Currently Wasted Potential, DO NOT BUY ANYTHING YET
Some of the best sounds I’ve heard from any iOS music app in this one. Sadly, the lazy effort from these developers of not including basic features like MIDI-input/out from any keyboard, no true inter-app audio, and the absolute garbage of buying a sound pack like SWAM strings and not being able to use it in something like Garageband is absolutely unacceptable. I will update this review if things get fixed, but at this rate of change, they look like the next big disappointment of the iOS music scene.
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Awesome hardware.... app needs work
PLEASE add an option for background audio..... can’t leave the noise app without losing the sound. I bought the control modules so I could get the app up and running and then use my touch screen for other things. Also, as many have already mentioned, inter-app audio would also be nice. Finally, maybe I’m overlooking something, but I can’t seem to save my sensitivity settings for the 5D’s of touch. There should be an option to set them within the project and have them stay that way. As it is now, I have to set those up EVERY time I connect my blocks. If these few things get fixed, the app gets 5 stars.... until then, I’m bothered.
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Paid $20 and was unable to use the sounds I wanted
Because the developer does not warn customers up front who are purchasing the new SWAM stringed orchestral instruments and saxophones that “…these packs are not currently supported in the iOS AUv3 plug-in of NOISE…” there is a chance you may feel cheated, AS I MOST CERTAINLY DID.
I should’ve known the deal was too good to be true. $10 for each of these SWAM packs (which go for more than $100 each for the desktop versions) should’ve tipped me off, but it’s really the responsibility of the developer to provide this information BEFORE customers hit the BUY button. Not happy the way this was handled and I’ll be requesting two refunds.
Feb. 2018 Update: Apple issued refunds for both in-app purchases. If the developer updates the SWAM instrument packs so they can be used as plug-ins for GarageBand in any capacity, I’ll consider rebuying.
I should’ve known the deal was too good to be true. $10 for each of these SWAM packs (which go for more than $100 each for the desktop versions) should’ve tipped me off, but it’s really the responsibility of the developer to provide this information BEFORE customers hit the BUY button. Not happy the way this was handled and I’ll be requesting two refunds.
Feb. 2018 Update: Apple issued refunds for both in-app purchases. If the developer updates the SWAM instrument packs so they can be used as plug-ins for GarageBand in any capacity, I’ll consider rebuying.
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Lots of potential, not there yet
Things we need:
1. Better sound organization: I want to make groups of sounds so I don’t have to scroll forever during a live performance
2. Effects controls: I can control effects using my Rise, but I can’t otherwise and the effects choices do not save
3. More tracks and track options: panning is a must, and better abilities to start and stop a loop, easier methods of changing a loops length. Sometimes I accidentally trigger a loop and can’t stop it
4. More quantization control: swing amount, different subdivisions of quantization
5. Inter app audio: don’t understand why this still isn’t a thing
6. Better build quality in the Seaboard block. I’ve played a few mismanufactured boards and the rubber can easily peel off
7. Maybe a sound controls block to bring the Rises effects control to the blocks
What I love:
1. Hardware responsiveness: how my phone has less latency with a seaboard and a block than my brand new MacBook Pro is mystifying.
2. The new light block is SUPER rad. Very responsive and expressive.
3. Cheap, dope sounds (for the most part) the SWAM stuff is especially insane although I wish I could make it polyphonic
4. I can use my phone to perform live interesting and expressive electronic music: it changes the game
1. Better sound organization: I want to make groups of sounds so I don’t have to scroll forever during a live performance
2. Effects controls: I can control effects using my Rise, but I can’t otherwise and the effects choices do not save
3. More tracks and track options: panning is a must, and better abilities to start and stop a loop, easier methods of changing a loops length. Sometimes I accidentally trigger a loop and can’t stop it
4. More quantization control: swing amount, different subdivisions of quantization
5. Inter app audio: don’t understand why this still isn’t a thing
6. Better build quality in the Seaboard block. I’ve played a few mismanufactured boards and the rubber can easily peel off
7. Maybe a sound controls block to bring the Rises effects control to the blocks
What I love:
1. Hardware responsiveness: how my phone has less latency with a seaboard and a block than my brand new MacBook Pro is mystifying.
2. The new light block is SUPER rad. Very responsive and expressive.
3. Cheap, dope sounds (for the most part) the SWAM stuff is especially insane although I wish I could make it polyphonic
4. I can use my phone to perform live interesting and expressive electronic music: it changes the game
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VERY FLAWED
On iPad Air Noise get completely overwhelmed by just 3 tracks... once you add a fourth the program glitches and distorts the sound to the point that you understand why it is called NOISE... because that is all you are going to get... a crackly noise... shame, probably with more powerful iOS devices it works, but a 4 track system that at three buckles is sold misleadingly... just say older decides don't work on it instead of being greedy, or just learn to program elegantly using less resources.
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Not easy to use and feels limited
I like others it seems have bought the equipment and want a good system to edit what I create. However it is very difficult if not impossible to edit what you play to correct any mistakes. Also the range of sounds is very limited with the noise app. I would expect a lot more for paying so much money. This would be ok if you could easily import sounds from other software, but it’s not clear to me if this is even possible as it is very difficult to work out for a beginner.
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Money, money, money!!
More money making sound packs, that are not cheap compared to other music app sound packs, and yet you still haven’t brought your Noise app up to date.
I have spent over a £1000 (Rise 49, Seaboard Blocks and a light Block) with you guys and you still expect me to pay £6.99 for sound packs.
I should of noticed that your amazing demo guys never use your Equator software to sell your hardware. They use NI software (Not part of the software bundle) and rarely show us any serious demos using the Noise app; Unless they are trying to sell us their sound packs of course!
Also I would expect to be able to use the packs I bought in Noise with the Seaboard5D app too and not charged more money to open the same packs. Shame on you!
Please use some of the money your taking from us to concentrate on a serious update and reduce the amount of money given to named artist for their sound packs!
From a disappointed ROLI customer.
I have spent over a £1000 (Rise 49, Seaboard Blocks and a light Block) with you guys and you still expect me to pay £6.99 for sound packs.
I should of noticed that your amazing demo guys never use your Equator software to sell your hardware. They use NI software (Not part of the software bundle) and rarely show us any serious demos using the Noise app; Unless they are trying to sell us their sound packs of course!
Also I would expect to be able to use the packs I bought in Noise with the Seaboard5D app too and not charged more money to open the same packs. Shame on you!
Please use some of the money your taking from us to concentrate on a serious update and reduce the amount of money given to named artist for their sound packs!
From a disappointed ROLI customer.
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Don’t waste your time or money
Went ahead, like a total muppet, and bought the beat maker kit and a seaboard block. It looks phenomenal, but that’s about where it ends.
The hardware is great when it works but usually doesnt, with lag and delay at the best of times and outright malfunctions at worst. Expect to restart your iPad and reset the blocks numerous times when these issues occur.
Now the app, it’s less than basic, with huge oversights and missing features. They only just put in overdubbing, but you cant edit the notes, or even undo. I will repeat that for you, there’s no undo! Expect to delete perfect loops that took several retries because you hit an accidental note during overdubbing. Lovely!
Their support is terrible. Having read on their website that Cubasis was compatible with the block series, I was anxious to get started, but hit a wall trying to work it out. Their support responded with a third party article about Cubase. Top marks there, surely.
Every day I’ve owned Roli blocks I have regretted the money I spent and time I dedicated to getting it working. When Roli’s main selling point is its portability and ease of use, you’d think that would be the first thing they would figure out, here we are almost a year after release, with shoddy hardware, unfinished software and terrible support.
It astonishes me that they have the audacity to charge £189 for their cheapest product.
0 Stars
The hardware is great when it works but usually doesnt, with lag and delay at the best of times and outright malfunctions at worst. Expect to restart your iPad and reset the blocks numerous times when these issues occur.
Now the app, it’s less than basic, with huge oversights and missing features. They only just put in overdubbing, but you cant edit the notes, or even undo. I will repeat that for you, there’s no undo! Expect to delete perfect loops that took several retries because you hit an accidental note during overdubbing. Lovely!
Their support is terrible. Having read on their website that Cubasis was compatible with the block series, I was anxious to get started, but hit a wall trying to work it out. Their support responded with a third party article about Cubase. Top marks there, surely.
Every day I’ve owned Roli blocks I have regretted the money I spent and time I dedicated to getting it working. When Roli’s main selling point is its portability and ease of use, you’d think that would be the first thing they would figure out, here we are almost a year after release, with shoddy hardware, unfinished software and terrible support.
It astonishes me that they have the audacity to charge £189 for their cheapest product.
0 Stars
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WARNING: ROLI Hardware Only!
I use a Linnstrument controller, which I’m very happy with. On the desktop, some of my favorite VST instruments are the SWAM stuff by Audio Modeling (previously Sample Modeling). Roli announced that they were releasing some of these Audio Modeling instruments on the NOISE platform, so I got NOISE and downloaded the three SWAM instrument packs (for about $30). Then I realized that the only controllers compatible with this app are ROLI controllers via bluetooth. So that’s $30 wasted for me.
Until there is (non bluetooth) MPE midi control capability, this app is useless to me, and ROLI should CLEARLY state in the description that only their hardware will work with this app.
Until there is (non bluetooth) MPE midi control capability, this app is useless to me, and ROLI should CLEARLY state in the description that only their hardware will work with this app.
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Rubbish amateur presets player (without ANY modification)
What an utter disappointment...the old Seaboard5D allowed at least some basic editing.
This app is confusing, just made for youtubers or amateurs making beats or random stuff, or to surprise at apple stores, not for any serious musician.
Just a demo of some sounds, and the included ones for free are rubbish so you have to pay to play more sounds that will end up being the same of anyone else because there’s nothing to be tweaked and change even a bit the presets.
They said they decided to do this because their usage data (!) show no one uses to edit presets...how do they know if it was never available as an option, who knows.
An app for kids that costs loads of money if you want any decent sound, once they’ll integrate some even basic sound editing then it will be an app: till then Seaboard Blocks is not useable on iOS.
Also there’s no Dashboard on IOS, so you can tweak sensitivity or mode of the controller only in this app: in any other third party app forget to use it seriously as you cannot configure properly the controller.
All this after 1h with their support, confirming all these problems..and online documentation still old and to be updated, very confusing as they released this product in beta and in many respects it still is.
This app is confusing, just made for youtubers or amateurs making beats or random stuff, or to surprise at apple stores, not for any serious musician.
Just a demo of some sounds, and the included ones for free are rubbish so you have to pay to play more sounds that will end up being the same of anyone else because there’s nothing to be tweaked and change even a bit the presets.
They said they decided to do this because their usage data (!) show no one uses to edit presets...how do they know if it was never available as an option, who knows.
An app for kids that costs loads of money if you want any decent sound, once they’ll integrate some even basic sound editing then it will be an app: till then Seaboard Blocks is not useable on iOS.
Also there’s no Dashboard on IOS, so you can tweak sensitivity or mode of the controller only in this app: in any other third party app forget to use it seriously as you cannot configure properly the controller.
All this after 1h with their support, confirming all these problems..and online documentation still old and to be updated, very confusing as they released this product in beta and in many respects it still is.
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