FXpansion STROBE2 is now available to all ROLI Seaboard RISE and Seaboard GRAND owners — along with Equator and Bitwig 8-Track.
STROBE2 offers a sophisticated analog-modelling engine, an effects section, a preset library browser and compatibility with Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE) controllers. It was recently updated with over 200 new preset sounds, designed for 5D Touch on the Seaboard.
The video above demonstrates using the expressive control of the Seaboard with STROBE2’s array of synth sounds and effects. Here’s a tutorial that explores the update:
Pricing and Availability
Seaboard owners can access the STROBE2 download via My ROLI. If you already own Strobe2, the free update (v2.3) is available in your product downloads within your FXpansion user account.
Strange synth, and a real CPU-hogger. I cannot make it work properly with Rise standalone or inside Cubase. Bugs perhaps. I’ll wait some more days before I eventually delete it from my system.
I couldn’t get things to work properly for me either when I picked up a Rise 25 in last years Easter sale (with a copy of Strobe included). Followed the instructions exactly but no joy. Ended up selling the Rise but will come back to it once Ableton get the finger out and incorporate MPE properly.
With the extortionate price of these things, they should come with a butler!
There is also another nag. The Strobe 2 has a lot of animated graphics that flashes and blinks. I haven’t been able to find a way to shut them down. It is very annoying – this is no synth for people suffering from epilepsy.
You nailed it! Same complaints here.
This is great news, really pleased to see ROLI paying back the investment people have made into their hardware – and this is a joy to play!
love love love my Roli Seaboard-works perfectly with my Mac & Logic….
I bought a Rise 25 just before Xmas. Got it from Thomann. Straight out of the box two areas of the key bed were defective. Roli told me to send it back to Thomann. That was 9 weeks ago and Thomann still haven’t paid me back. What a bunch of shits
Re the Rise, I had a couple of bad copies (from a different retailer) which had obviously been played around with by other users and one was already registered! However, I got in touch with Roli who dealt with it really well and ultimately I got a perfect one. It’s really amazing – well worth chasing it up and getting a good one.
Re Strobe2, I really like the Equator user interface – I wish they’d put some time in on updates to that instead of “backporting” other similar synths. If you’re going to give us other software as a value-add, how about some instrument models like the SWAM stuff? The seaboard is perfect for that. Imagine a well-modelled upright bass!