Roli Intros Free Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression Synth, ‘Noise’, For iPhone

roli-noise

Roli today announced the release of Noise, a free app that takes advantage of the expressive music-­making potential of the iPhone.

Stemming from the company’s years of research into “touch­-sensitive musical interfaces,” Noise is a ‘full­-bodied instrument’ that makes use of the 3D touch-sensitive capabilities of the iPhone 6s.

Noise support Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE), which means it can also be used as a sound module with any MPE-compatible controller, like the LinnStrument.

Here are the official intro videos:

Noise turns the iPhone screen into a continuous sonic surface that responds to even subtle gestures. And, using the new 3D Touch technology of the iPhone 6s, the surface lets music­-makers shape sound through Strike, Press, Glide, Slide, and Lift, ­what they are calling the “Five Dimensions of Touch”.

As an instrument, Noise features 25 keywaves, includes 25 sounds, and has five faders for fine­-tuning the touch-responsiveness of the surface.

Noise is also the portable sound engine for the Roli Seaboard Rise and other MIDI controllers. Powered by Equator and using MIDI over Bluetooth, Noise allows music-­makers to control sounds wirelessly from their iPhones. It is one of the first apps to enable Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE) through its MPE Mode, so the Noise mobile sound engine works with any MPE­-compatible controller.

Roli’s sound designers have crafted the app’s 25 preset sounds, which include Breath Flute and Extreme Loop Synth, especially for MPE expressivity. Additional sounds can be purchased in­-app.

Noise System Requirements

While it works with all models of iPhone from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6s, Noise has been optimized to take full advantage of 3D Touch capabilities on the iPhone 6s.

Pricing and Availability

Roli Noise is available now as a free download via the Apple App Store. More information is available on the Roli website.

17 thoughts on “Roli Intros Free Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression Synth, ‘Noise’, For iPhone

    1. I don’t think this iPhone app, designed to exclusively to exploit of UI quirk, was purposed for virtuoso stage performance. But it would be helpful in building skills, how does one learn to use a MPE? I guess having access to a MPE device helps to develop such talents – it is better than a kick in the arse.

  1. i find it funny that all the *talented* people always seem so insecure.

    looks great can’t wait for the ipad that takes advantage of this.

  2. I love it! I’m pleased that they basically put Equator on an iOS app, with many of its best presets. Also, the Bluetooth MIDI integration with the RISE is fantastic and painless. It’s been nice to be able to whip out some quick sounds on this instead of setting up the whole deal on the laptop + audio interface.

    1. No. It is rumored that the iPad Air 3, in March 2016. will have 3D touch – till then these tablets don’t have the hardware for MPE style keyboards – on the multidimensional side, you have a X and a Y but no Z.

    2. This works just fine with the iPad (at least with my iPad Air 2). It doesn’t show up on the App store if you choose “iPad” only under the search settings, but if you choose iPhone it does show up and installs and works perfectly (minus the 3D force thingy).

  3. I’ve been using this with my Roli Rise and it’s been pretty fun. Noise by itself is not too bad either but hooked up to the Rise it’s great. I don’t believe it is truly similar to Equator since you don’t have near the same control over the parameters, effects and modulation as you do in Equator but it is fun and useful no matter what. I’m Roli put this out alongside Rise!

    1. Yes, NOISE is just a synth on it’s own that can receive (and not send) MIDI. You should take a look at “Ondes” by Olympia Noise that one is actually meant to be more of a controller. However, you need a multi-timbral synthesizer to use that much expression otherwise you will only be able to play it monophonically.

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