ROLI Seaboard RISE gallery

ROLI's Seaboard RISE takes the usual MIDI controller keyboard concept and gives it a squidgy makeover. Yes, it may have a couple of octaves of keys, but that's where the similarities stop: rather than individual, hard buttons, each key is part of a continuous rubberized surface.

That surface is laced with pressure sensors which effectively turn the whole thing into a blend of different instruments: keyboard, theremin, strings, and more. While you can tap a key individually, you can also drag your finger across, apply more or less pressure to modulate the sound, and even take into account the vigor with which you lift your fingertip.

Unlike the much more expensive Seaboard GRAND, which was a standalone instrument in its own right – and far larger too – the Seaboard RISE is intended for portable use, with an onboard battery and USB connectivity for your laptop.