ROLI has unveiled the Airwave, a new hardware device designed to enhance the learning and creation of music by combining multiple dimensions of interaction: sound, sight, touch, vision, and voice.
Airwave transforms ROLI keyboards like the Seaboard, LUMI Keys, and Piano M into “intelligent pianos,” using advanced vision technology to track hand movements and integrate personalized feedback.
The device is powered by ROLI’s Musical Intelligence (MI) platform, which focuses on sound, sight, and touch, with Airwave adding vision and voice. This platform also includes ROLI’s Piano AI, which uses large language models to recognize and respond to voice commands, offering a more natural and intuitive way to interact with the instrument.
Users can ask the piano to display chords, play full pieces, or help them improve their skills, making learning more accessible and personalized.
Airwave is not only a learning tool but also a creative tool for musicians. The device’s motion-tracking technology allows users to control music in dynamic and expressive ways, transforming instruments and sounds through simple hand movements.
As ROLI describes, musicians can use gestures to manipulate sound as a conductor might control an orchestra, or morph between different musical elements with ease.
Music producer Marco Parisi has praised Airwave, calling it a “game-changer” for both creating and performing music, as it opens up new possibilities for musical expression. Airwave’s ability to create unique sounds based on movement may even lead to the development of new musical genres.
Set to ship in March 2025, the Airwave is available for preorder at $299, €299, or £249, signaling a major leap forward in both music education and creative potential.
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