Isotonik Studios has announced the release of the LDM ROLI Blocks Pack, a bundle of the first five apps from LDM Design for the ROLI Blocks controller.

The ROLI BLOCKS Controllers are gorgeous little things that are so versatile that i’ve always had a couple in my bag whenever i’ve travelled. When we managed to get a couple to LDM Designs they were equally inspired and set about creating 5 new apps that add new functionality in spades…

Each of the below apps is available separately on the website but we’ve also gathered the first collection together to save you even more money especially for these more frugal times.

LDM ROLI Blocks Pack includes:

  • Boing Block is based on a monome device which provides an easy and fun interface for creating polymetric rhythms. It allows for different directional modes for more sequence lengths. The app can run from the Lightpad’s internal clocking ability (which is limited to arbitrary speeds and can’t provide specific BPM values) or by an external clock source. It will also advance once step each time it receives a C-2 note, which can allow for different speeds and odd sequencing.
  • Chordset allows an easy way to trigger chords within a Major or Minor scale. The app responds to Pressure and Slide. There are also modifiers to add the 7th and/or the 9th, and to use different inversions of the chord. Hold the 7th or 9th when striking the chord. The Inversion can be switched between Root, 1st and 2nd inversion.
  • The Fretpad app is modeled on the layout and techniques of guitar strings. You can slide up and down the string, hammer on and pull off, as well as take advantage of the MPE pressure and slide features of the blocks. For anyone more familiar with a guitar than a keyboard this app provides an intuitive interface for playing. The last note pressed on any one string will send the pressure and slide value for that string.
  • Mod CC allows the user to build a custom MIDI controller which has 12 customizable slots and 4 sliders. Each slot can hold a switch, pressure pad or a momentary button. Along the bottom row are buttons which open and close a slider, which will open in that column. When the slider is hidden, the colour of the button reflects the value of the slider from green to red.
  • Pressure Cafe is based on the monome device, Press Cafe. The app has 5 different patterns, which can be set with 5 different notes. When the finger is held down on any column, the placement of the finger in the y axis determines what pattern will be used for that note. The pressure value will control the velocity of the notes coming out, although this can also be mapped to aftertouch. Sliding the finger up or down will utilise midi CC 74 for more expressive play.

The LDM ROLI Blocks Pack is on sale for the intro price of £15 GBP (regular £25 GBP).

More information: Isotonik Studios