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Airwave
Music technology company ROLI is at the forefront of innovative and experimental musical instruments. I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon trialing its soon-to-be-released ROLI Airwave. This creation tool promises gesture-based musical expression on any MIDI keyboard. In particular, it excels when paired with the company’s own MPE instruments. Can this quirky new device convince students, musicians, and producers? Find out in our ROLI Airwave review.
Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What I like about the ROLI Airwave
Like the Seaboard 2, the ROLI Airwave adorns a durable and silver aluminum exterior. The frame stands 369mm tall and has three rivets along the base that are perfect for holding a tablet. At the top of the tower are two Ultraleap IR 170 infrared cameras that combine with ROLI Vision technology. These track 27 joints in each hand at 90 frames per second even when some parts of the hand are obscured. The cameras enjoy a field depth between 100-1000 mm and a typical field view of 170×170°, allowing the Airwave to work seamlessly with different-sized keyboards. Tracking works in many environments, although bright sunlight can affect the performance of the infrared sensors. However, the Airwave Player software includes a handy slider for adjusting hand-tracking sensitivity to match your environment.
During the demo, the cameras were exceptionally accurate and displayed real-time 3D models of my hands in the Airwave Player (beta) app. There was no noticeable delay, although excessively fast or wide movements sometimes didn’t register. The Airwave is controlled with six unique gestures; Raise, Tilt, Glide, Slide, Flex, and Grasp. Each feels distinct and intuitive, allowing you to dial in sounds with natural and enjoyable movements. The gestures can be assigned to control individual parameters and effects in ROLI’s Airwave Player soft synth. They also work in ROLI’s Equator 2 app and use MIDI CC messages to dictate envelopes, MPE MIDI information, LFOs, third-party plug-ins, and virtually anything else in most major DAWs.
The ROLI Airwave uses six unique gestures to manipulate one of a hundred Airwave sounds.
The ROLI Airwave sports two USB-C ports — one for data transfer and the other for power. Those running devices with powered USB-C ports can connect with the former, while the product ships with a 65W USB-C PD power supply to hook up to the latter. The Airwave also profits a 3.5mm TRS headphone output and a 3.5mm TRS Pedal input for conducting sustain. The product also bundles a USB-C magnetic adapter that keeps the Airwave aligned with supported ROLI hardware including the Seaboard 2 and Piano M. However, unlike ROLI’s latest instruments, the Airwave cannot be powered with batteries.
One major takeaway is how seamlessly the Airwave integrates with the company’s ROLI Learn educational software. For example, the Airwave can track your finger placements and posture to offer more detailed advice. This works particularly well when paired with the illuminating Piano M MIDI keyboard. The feature had some snags during the demo, but it’s a handy tool the company intends to iron out before the Airwave releases in February 2025. The company’s Music Intelligence technology, based on the five “keys” of sound, sight, touch, vision, and voice, is at the heart of ROLI’s ecosystem. Subsequently, the ROLI Learn app looks set to integrate ChatGPT. This will allow users to ask questions about the song being learned or to query music theory. ROLI Learn may even be able to transcribe and teach you your favorite song at the drop of a voice command while using the Airwave.
What I don’t like about the ROLI Airwave
There is no denying that ROLI is one of the most innovative and boundary-defying electronic instrument manufacturers on the market. While the Airwave has been described as a MIDI-enabled theremin, it is much more versatile in practice. However, despite its technical prowess, many keyboardists may find the Airwave distracts from conventional playing techniques. For example, it may be harder to execute hand-crossing without accidentally triggering a gesture. Likewise, playing louder passages often requires dropping your fingers into the keys from above. You can adjust the height at which the Airwave registers your gestures. However, its presence above the keyboard means some musicians may feel more restricted than usual.
Upon launch, the ROLI Airwave was set only to work with ROLI instruments like the Seaboard 2 and up to two Seaboard M’s ($349 at Manufacturer site) and Piano M’s. To its credit, the company listened to consumer feedback and has since implemented changes to support third-party MIDI keyboards. This requires a simple calibration process to allow the Airwave to recognize your keyboard and track your hands effectively. However, while the Airwave claims to work with any MIDI keyboard, it is incompatible with the Seaboard Grand. This 88-key MPE MIDI controller was the company’s first iteration and even won accolades from the likes of Hans Zimmer. Not supporting one of ROLI’s most infamous products seems like a misstep given the Seaboard Grand retains a sizable fanbase today.
The Airwave works with old and new ROLI instruments, except for the Seaboard Grand.
ROLI’s six unique gestures are intuitive, but they force you to take at least one hand off the keyboard to operate. This limits your ability to simultaneously play more intricate music and control the Airwave’s sound. For context, the Seaboard 2 already offers five new dimensions of touch through Strike, Press, Slide, Glide, and Lift. Each can be executed with both hands and individual fingers across the keyboard. By comparison, the Airwave takes the highest parameter value of either hand and applies effects to the entire gesture. I’m hopeful ROLI will implement assignable parameters for individual fingers upon launch.
The Airwave is attractive and robust, but incorporating it into your workspace can be tricky. For example, it must be sat flush against the keyboard to register your gestures correctly. However, its tall frame means anything situated directly behind the device will be entirely obstructed from view. Desktop real estate is precious and often laid out with the most efficient and pleasing workflow in mind. Adding such a tall product into a tried and tested studio setup is no easy feat and requires additional space some won’t have. It’s also a pain in the neck having to elevate or situate your monitor to one side. Some will question whether this inconvenience is worth it.
Should you buy the ROLI Airwave?
Let’s cut to the chase — the ROLI Airwave is the most reliable and well-thought-out gesture-based creation tool currently on the market. An upgraded cousin to the Leap Motion Controller ($149.99 at Amazon,) it far exceeds the capabilities of similar technologies like the Roland D-Beam and Expressive Osmose ($1799 at Amazon.) Hand tracking is exceptionally accurate and offers sonic versatility yet seen with any other electronic musical instrument. Each of the six individual gestures registers seamlessly, is distinct and intuitive, and allows you to create interesting soundscapes straight out of the box. Its applications are far-reaching, from recording songs to performing live. There is even the potential to control DMX lighting rigs with hand movements.
While not directly marketed to students, Airwave’s integration with ROLI Learn and Piano M ($249 at Manufacturer site) makes it an attractive tuition tool. The ability to track hand movements and offer advice on finger positioning and posture means learners receive vital tips in real time. ROLI Airwave can also prevent you from slipping back into old, incorrect habits when practicing at home without a teacher. The assimilation of ChatGPT into the ROLI Learn app also means the Airwave can help you learn your favorite songs, scales, music theory, and more.
Some will love the ROLI Airwave, while others will see it as a gimmick.
Despite its promising feature set and innovative design, the ROLI Airwave is not without its pitfalls. For example, the product will retail for $349 at launch. This is a high price tag given it is the first device of its kind and is dipping its toes into uncharted waters. The Airwave is also not a standalone product, meaning fans must spend more money on a compatible MIDI keyboard or ROLI MPE instrument. Accessing the company’s ROLI Learn companion app also requires a monthly subscription of $15 or $100 yearly. The associated costs may be a barrier to entry for many interested students, musicians, and producers.
Traditional pianists may struggle to adapt their playing styles when using the Airwave. While the Seaboard 2 ($1399 at Amazon) is admired for its expressiveness, the ROLI Airwave could be unintentionally limiting when it comes to playability. Sure, it profits more dimensions of sound, but many musicians enjoy playing instruments uninhibited by gesture considerations. The Airwave’s tall frame also obstructs your view of monitors directly behind it. Those with precious little desktop space will question whether the ROLI Airwave is an addition they have room for.
ROLI Airwave review: FAQs
The ROLI Airwave is a gesture-based creation tool that converts six unique hand movements into sound. While not a standalone product, it works with any MIDI keyboard or ROLI MPE instrument. The device uses the ROLI Airwave Player soft synth to play over 100 Airwave Sounds. However, MIDI CC messages can also control third-party plug-ins and virtually any parameters in your DAW. The ROLI Airwave works best when paired with the ROLI Seaboard 2 or Piano M. The latter provides extensive learning capabilities with the ROLI Learn app and ROLI Airwave.
The ROLI Airwave is the first mainstream gesture-based creation tool of its kind. Its applications are vast, from recording expressive sonic soundscapes in the studio to expanding your performances at a live concert. Perhaps its biggest market share will be among piano students when it launches in February 2025, given it pairs seamlessly with the ROLI Piano M and ROLI Learn software.
At present, there are only 10 prototypes of the ROLI Airwave. These are being distributed and test-driven by reputable musicians and music technology companies. However, the ROLI Airwave is available to pre-order today for $349 from the company’s website. It is due to begin shipping in February 2025.
ROLI instruments can be connected to Logic Pro by plugging the keyboard into your computer and launching the ROLI Dashboard app. Once open, ensure your ROLI instrument is set to Default in the leftmost panel. Set the Pitch Bend Range value in the main central panel for the relevant Logic instrument you want to use. ROLI keyboards will work with any virtual instrument that supports MIDI mono mode settings.