The RISE 49 is 834 mm (32.8 inches) wide, 23 mm (0.9 inches) high, and 210 mm (8.27 inches) deep. It weighs 4.2 kg (9.26 pounds). The battery has an eight-hour life and a three-hour charge time. It has a 1/4" input for a sustain pedal, a USB-B port (for MIDI out and power) and a USB-A port (for charging peripherals). It provides full MIDI compatibility over USB and Bluetooth LE. All the white markings light up with white when the RISE is powered and the control buttons have a backlight, which is constant for some buttons and pads, but uses VU meter-style segments for the faders, to show the level. Users must install a software suite, including a utility program called ROLI Dashboard for RISE and the company's synth engine, Equator. Equator's sounds are designed to respond to the RISE's five response dimensions. In Equator, the hardness or softness of pressing controls volume, gliding microtonally changes the pitch, sliding alters timbre (for example by changing the filter cutoff), pressure alters the sustain level and timbre. If the key release or "lift" response is used, it changes how notes end. The Y–axis slide creates MIDI CC 74 messages (which are usually set to controls the cutoff frequency of a filter). All of the finger touches are independent; one finger can wiggle on a note causing vibrato, while another finger slides between notes, causing a pitch bend, while the thumb slides up and down its key, causing timbre changes. The performer can create crescendos and obtain a breath controller sound that resembles a bowed string or wind instrument. GRAND Stage The 88-key GRAND Stage was produced in a limited edition of 88 units. It is a plug and play controller and synthesizer that is about 26mm thick. Unlike the RISE keyboards, it does not have an array of buttons and faders. It has a black aluminium case, a silicone key surface, and a circular "user dial" made of aluminium that can be rotated to make changes, or pressed in its centre button. On the rear panel, there are three pedal inputs, two 1/4" audio jacks, a volume wheel, a 1/8" stereo headphone jack, USB type A and B jacks, an input for the DC power supply, and a power switch. History The Seaboard digital keyboard's creator, Roland Lamb was "...inspired by waves", in particular by the way that they are "...both