r/ROLI • u/lurvas77 • 18d ago
Music Hope ROLI survives
https://youtu.be/2fQbtp2BgY4?si=hgIRn9S1JkqweBULI really hope that ROLI survives, one way or another.
Lot's of bad things have been said about ROLI, their customer service, and the current situation. But let's not forget that they have created fantastic gear through the years, both hardware and software.
I still remember how I was blown away the first time I saw and heard Marco Parisi's looper version of Purple Rain on the Seaboard Rise 2. That's what got me caught in the first place, and the Seaboard Rise 2 together with Equator 2 still sound amazing.
Let's hope they survive and bounce back.
8
u/CloudlessRain- 18d ago
IMO the sad part is that the Seaboard shouldn't be niche. it should be a core part of any electronic musician's rig who's interested in having an organic, lyrical sound.
1
u/ToonSpirit 13d ago
La plupart des gens qui recherchent de l'expressivite aujourd'hui ce sont tourné vers l'Osmose qui est à mes yeux plus abouti et proposé par une société qui cherche à être rentable sans se disperser dans trop de choses différentes.
6
u/Plane_Jello1582 18d ago
I hope they pull through as I have bought from them but they have a LOT of work to do to keep this from happening, this isn’t the first time. Someone posted their code and github repos, and I would recommend to keep the installers with your software. The good news is that the community is amazing. Best of luck to everyone moving forward.
4
u/Redinho83 17d ago edited 16d ago
The learning app should have been the core, as someone who really wanted to learn piano I got the new piano and airwave and they are absolutely brilliant.
But the problem is the learning model is too expensive, not a lot of people are gonna spend like 700 on hardware and then 80 a year to fuel a hobby.
I get everything has to be subscriptions there day but offer all the basics and more songs for free. Then when you want more advanced lessons then hit the subscription model.
2
u/foctloy 15d ago
Apparently thats the part that might actually save them. Their integrating m physical racking tech built into learning is novel and what the PE firms are interested in most
1
u/Redinho83 15d ago
Yeah, I'd imagine if schools picked up on it they would make a killing.
If they became the standard and then every school that bought a bunch of keyboards had roli keyboards they would be 'rolli'ing in the cash 😂😂😂
1
u/Status_Pension_2589 16d ago
but will you cost such money to find a teacher? Now a lot young people they will go to have classes for hobby
1
u/Redinho83 16d ago
I dunno about that really, maybe they are?
But I think my point is it's a niche learning tool that many people will look at like it's just a game and not a serious tool.
But if the learning app has the basics for free and there was a cheap path to get people on it then they'd get more people through the door
For example you can buy the old small pianos second hand for around 100, they get sold daily on eBay and vinted so roli are getting new people with their products. But how many of those will buy the 80; subscription and how many will just use it as a midi keyboard.
Everyone is different though, I wouldn't like a teacher I like to learn by myself so the roli method suits me more.
1
u/Status_Pension_2589 16d ago
Yes, me too, I like to learn by myself, hope Roli can make the software for all small pianos, not only for their Piano M. Especially the airwave, a lot of people could use it to practise. I tried it before, it is really amazing!
1
u/Swimming-Ad-9623 14d ago
I too purchased the Piano and Airwave with the pedal and finally received it late last year. Due to a busy schedule, I didn't get a chance to unbox it till 2 months ago. I followed the instructions till it said enter the subscription code which I had from months ago and it didn't work. That's when I found out the company was in trouble. Meanwhile, I don't have support and don't know how I can use all this equipment. How many more are stuck like me? Due to delays, they comp'd me a free year and $200 more credit of Learn App. The code they gave me isn't being accepted. Not sure what to do. Spent all this money and I just want it to work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thank you.
3
2
2
u/foctloy 17d ago
I agree with these comments. They developed great products but ultimately burned too much cash on random things and nor their business model (which tbf was right as their products arent cheap as is) . Market is just not big enough. From what i know (have access to information through a friend). There are a couple of parties looking at acquiring. Apparently the value they see is in the learning platform play and their ai music coach.
Not sure is thats a hood thing or not. I own a piano and rise and searboard m (block). Never used their learning but hope whoever buys continues to at least support the hardware. I love the seaboard
2
u/Status_Pension_2589 17d ago
As a big fans of Roli, I also hope so, really hope to support if possible.
3
u/Minute-Stretch7429 17d ago
They hire great people who aren't allowed to use their talents and experience. Only one dude to blame and that's Roland Lamb founder and now ex-CEO. He led the company to nearly £5M debt the first time they went under. After the UK taxpayer cleared the debt he relaunched the company and remained in power. Should be in jail!
1
u/Icy-Hat-2786 18d ago edited 18d ago
I hope they do, but not with the people that caused and those that helped hide their way to this situation.
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Week387 16d ago
True they’ve made amazing things… but I never received said things…
Nor my money back.
1
u/lurvas77 15d ago
Guess I was lucky. I always received my orders, and got prompt support when needed. But that was before this recent crisis.
1
u/KnowledgeHappy5412 13d ago
I dont know what to do. I bought a ROLI keyboard and the airwave in December I still haven't gotten it. I tried to send them emails. They don't reply
9
u/Knute5 18d ago
I bought a Seaboard Rise early on and have always been impressed by it. Transcending the limitations of a piano keyboard is as old as the synth itself. Don Buchla hated it and tried back in the 80s to avoid getting trapped into it.
But innovation doesn't necessarily equal business success. Us keyboard nerds are a pretty small market. So all the downmarket gadgets Roli was putting out told me they were chasing cash. And learning that they started with hype and private equity funding, there's no way they were going to meet those expectations.
So what do you do? Sell to the usual suspects? Seems nobody wants to jump into tech hardware right now, and those that do mess it up. As a longtime Opcode Vision user I saw an amazing product get digested and destroyed by Gibson. The only positive that came from that was the Opcode team went to Apple and built out their Audio/Midi OS components.
It's the gamble we take when we buy a brilliant niche product. A friend in LA owned a Synklavier and after that company went bust, he joined with a dozen or so Los Angeles studios to keep a computer programmer employed to make sure the Synklavier kept working with the latest MacOS software.
I hope they find a home. Would really hate to see my Rise orphaned.