Learning a musical instrument is a challenge for many, especially when self-taught. It's likely that everyone has experienced this: purchasing a guitar or keyboard, only to have it relegated to a corner for various reasons, ultimately becoming a "dust-covered dream."
However, London-based company Roli has introduced a new product that brings new hope to music enthusiasts. This product is called Airwave, which aims to lower the barriers to learning piano through gesture tracking and artificial intelligence, allowing more people to enjoy the pleasure of music.
Airwave is a large, curved device that is compatible with existing Roli keyboards. It uses a 3D camera to track hand movements and gestures, bringing richer expressiveness to performances. This feature does not rely solely on key presses but also captures more subtle playing dynamics.
This device seamlessly integrates with Roli's Seaboard keyboard, a flexible keyboard that marked Roli's emergence a decade ago. More notably, Airwave's integration with Piano M, an educational keyboard launched by Roli in 2020 and rebranded since, is particularly striking. The combination of Piano M's lighted keys and gesture tracking allows it to comprehensively record the performer's expression.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of artificial intelligence. Roli has launched the Roli Music Intelligence (MI) platform, which is based on core technologies developed over the past decade and integrates sound, vision, touch, and now sight and sound. "The Roli MI platform will serve as the foundation for future intelligent products, with Airwave being the beginning of this series," the company stated in a press release.
Roli also mentioned that the system is trained using large language models (LLMs), supporting natural language commands. Users can request system-provided performance advice, chord assistance, or even access full pieces of music.
Roli hopes that Airwave will not only be an educational tool but also a device for music creation, with its gesture tracking capabilities. Creators can turn the piano into a full orchestra with simple hand movements, or change the timbre with a slight tilt of the wrist.
Airwave is now available for pre-order at a price of $299, while the rebranded Piano M is priced at $259.
Key Points:
🎹 Roli introduces the Airwave system, using gesture tracking and AI technology to lower the barriers to learning piano.
🤖 The Roli Music Intelligence platform supports natural language commands, helping users obtain performance advice and music pieces.
🎶 Airwave is not just an educational tool but can also be used for music creation, offering a rich playing experience.