Equator for RISE

Creator Manual
October, 2015
Version 1
Introduction
Hello creator, and welcome to the Creator Manual about the Equator
software synthesiser that comes with your Seaboard RISE. We think
of the people who buy and use ROLI’s products as creators rather than
customers. Our products are designed to expand the bandwidth of cre-
ative expression and thereby empower people as the creators they are.
Everyone who buys and uses a Seaboard RISE is investing in this vision
of creativity and therefore is also a co-creator of ROLI.

You may already be exploring Equator and discovering its creative pos-
sibilities. This comprehensive Creator Manual explains all of the details
about Equator to ensure that you get the most out of it.

Equator is ROLI’s custom-built, multidimensional software synthesiser

and sound engine. Equator and Seaboard instruments work together
to provide a seamlessly integrated hardware-software experience. With
its blend of subtractive, sample, and FM synthesis and its focus on the
modulation of multiple parameters in real time, Equator is a flexible and
highly expressive synthesiser. It works as a standalone OS X and Windows
application and as a plugin for a suite of industry-standard DAWs.

On the next page we have included a short list of terms specific

to Equator and Seaboard instruments. We will refer to these terms
throughout the Creator Manual.

Please note that this is a digital manual updated regularly to reflect

software updates and other improvements. Be sure to check for up-
dates on My ROLI. This Manual is current up to Equator v1.2.0, ROLI
Dashboard v3.1.0, and RISE Firmware v1.0.4.

Support and Feedback

We want you to have the best experience possible with your Seaboard,
and our Support team is here to help you. If you have any questions,
are experiencing any problems, or have any feedback to give us about
our products,please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

You can contact us through our Support page at www.roli.com/support

or by writing us directly at support@roli.com. We will respond as soon
as possible. The resources on the Support page should also help an-
swer many questions.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 2

Table of Contents

1. Getting Started 7

1.1 System Requirements 7

1.2 The Seaboard RISE Software Bundle 7

1.3 Register on My ROLI 7

1.4 Installation Mac & Windows 7

2. Overview and Layout 9

2.1 The Navigation Bar 10

2.2 Interacting with Equator 10

2.3 Preset Management 11

3. The Synth Panel 13

3.1 Oscillators 13

3.2 Frequency Modulation (FM) Module 13

3.4 Noise Generator 14

3.5 Filters 14

4. Effects 16

5. Mixer 20

5.1 Sends 20

5.2 Filter Configuration 20

5.3 Output Gains 20

6. Global Controls 21

6.1 Voice Mode 21

6.2 FX Modulation Mode 21

6.3 Preset Master 21

7. Modulation 22

7.1 The Five Dimensions of Touch 22

7.2 Transfer Curves for 5D Touch 23

7.4 Envelopes 1–5 24

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 3

Table of Contents

7.6 Keytracking 27

7.7 Modulation List View 28

8. Equator Menu 29

9. ROLI Support 30

9.2 Contact our support team 30

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 4

Selected Equator for RISE terms

Keywave surface: The entire playing surface including all keywaves and ribbons.
The keywave surface corresponds to a keyboard.

Keywave: A wavelike element of the keywave surface that corresponds

to a single key on a standard keyboard. Each of the Five
Dimensions of Touch can be accessed on a single keywave.

Equator: ROLI’s custom-built, multidimensional software synthesiser

and sound engine. Equator enables refined control of the
expressive capabilities of the keywave surface. Equator and
Seaboard instruments work together to provide a seamlessly
integrated hardware-software experience.

MPE: Multi-Dimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE) is a protocol

for using standard MIDI messages to communicate with and
enable the operation of multidimensional instruments such
as the Seaboard RISE.

Expression Mode: A mode of playing the Seaboard RISE in which three Touch
Faders control the dynamics of the Glide, Slide, and Press
dimensions of touch. Expression Mode lets you modify the
touch responsiveness of the Seaboard RISE to suit specific
sounds and your individual playing style.

Expression Curves: The graphical curves in ROLI Dashboard that represent the
behaviour and sensitivity of the Five Dimensions of Touch

The Five Dimensions The five fundamental elements of physical interaction between
of Touch (5D Touch): a finger and a surface: Strike, Press, Glide, Slide, and Lift.

Strike: The velocity and force with which a finger makes

contact with a keywave.

Press: The pressure and continuous touch applied to the

keywave after the initial Strike.

Glide: Horizontal movements from side to side

on a keywave and left right movement along the
ribbons.

Slide: Vertical movements up and down a keywave.

Lift: The release velocity or speed of liftoff from

a keywave.

MIDI CC Mappings: Mappings that determine which MIDI Continuous Controller mes-
sages will be sent from the three Touch Faders and XY Touchpad.

MIDI Mode: A mode of operation in which the Touch Faders can be

assigned to any MIDI CCs for additional customisation of sound.

Modulation Panel: A panel on the main view of Equator that lets you change the
settings for the RISE controls, the Five Dimensions of Touch,
LFOs, envelopes, and keytracking.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 5

Selected Equator for RISE terms

ROLI Dashboard: An application for modifying and customising the internal set-
tings of the RISE.

Touch Fader: A control for adjusting the sensitivity of the keywave surface
to dimensions of touch.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 6

1. Getting Started
1.1 System Requirements

OS X

• Mac OS 10.8+
• Minimum RAM: 4GB
• Recommended RAM: 8GB
• Processor: 2.5GHz i5 or faster
• Bluetooth connectivity: OS 10.10+

Windows

• Windows 7, 8, or 10
• Minimum RAM: 4GB
• Recommended RAM: 8GB
• Recommended Processor: i5 and equivalent or above

1.2 The Seaboard RISE Software Bundle

Before making music on your Seaboard RISE and Equator, you

need to download the Seaboard RISE Software Bundle. This
software bundle is available on My ROLI. Please follow the
instructions below. If you have already installed the Seaboard
RISE Software Bundle you can skip to “2. Hardware”.

1.3 Register on My ROLI

Visit my.roli.com and sign up with a username and password

of your choice. When you have signed up and logged in, the
website will ask you to register your product. Use your Prod- xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
uct Registration Code. The code is printed on the Registration
Card. This card is in the box marked Make Music Now, which
comes in the package with your RISE (see Figure 1).

Login and Download ROLI Software my.roli.com/register

Now that you’ve created an account on My ROLI, you can log

in and download Equator for RISE and ROLI Dashboard, the
two applications included in the software bundle. Click either
“Download Software Bundle for Mac” or “Download Software
Bundle for Windows” depending upon which operating sys- Figure 1
tem you use. Pick up your Registration Card and
find your registration code. Visit this
1.4 Installation Mac & Windows web page to sign up for My ROLI, your
portal for software downloads and
product support, with a username
When the download is complete, open the Downloads folder and password of your choice. Then
on your computer and double-click the installer file(s). Follow register using your registration code.
the on-screen instructions and choose the location or disk
where you want to install the software. The install will require
approximately 2 GB of disk space.

Mac: After double-clicking the installer, you may see a mes-

sage that says the installer is from an “unidentified developer.”
Don’t worry. The software is safe to install. You can bypass this
message by right-clicking the installer from a Finder window
and selecting Open.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 7

Getting started

Windows: After double-clicking the installer, you may see a

message that says Windows has protected your PC by stop-
ping an “unrecognised application” from opening. Don’t worry.
The software is safe to install. You can bypass this message
by clicking “more info” on the message, then clicking the “run
anyway” button.

Equator will by default install as a standalone app in the Ap-

plications folder. It will also install as a plug-in in the following
folders:

Mac OS X

• Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST

• Macintosh HD/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components

Presets and a copy of this guide will be saved in the following

folder: ~/Documents/ROLI/Equator for RISE

Windows 32 bit

• C:/Programfilesx86/VST Plugins

Presets and a copy of this guide will be saved in the following

folder: ~This PC/Documents/ROLI/Equator for RISE

Windows 64 bit

• C:/Programfiles/VST plug ins

Presets and a copy of this guide will be saved in the following

folder: ~This PC/Documents/ROLI/Equator for RISE

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 8

2. Overview and Layout
Figure 2
Above is the main view of Equator (see Figure 2), showing the
Synth Panel at the top half of the screen and the Modulation Above, the main view
Panel at the bottom half of the screen. of Equator for RISE.

The Navigation Bar at the very top of the screen shows a

range of available settings including presets and Audio/MIDI
settings. More details on the navigation bar can be found
in Sections 5 and 6.

While this view shows the Synth Panel, the top half of the
Equator screen can show either the Synth Panel or the Mixer
Panel. You can toggle between them. The Synth Panel gives
you access to the parameters of the modules in the signal
chain. The Mixer Panel routes, configures and mixes these
modules. More information about these panels is found in this
section and Section 3.

In the lower half of the screen are two modulation views. While
this view shows the Modulation Panel, the bottom half of the
screen can show either the Modulation Panel or the Modula-
tion List. You can toggle between them. The Modulation Panel
gives you access to multiple modulation sources and their pa-
rameters. It also lets you create modulation paths quickly. You
can view all of these paths in the Modulation List. More infor-
mation about these panels is found in Section 5 and 7.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 9

Overview and Layout

2.1 The Navigation Bar

The following icons are located in the top right corner of the
Navigation Bar:

Compare: This icon compares an original pre-

set with changes to that preset. Click and hold
the icon to preview your changes to the preset.

Master Volume: In the standalone application

of Equator, this slider adjusts the overall output
level of the instrument. This parameter is not
saved in the presets. Double clicking on the
volume fader resets the volume level to its
default position.

MIDI Panic: This button will clear the MIDI

buffer and remove any active notes. Click the
button to reset stuck notes and unusual MIDI
messages. Figure 3

An example of a modulation panel in

Equator Menu: This icon takes you to Equator Equator for RISE.
functions including New, Save As, and Undo/
Redo and Audio/MIDI Settings.

Preset settings in the Navigation Bar

The Navigation Bar displays the current preset in the center

of the bar (In Figure 2 above, the preset is “Smoky Rhodes”).
Arrows on either side let you quickly switchpresets. Clicking on
the preset also brings up the Preset Browser window, which
we explain in detail in Section 6.1.

2.2 Interacting with Equator

Changing Parameters
Figure 4
In any panel of Equator, you can change parameters by man- An orange border indicates that a
ually adjusting a dial on the screen or typing in the numerical modulation source is selected.
value of the parameter (see Figure 3).

• Navigate to the parameter.

• Click on the dial to adjust the base value.

• Hold down the cmd (Command) key while clicking on

the inner circle of the dial for fine adjustment.

• Alternatively, click on the numerical field underneath the

dial and type in the numerical value of the parameter.

• Double click inside the inner circle of the dial to reset

the parameter to its default value

Figure 5

The orange, outer circle of a dial

adjusts the modulation depth
for a parameter.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 10

Overview and Layout

Modulating Parameters Figure 6

Above, the Preset Broswer in Equator

You can quickly modulate parameters in the main view of for RISE.
Equator by setting a modulation source. Follow these steps:

1 Select the modulation source by clicking on it.

When activated, the box containing the modulation
source will be highlighted in an orange border. (see
Figure 4).

2 Click the outer circle of the dial to adjust the mod-

ulation depth for that parameter. An orange arc will
appear on the dial showing the value of the param-
eter you are modulating (see Figure 5).

Modulation can be both positive and negative.

Double clicking in the outer circle will reset the

modulation amount.

2.3 Preset Management

Changing presets

Open the Preset Browser by clicking on the preset name

in the center of the Navigation Bar. Click the preset name
to load the preset (see Figure 6).

Filtering presets

Filter your presets by selecting tags in each of the four cate-

gories of Instrument, Source, Articulation and Timbre.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 11

Overview and Layout

Saving presets

Save your presets by clicking Save As in the Equator menu.

The tags that you assign to each preset help you discover the
preset within the Preset Browser.

When you save a preset, the values for the three Touch Faders
and the XY Touchpad are also stored.

Note: When using the VST/AU plug-in version of Equator, it’s

important to note that if you change the Touch Faders from
their default setting one the currently selected patch and then
change to a new patch, the new patch will use the “changed”
Touch Fader settings.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 12

3. The Synth Panel
The Synth Panel shows Equator’s primary sound generation and Figure 7
sound shaping tools. These include three oscillators, two stereo Above, the Synth Panel in Equator
Sample Playback Modules, a Frequency Modulation Module, for RISE.
a Noise Generator, five filters, and six effects (see Figure 7).

3.1 Oscillators

You can set the three wavetable oscillators (see Figure 8)

to waveforms including classic analogue waves (pulse, sine,
square, triangle and sawtooth) and multiple complex waveforms.

The following parameters are available for each oscillator:

• Level: -∞ to 0dB
• Pan: Full Left to Full Right
• Fine Pitch: -99 to +99 Cents Figure 8
• Coarse Pitch: -48 to +48 Semitones An oscillator in Equator for RISE
• Width: Changes the pulse width of the pulse showing a complex waveform.
waveform (0% to 100%)

3.2 Frequency Modulation (FM) Module

Using the FM tool, you can set the frequency of one oscillator
to modulate the frequency of another. This changes the timbre.
The four available FM configurations are shown in (see Figure 9).

For each configuration you can control the modulation depth

through Depth A and B dials (see Figure 10).

Figure 9

FM configurations in Equator for RISE.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 13

The Synth Panel

3.3 Sample Playback Module

The two Sample Playback Modules contain many preinstalled

samples ranging from acoustic instruments to synthesised and
layered sounds (see Figure 11).

The following parameters are available for each Sample Play-

back Module:

• Level: -∞ to 0dB
• Pan: Full Left to Full Right
• Fine Pitch: -99 to +99 cents Figure 10
• Coarse Pitch: -48 to +48 semitones
The Frequency Modulation (FM)
• Filter parameters (see Section 2.5) Module in Equator for RISE.

3.4 Noise Generator

The Noise Generator outputs either stereo white noise or ste-

reo pink noise with adjustable stereo width and a dedicated
filter section (see Figure 12). The following parameters are
available:

• Noise type: White or Pink

• Level: -∞ to 0dB
• Stereo Width: 0% (Mono) to 100% (Stereo)
• Filter parameters (see Section 2.5) Figure 11

The Sample Playback Module in

3.5 Filters Equator for RISE.

Equator contains five identical filters (see Figure 13). Two

filters are assigned to the Sample Playback Modules, one is
assigned to the Noise Module, and two are used for general
routing. Set the routing of these two filters in the Mixer Panel
(see Section 3.2). All filters can be modulated.

The following filter types are available for the five filters:

• Low-pass 12dB/octave
• Low-pass 24dB/octave
• Band-pass
• Notch Figure 12
• Hi-pass 12dB/octave
The Noise Generator panel in Equator
• Hi-pass 24dB/octave for RISE.
• Comb Filter
• State-variable low-pass 12dB/octave
• State-variable band-pass 12dB/octave
• State-variable high-pass 12dB/octave
• State-variable low-pass 24dB/octave
• State-variable band-pass 24dB/octave
• State-variable hi-pass 24dB/octave

Figure 13

The Filters panel in Equator

for RISE.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 14

The Synth Panel

The low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filters have the

following parameters:

• Cut-off (or Centre Frequency) of the chosen filter:

20Hz to 15kHz

• Resonance: 0% to 100%

The Comb Filter has a different set of parameters:

• Delay: the length of the delay line

• Mix: the amount of delayed (wet) signal added to the

input (dry) signal (can be positive or negative)

• Feedback: the amount of delayed signal fed back to

the input of the delay line (can be positive or negative)

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 15

 Figure 14

The Bit Crusher panel in Equator

for RISE.

4. Effects
The effects tools in Equator contain the following stereo
effects in series:

• Bit Crusher
• Distortion
• EQ
• Chorus
• Delay
• Reverb

The effects section comes at the end of the signal chain.

It is global for all voices. The configuration of all effects
is explained in more detail in Section 3.

4.1 Bit Crusher

(see Figure 14)

The following parameters are available in Bit Crusher:

• Drive controls the amount of waveshaping. Lower set-

tings can be used to add warmth. Higher setting will
result in an overdriven or distorted sound.

• Crush controls the effective bit depth of the signal.

Higher settings will result in lower resolution and
therefore more distortion.

• Reduce controls the amount of sample rate reduction.

• Tone controls the overall colour of the wet signal.

• Blend controls the relative amount of the dry and

wet signal.

• Level controls the overall level of the effect.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 16

Effects

Figure 15

The Distortion panel in Equator

for RISE.

4.2 Distortion
(see Figure 15)

The following parameters are available in Distortion:

• Drive controls the amount of distortion.

• Bass controls the amount of low-frequency boost.

• Tone controls the overall color of the wet signal. High-

er settings will result in a harsher sound.

• Fuzz controls the amount of even harmonics. Higher

settings will result in a dirtier sound.

• Bite controls the amount of mid-frequency boost.

• Blend controls the relative amount of the dry and wet

signal.

• Level controls the overall level of the effect.

Figure 16

The EQ panel in Equator

for RISE.

4.3 EQ
(see Figure 16)

The EQ section is a five-band parametric equaliser. Each band

has the following parameters:

• Gain: -24dB to +24dB

• Center Frequency: 20Hz to 15kHz

• Q factor: this parameter adjusts the bandwidth

of the bell shape

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 17

Effects

Figure 17

The Chorus panel in Equator

for RISE.

4.4 Chorus
(see Figure 17)

The following parameters are available for the stereo Chorus:

• Depth controls the amount of pitch modulation ap-

plied by the effect (0% to 100%).

• Speed controls the rate of pitch modulation (0.2Hz to

50Hz).

• Stereo Width controls the width of the stereo field of

the effect (0% [Mono] to 100% [Stereo]).

• Wet controls the amount of processed signal added to

the dry signal (0% to 100%).

Figure 18

The Delay panel in Equator

for RISE.

4.5 Delay
(see Figure 18)

Delay consists of two independent delay lines (left and right).

The following parameters are available for each channel:

• Delay Time controls the time between the initial signal

and the repeated signal (0 to 2000ms).

• Feedback controls the gain of the repeated signal (0%

to 100%).

• Wet controls the amount of processed signal added to

the dry signal (0% to 100%).

You can link the parameters of the two channels by clicking on

the middle icon. When linked, parameter changes made on
one side will also apply to the other.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 18

Effects

Figure 19

The Reverb panel in Equator

for RISE.

4.6 Reverb
(see Figure 19)

The stereo Reverb has the following parameters:

• Pre-delay controls the delay between the direct signal

and the reverberant signal (0 to 100ms).

• Size controls the reverb time of the reverberant signal

(0% to 100%).

• Damp controls the amount of low-pass filtering (ab-

sorption) applied (0% to 100%).

• Wet controls the amount of processed signal added to

the dry signal (0% to 100%).

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 19

 Figure 20
5. Mixer
Above, the Mixer Panel in Equator
5.1 Sends for RISE.

The Mixer Panel (see Figure 20) routes the output of each
audio source (Oscillators, Sample Playback Modules, Noise
Generator, Ring Modulator*) independently to any of the
following destinations:

• Filter 1
• Filter 2
• Effects Section (EQ, Chorus and Delay)
• Reverb
• Main Output

*The Ring Modulator multiplies the outputs of Oscillator 1 and 2.

5.2 Filter Configuration

The routing of Filter 1 and Filter 2 can be configured in the

following ways:

• Serial: Filter 1 feeds into Filter 2. In this configuration

the Sends to Filter 2 are disabled.

• Parallel: The signal flow of Filter 1 and Filter 2 are sep-

arate and their outputs can be mixed separately.

• Summed: Filter 1 and 2 are parallel but their outputs

are summed together.

• Mixed: Filter 1 has its own output but also feeds into
Filter 2.

The pots below each filter output determine the output level
feeding into the effects, reverb and main output.

5.3 Output Gains

You can vary the overall gain going to the effects, reverb and
main output with the final dials in the signal chain.

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 20

 Figure 21

The Global Controls tab in

Equator for RISE.

6. Global Controls
The Global tab (see Figure 21) lets you access controls that are
global to the current preset. These include:

6.1 Voice Mode

• Polyphonic: Maximum of 16 voices with a new active

note triggering each voice.

• Mono Retrigger: Monophonic (one voice) with

a new active note retriggering all envelopes.

• Mono Legato: Monophonic (one voice) with all enve-

lopes only retriggered when there are no active notes.

6.2 FX Modulation Mode

FX Modulation Mode controls how the effects (which are glob-

al to all voices) react when modulated by per voice modulation
sources such as Strike, Press, Glide, Slide, and Lift.

• Most Recent Note: The last voice activated modulates

the effect.

• Lowest Note: The lowest note activated modulates

the effect.

• Highest Note: The highest note activated modulates

the effect.

• Average: The average of all voices modulates

the effect.

6.3 Preset Master

• Octave Shift shifts the pitch by octave steps

(+/- 3 octaves).

• Coarse Pitch adjusts the overall pitch of the preset

(+/- 11 semitones).

• Fine Pitch adjusts the overall pitch of the preset

(+/- 99 cents).

• Preset Level adjusts the level of the preset

(-inf to +6dB).

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 21

7. Modulation
Figure 22
The Modulation section in the lower half of Equator (see Figure
22) makes it easy to shape sounds and apply modulation Above, the Modulation Panel
in Equator for RISE.
to different parameters. The sources of modulation include:

• The Five Dimensions of Touch (Strike, Press, Slide,

Glide, and Lift)

• RISE Controls

• Envelopes

• Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs)

• Keytracking

7.1 The Five Dimensions of Touch

Figure 23
The Seaboard RISE is a multidimensional instrument that lets
you modulate sound through five dimensions of touch (see Above, the Five Dimensions of Touch.
Figure 23). Through simple movements and gestures, you can
shape sound easily and discover new modes of expression.
The Five Dimensions of Touch are:

Strike: The velocity and force with which a finger

makes contact with a keywave. This dimension of
touch corresponds to Strike on a standard keyboard.

Press: The pressure applied to the keywave after the

initial Strike. The keywaves respond to each moment
of continuous touch, transmitting minute variations of

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 22

Modulation

pressure to sound. This continuous pressure-sensitivity

allows for swells, fades, and other detailed expressions.

Glide: Horizontal movements from side to side on a

keywave and left right movement along the ribbons.
Glide movements bend and adjust pitch as naturally
as on a string instrument, allowing effects such as
vibrato and glissando, all on a polyphonic basis. Glide
is typically assigned to pitch, but it can be assigned to
other sound parameters.

Slide: Vertical movements up and down a keywave. Figure 24

You can assign Slide to most sound parameters in
The Slide panel in Equator for RISE.
Equator. For example, an upward movement can open
a filter that turns an organ sound into a brassy sound,
while a downward movement can close the filter. Your
initial point of contact with the keywave, no matter
where this point is, becomes the basis for sound mod-
ulation on the Y axis above and below that point.

Lift: The release velocity or speed of liftoff from a key-

wave. You can assign Lift to most sound parameters in
Equator. For example, a rapid lift can create a lingering
resonance or a hard pluck.

7.2 Transfer Curves for 5D Touch

Each of the Five Dimensions of Touch has four independent

transfer curves that you can assign to different modulation des-
tinations. These act like master controls with individual transfer
curves available in the modulation list view. Use the transfer
curves to fine-tune the responsiveness of each dimension of
touch. To select one of the four curves, click on the icon in the
top right-hand corner of the box for Strike, Press, Glide, Slide, Figure 25
and Lift. Then click on the curve you wish to use (see Figure 24).
RISE Controls in Equator for RISE.

For each source, you can add points along the transfer
curve by double-clicking on the curve. This can be used
to create unipolar responses and more complex transfer
curves. To remove a point, just double-click on the one that
needs removing.

7.3 RISE Controls

(see Figure 25)

The RISE Controls feature lets you map the Touch Faders and
XY Touchpad to any of Equator’s assignable parameters while
in MIDI Mode. Refer to the Seaboard RISE Creator Manual for
details about the Touch Faders, XY Touchpad, and MIDI Mode.

The Switch View button (in the top right-hand corner of the RISE
Controls section) displays the assignable macros (see Figure
26). Macros can be assigned to MIDI CC messages of any ex-
ternal MIDI controller connected to the RISE. Macros default to
these settings:
Figure 26

Macro 1: RISE Glide (Left) Fader The Macros panel in Equator for RISE.
Macro 2: RISE Slide (Middle) Fader
Macro 3: RISE Press (Right) Fader

Equator for RISE Creator Manual 23

Modulation

Macro 4: RISE XY Touchpad X Axis

Macro 5: RISE XY Touchpad Y Axis
Macro 6: Assignable
Macro 7: Assignable
Macro 8: Assignable

The MIDI Learn button automatically assigns Equator parame-

ters to external controls from Seaboard RISE and other com-
patible MIDI controllers.

7.4 Envelopes 1–5

Equator has five independent envelopes. You can view them

as a curve or a dial (Curve View and Dial View). To switch
between the two views click on the icon in the top right-hand
section of the envelope panel (see Figure 27).

The following envelope types are available:

• ADS-R: This mode works as a typical ADSR envelope.

Hitting a note triggers the Attack-Decay-Sustain sec-
tion. Releasing the note triggers the Release section.

• ADR (one-shot): The Attack-Decay-Release section is

played once without pause even if the note has not
been released.

• ADADR (looped): The Attack-Decay section is repeated

until you release the note, triggering the Release section. Figure 27

Top, Amp Envelope Curve View.

Fast Attack: fast repeat note Bottom, Amp Envelope Dial View.
Slow Attack: slow repeat note
Fast Decay: fast repeat note
Slow Decay: slow repeat note

• ADS-PR (pluck-off): Acts like an ADSR envelope, but

when you release a note the envelope will peak with
a set level and width before the release section. You
can use ADS-PR to simulate such gestures and sounds
as the fret sound produced on plucked instruments.

For each envelope the following parameters are controllable

and can also be modulated:

• Level: 0% to 100%

• Attack Time: 0-5 seconds

• Decay Time: 0-5 seconds

• Sustain Level: 0% to 100%

• Release Time: 0-5 seconds

• “Pluck Off” Level: 0% to 100%. This parameter only

works when using ADS-PR.

• “Pluck Off” Width: 0-2 seconds. This parameter only

works when using ADS-PR.

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Modulation

By default the envelope lines for Attack, Decay and Release

increase and decrease at a constant rate. By clicking and drag-
ging above and below each line, however, you can change the
curve and therefore the response.

Note: The difference between envelope modes is:

• The dial envelope can be used to modulate

its ADSR stages but this can not be achieved
in the graphic envelopes.

• The graphic envelope can be used to set the exponen-

tial, linear, or logarithmic curves. This can’t be done
in the dial envelope mode.

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Modulation

7.5 LFO 1–2

(see Figure 28)

The two independent Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) have

the following waveforms available:

• Square
• Rising sawtooth
• Falling sawtooth
Figure 28
• Sine
• Triangle The LFO panel in in Equator for RISE.
• Random (Smooth Waveform)
• Random (Sample and Hold) / (Stepped Waveform)

Each LFO has the following additional parameters:

• Frequency: 0 to 10 Hz

• Level: 0% to 100%

• Fade In: This determines the time it takes for the level
of the LFO to rise from zero to the desired level (0–5
Seconds)

• Trigger:
On: the LFO for each voice is triggered when the voice
becomes active
Off: the LFO is free running, meaning the LFOs across
all voices are in phase

• Polarity:
Bi: the output of the LFO is bipolar
Uni: the output of the LFO is unipolar

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Modulation

7.6 Keytracking

Each keywave displays the current note being played. You can Figure 29
also use each keywave as a modulation source to perform Above, Keytracking
keytracking on a parameter. Set the behaviour and level of the in Equator for RISE.
keytracking on the multi-point curve that overlays the keywave
display. When you double-click anywhere on the curve you
will add nodes, and you can then use those nodes to edit the
slope of the curve (see Figure 29).

Equator allows up to four independent sources for keytracking, Figure 30

and each can have its own response (see Figure 30). The but- Above, tracking multiple keys.
ton at the top right-hand corner of the keytracking section lets
you switch between four different assignments for keytracking.

Four modes are available for each keytracking source. The

modes change how keytracking behaves as a modulation
source when each is applied with another source to a modula-
tion destination (for example, keytracking and Press applied to
the Filter 1 Cut-off). These modes are:

• Add: Keytracking is added to all other connected mod-

ulation sources.

• Scale: Keytracking scales the effective value of all oth-

er modulation sources.

• Limit MAX: Keytracking sets the maximum modulation

depth of all other modulation sources. The modulated
parameter cannot exceed the value set by keytracking.

• Limit MIN: Keytracking limits the minimum modulation

depth of all other modulation. The modulated parame-
ter cannot go below the value set by keytracking.

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Modulation

7.7 Modulation List View

Figure 31
The Modulation List (see Figure 31) shows all modulation paths
of the preset you are using. You can edit each path and create Above, the Modulation List in Equator
new ones. The structure of the Modulation List is shown below: for RISE.

• Source lists all modulation sources used in the preset

you are using. You can change the modulation source
for a group of paths by opening up the drop-down
menu for each source and choosing from the list of
available modulation sources. Sort the list of modula-
tion paths by clicking on the source selection header.

• Transfer function adjusts the transfer between a mod-

ulation source and a destination to have a non-linear
response. Click on the Edit icon to access this function.

• Destination lists all modulation destinations used in

the current preset. You can change the destination for
each modulation path by clicking on the drop-down
menu and selecting from the list of available destina-
tions. Sort the list of modulation paths by clicking on
the destination section header.

• Modulation amount determines the modulation depth

of the corresponding path. To edit the depth, dou-
ble-click and enter the new value. Or click and drag up
or down in the box.

• Remove deletes the modulation path. The Remove

icon is at the far right side of each row.

New Modulation Paths can be added by scrolling to the

bottom of the list and clicking on the “Select New Source”
or “Select New Destination” box.

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8. Equator Menu
Clicking the far right icon in the Navigation Panel opens up the
Equator Menu (see Figure 32), giving you access to the preset
management, editing and Audio/MIDI settings of Equator.

Presets

• New reverts the synth to the Init (Initial) preset, letting

you build a patch from scratch.

• Browse opens up the browser windows, where you

can search all presets through the tags you have cho-
sen to identify them.

• Save (Mac: cmd+s, PC : ctrl+s) saves the changes to

the current preset and the values of the three Touch
Faders in standalone mode only.

• Save As allows presets to be named and tagged. Figure 32

The Equator Menu.

• Delete Current Preset deletes the currently selected
preset.

Edit

• Undo (Mac: cmd+z, PC ctrl+z) will undo the last

change made to a preset in standalone mode only.

• Redo (Mac: cmd+y, PC ctrl+y) will redo the last change

made to a preset in standalone mode only.

Settings

• Audio/MIDI Settings lets you access the audio output

device, the sample rate, buffer size and the available
MIDI inputs. Please ensure you have selected “Sea-
board RISE” from the list of MIDI devices to use Equa-
tor. (This menu is not available when using Equator as
a plug-in, because MIDI devices are managed by the
host.)

• Disable/Enable Animation lets you disable or enable

the animations that come with Equator. Equator in-
cludes many animations to show you how to modulate
sound parameters.

• About shows you the version number of Equator that

you are using. It also links you directly to ROLI Support.

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9. ROLI Support
The Seaboard RISE Creator Manual and other resources on
My ROLI should help answer questions about the initial set-
up of Equator and your Seaboard RISE. Visit our Support
page at www.roli.com/support for a wider range of resources
that should help answer questions about Equator and the
Seaboard RISE. The page includes frequently asked ques-
tions, tutorial videos, and guides for connecting the RISE with
third-party plug-ins and DAWs.

9.2 Contact our support team

Contact the ROLI support team directly on www.roli.com/support

for any questions. We will respond as soon as possible. Our
support team is here to help you.

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