roli BLOCKS is a modular music studio that opens up the world of music-making to everyone, including beginners and professionals. developed by roli — a music technology innovator — BLOCKS is an easy-to-use and affordable way to create music, offering unique capabilities that let users create sounds in simple but far-reaching ways. due to its modularity, BLOCKS can be customized depending on the needs, budget, skill level and musical style. with a click of magnetic connectors, music-makers can now build their instruments as they go.

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
roli BLOCKS is a modular music studio that opens up the world of music-making to everyone 

 

 

renowned artists including grimes, steve aoki and RZA have already started making music on BLOCKS and have launched their own signature sounds in custom-made soundpacks at CES 2017. the huge range of sounds now includes ‘neon future’ by steve aoki, ‘spoonful of grit’ by RZA, and roli’s ‘giant dubstep’, ‘world colors’, ‘video games’ and ‘ expressive electronic’. the collection of nine sound packs triples the number of sounds available on BLOCKS, and it aims to continue growing throughout 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

‘since we launched BLOCKS we’ve received an outpouring excitement,’ comments roland lamb, founder and CEO of roli and inventor of BLOCKS. ‘but many creators have noted that they need a wider and more diverse sound palette to work with in NOISE and BLOCKS. this release provides just that. I spent several hours on the flight from london to las vegas making loops with RZA’s and steve oak’s sound packs. they are, in a word, awesome.’

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
BLOCKS is completely portable and can be used on-the-go

 

 

the BLOCKS system is made of a ‘lighted block’, ‘live block’ and a ‘loop block’, three devices with complementary musical functions that connect together to create expandable kits. powered by NOISE, a free music creation app for iPhones and iPads, the software connects to BLOCKS wirelessly over bluetooth, coming the system’s sound engine. grimes — a composer and producer whose sound is defining pop music — said, ‘roli BLOCKS will democratize music production. it’s so intuitive and versatile. I’m always on the go, and BLOCKS is the most powerful mobile production tool I’ve ever used.’

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
lightpad blocks connected to the live block and loop block

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
loop block

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
lightpad block

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
with a click of magnetic connectors, music-makers can now build their instruments as they go

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
BLOCKS can be customized depending on the needs, budget, skill level and musical style

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
BLOCKS is made of three devices with complementary musical functions that connect together to create expandable kits

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
it is powered by NOISE, a free music creation app for iPhones and iPads

roli blocks music creation system ces 2017 designboom
the lightpad block and noise on ipad

juliana neira I designboom
jan 11, 2017

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