‘keybeds’ that can be used both as pads or as keys. Furthermore, as mentioned before, it offers a great possibility of expression using the 5 different dimensions: Tapping, pressing, rubbing, sliding and lifting, so it’s excellent for experimenting.

Where to buy the Roli Seaboard Rise 49 keyboard

Thomann

• Free Shipping.
• Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
• 100% reliable payment.
• A leader in trouble-free shipping.
• Usually the Best price.
• Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

Amazon

• Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
• Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment.
• Sometimes a better price.
• He’s got worse stock than Thomann.

Also, look at these models with a similar price and features:

• Roli Seaboard Rise 25
• Roli Seaboard Block Studio Edition
• Roli Songmaker Kit Studio Edition
• Haken Audio ContinuuMini
• Roli Seaboard Rise 49
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S49 MK2
• Arturia KeyLab MkII 49 Black
• Akai MPK 249
• Arturia KeyLab MkII 49 White
• Novation 49SL MKIII
• Korg Triton taktile 49
• Keith McMillen K-Board Pro 4
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2
• Novation 61SL MKIII
• Novation Impulse 61
• Arturia KeyLab MkII 61 White
• Arturia KeyLab MkII 61 Black
• Nektar Panorama P6
• Akai MPK 261
• Nektar Panorama T6
• Studiologic SL73 Studio
• Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 MK2
• Studiologic SL88 Studio
• Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII
• M-Audio Hammer 88
• Studiologic SL88 Grand
• Studiologic Numa Stage
• Doepfer PK88 GH
• Doepfer PK88 GH without Case