ROLI has just dropped a game-changer for electronic musicians and producers everywhere. The company’s latest update makes Airwave, their groundbreaking instrument for Spatial Expression, compatible with third-party MIDI keyboards and software. This compatibility means musicians can now access Airwave’s Five Dimensions of Air—Air Raise, Air Tilt, Air Glide, Air Slide, and Air Flex—on any MIDI-enabled device. The new flexibility is simple, powerful, and gives musicians expressive control that’s unlike anything else on the market.
With intuitive hand movements, artists can now shape sound in real time using their favorite DAWs, plug-ins, and even DJ software. This update lets musicians create immersive, spatially dynamic soundscapes, enhancing creative potential across the industry.
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Transform Any MIDI Keyboard with Airwave’s Five Dimensions of Air
Airwave’s Five Dimensions of Air—Air Raise, Air Tilt, Air Glide, Air Slide, and Air Flex—bring incredible depth to sound manipulation, powered by hand movements alone. The process is straightforward: just place Airwave behind any MIDI keyboard, connect it via USB, and calibrate it with Airwave Player (Beta). This setup unlocks what ROLI calls “superpowers,” enabling musicians to control dynamics, apply filter sweeps, and expand soundscapes entirely hands-free.
Founder and CEO of ROLI, Roland Lamb, shared the inspiration behind this development, saying, “As we started developing Airwave, we asked ourselves the question: how would the power of vision be able to transform other, non-ROLI keyboards?” Following extensive testing with various MIDI keyboards, ROLI is excited to now extend Airwave’s capabilities to a wider audience.
This compatibility update adds new possibilities for sound sculpting, opening the door to endless effects that were previously exclusive to ROLI’s proprietary instruments.
Seamless Integration with Third-Party Plug-ins and DAWs
With this compatibility update, Airwave can control third-party plug-ins like Serum, Kontakt, and Pigments with ease. Musicians can manipulate parameters through ten MIDI CC channels (five for each hand), allowing them to craft complex, unique modulation shapes. From wavetables to filters, the depth of expression is limitless, all guided by intuitive hand gestures.
Beyond plug-ins, Airwave’s expressive dimensions integrate effortlessly with major DAWs. Airwave is compatible with popular software like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, and more, as well as DJ software including Serato and Traktor. This compatibility expands Airwave’s potential as a tool for live performance, letting musicians conduct DAW parameters with natural hand motions for a truly immersive experience.
Future-Proofed with Expanded Compatibility and Presets
ROLI has plans to continue expanding Airwave’s compatibility, with updates that will include plug-and-play integration for even more third-party hardware and a growing library of Airwave presets. This will give musicians enhanced customization, helping them tailor Airwave’s expressive capabilities to their unique setups. This is just the start of what ROLI envisions for Airwave, which they hope will enable the creative community to push the boundaries of music expression.
For those already using ROLI instruments, Airwave adds another level of expression when paired with ROLI’s Seaboard and Piano M, creating up to 10 dimensions of sound control. Together, these instruments allow musicians to explore multi-dimensional soundscapes that set a new standard in digital music.
Exclusive Bundle Offer for Early Adopters
To celebrate this compatibility update, ROLI is offering an exclusive pre-order bundle for a limited time. Musicians who purchase Airwave along with either the Seaboard 2, Seaboard M, or Piano M will receive up to $259 in savings. The offer is valid until October 31, giving artists the chance to upgrade their setup with a powerful, multi-dimensional music system at a significant discount.
Conclusion
ROLI’s Airwave is more than just a MIDI add-on—it’s a gateway to a new level of musical expression. By making Airwave compatible with any MIDI keyboard and DAW, ROLI is breaking down barriers and expanding access to spatially dynamic sound control for musicians across the board. With this update, Airwave has positioned itself as an essential tool for artists looking to push their creative limits and craft truly immersive audio experiences.
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