ROLI has officially announced that it is discontinuing its Seaboard Grand, the original incarnation of its expressive synthesizer and controller design.
Introduced in 2013, the Seaboard Grand built on the traditional layout of the piano, but used completely different materials, and allowing for extensive expressive control over each note.
ROLI says that economics, and the evolution of the company’s product line, led to the Seaboard Grand’s end:
From the moment it launched — initially for $8,888 — there was one big question about the Seaboard GRAND: how would the technology become more accessible? Was there any way to make the Seaboard smaller, more portable, more approachable, more compatible with music software, and above all more affordable?
The decision to discontinue the Seaboard GRAND is a sign of how far ROLI has come with the Seaboard project. A fraction of the original’s size and cost, Seaboard Block and Seaboard RISE are by far the best-selling Seaboards ever made. They’re at the forefront of MIDI Polyphonic Expression — a movement that grew worldwide in 2018, involving dozens of music hardware and software makers.
We’ll continue to service the Seaboard GRAND, which is at the center of many musicians’ studios. But it will no longer be sold.
Economic factors, like running out of money because your product is wildly overpriced without delivering commensurate value.
Totally agree.
I agree too !!!
Perhaps a 5-octave Seabord Rise will be in the works.
Because no one could afford it lol.
Amazing keyboard, each item individually hand-made in London (hence the price) but arguably surpassed by the RISE which has more sensors and a more refined playing surface. I will forever remember my surprise when it figured full screen in the “La La Land” movie. I don’t think even ROLI knew that would be the case!
this thing had to cost less then 2K, so too expensive …but conceptional good. . tried it and liked it.
Even 3000, 4000, but 8900$… studios can’t waste money on this stuff, while most of us cannot afford it: I’ve yet to understand which audience their target was (provided that designing a product for a few hundreds people is never a good idea).
The Roli is a extremely well crafted controller but the core of it, the way it reacts to pressure was every limited compared to the Haken. Than price was a complete lunacy when the continuum besides being better as controller featured a full fledged synth and a very unique and good sounding one at that. Which is why the smaller versions were successful.
The Seaboard includes the full Equator synth engine playing in the hardware – no external computer or rack required. Please check your facts.
There can be no comparison between the equator and Eagan matrix.
Good ridence
All other Rolis keyboards will follow suit.
Only remaining for now will be blocks due to iOS support, but these will go west as well eventually.
Why the hate?
MPE controllers are one of the most interesting developments in the world of synths in a long time.
Totally agree. I think it won’t be long for non-MPE capable controllers to seem obsolete. MPE should be a revolutionary improvement.
Because Haken is much better.
Android is still around, although iOS is much better as well. I will see myself out, thank you.
Doesn’t really look to be the case, as it’s a continuum rather than more analogous to a keyboard.
Still making the Seaboard stage? Please don’t discontinue the sound banks… Which reminds me, I need to update mine… 🙂 Best wishes to the whole team… Annemarie Borg
I have a Seaboard Block. I enjoy it but it has developed a ghost note that is sometimes triggered by playing nearby “keys.” Out of warranty, ROLI offered me no reasonable repair options. I really want to like ROLI, but I am very hesitant to buy or recommend their products at this time.
I really, REALLY wanted to buy the Roli Grand but could never afford it. Ridiculously priced.
The Seaboard Rise is the better product feel wise anyway IMO.
It was a proof-of-concept that ended up resulting in the RISE. The RISE is stellar btw. Anyone who thinks otherwise (a) hasn’t played one or (b) is an idiot.
Gummy, icky feeling thing. Gave me the gross every time I tried to play it.