Equator2
by ROLI · Synth · MPE synth
Not rated yet
Equator2 is ROLI's MPE synth, combining wavetable, granular, multi-sample and noise sources with deep modulation and a large effects section.
It is designed around expressive controllers such as the Seaboard, and lists at $249 at Plugin Boutique.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic, Pop.
Keywords: MPE support, sample-based, granular, multisampled, wavetable, smooth, analog-sounding, cinematic, deep, evolving, leads, monophonic, pads, sound design, textures.
What it does
Equator2 is ROLI's flagship MPE synth: it layers several sound engines in one patch and is built so every sound responds to pressure, slide and glide. ROLI claims it has "the most comprehensive MPE support of any synthesizer".
- Four engine types: wavetable, granular, multi-sampler and noise, with up to six sources per patch drawn from those four types.
- Wavetables and samples: more than 240 wavetables and around 250 samples ship with it, plus 40+ instruments ready to use in the multi-sampler.
- Your own samples: drag and drop single samples or multisamples to build sampled instruments inside the synth.
- Modulation: 5 expression curves, 5 LFOs, 5 envelopes, 2 Multi-Mod generators, 4 Math and 4 Random modules, routed by click and drag.
- Filters: two filters with high-pass and low-pass types, which reviewers found smooth and analog-sounding.
- Effects: 12 slots with 15 effect types, including filtering, compression, delays and reverbs, with re-routable signal paths.
- Presets: over 1,400 new patches (MusicRadar counts 579 for MPE and 896 for standard keyboards), plus the original Equator sounds, with a filterable browser.
Plugin Boutique offers upgrade pricing for owners of Equator, ROLI Studio, Strobe2 or Cypher2.
When to use it
Equator2 is the pick when MPE is the point. Pigments 7 and Serum 2 support MPE, but Equator2's presets and modulation are designed around it, with separate curves for each dimension of touch, so a Seaboard, LUMI or Piano M feels expressive straight away. Compared with Pigments 7 it has a similar mix of wavetable, granular and sample engines, but a smaller third-party preset scene. Compared with Omnisphere 3 its library is much smaller, though its granular and multi-sample engines are easier to dig into. On a standard keyboard it is still a capable layered synth, but it costs as much as Serum 2 without Serum's huge supply of presets and tutorials.
- Best for: expressive pads, leads, evolving textures and playable sampled instruments from an MPE controller.
- Genres: electronic, ambient, cinematic and pop.
- Look elsewhere if: you play a standard keyboard and want the biggest preset library (Omnisphere 3) or the most third-party sounds and tutorials (Serum 2).
- Tip: click a generator to swap the oscilloscope for that source's own controls, which makes editing each engine much quicker (MusicTech).
What producers say
Reviewers rate it as a true super synth and a strong case for MPE; the price and the limited sample editing are the main complaints.
- MusicRadar (Si Truss, 2021) said it "goes toe-to-toe with any 'super synth' on the market", praising the sound engine, the curated presets and the expression tools; it found parts of the interface unintuitive and noted the sample library can't easily be moved to an external drive.
- MusicTech (Matthew Mann, 2021) praised the clear layout, fast modulation routing, smooth filters and granular engine, and said layering engines gives "fantastic and weird results".
- Criticisms: MusicTech found the price steep and noted that imported samples could not be edited at launch, with sampler controls limited to start offset, boost and the filter section.
Where to buy
- Plugin Boutique: $249
Tutorials and reviews
- ROLI EQUATOR 2 Overview + Unusual Presets
- Roli Equator2 Review & Sounds
- Equator 2 - Limitless Hybrid Synthesizer by ROLI - The BIG Sound Test
- Seaboard RISE 2 and Equator2: A match made in musical heaven
- Overview of Roli Equator 2 sound presets & navigation
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