Roli just introduced The NAMM is a 49-key smart keyboard that's primarily aimed at students, but has some neat bells and whistles for advanced musicians. It includes light keys in all octaves to help beginners master chords. These keys will also light up to show scales, arpeggios and more. It's basically a larger version of the company's beloved piano keyboard.
For piano veterans, Roli offers a lead bend and polyphonic aftertaste that should make for expressive playing. It also tracks your fingers in four different ways while you play. This will allow the keyboard to successfully control MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) instruments. Additional controllable parameters help narrow the gap between digital and acoustic instruments.
It is also a modern technological device, which is why Roli is stuffed with some artificial intelligence tools. AI Piano Assistant uses generative AI to optimize the learning process. The company says it can help players get started with training, teach music history and even teach theory. This technology will be improved as the year goes on through software updates. Speaking of software, buyers also get Roli Studio, which is a collection of tools and presets.
Roli Piano also offers some neat integration with the company Field This is a similar device that tracks the player's fingers and sends training data to the tablet. Airwave is also a tool in itself, as users can raise their hands like a conductor to create and play sounds.
“The way we learn and play music is improving exponentially with innovations like Airwave and now Roli's AI Piano assistant and piano,” Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of Roli, told Engadget. “Players now have access to the most intelligent and intuitive music system yet.”
The Roli Piano connects via USB-C or wirelessly with Bluetooth. It works with all major DAWs and many virtual instruments. Pre-orders with deliveries coming out in May. Early adopters get a serious discount here, as the price is currently $400. However, it reaches $600 upon official release. There is also an air wave package that costs $650 for early birds but is $950 in May.