London (September 1, 2016) - Music technology leader ROLI has acquired FXpansion, the renowned maker of software instruments, as it accelerates development of the musical instruments of the future.
London-based FXpansion adds a vast collection of sounds and effects
to ROLI's growing ecosystem of music creation tools. The Seaboard,
ROLI's touch-responsive instrument that is acclaimed as "the future of
the keyboard," will now be developed alongside FXpansion's virtual
instruments including BFD3, the world's largest collection of acoustic
drum sounds, and Strobe2, the analogue-modelled software synthesizer.
The combined ROLI team will integrate its technologies, as ROLI creates a
new class of digital instruments that are more expressive and versatile
than anything before it.
The Seaboard RISE controller (far right), NOISE app, and Strobe2 software synthesizer.
Deepening
ROLI's capabilities in sound and software, FXpansion products also
extend ROLI's stack of technologies - which is already more diverse than
any other in the music technology space. Beyond the Seaboard ROLI has
developed Equator, the software synthesizer; NOISE, the free app that turns iPhones into musical instruments; Blend, the social platform for music collaboration; and JUCE, the C++ coding framework for audio developers.
Roland
Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI, said, "We are creating a Connected Music
ecosystem of devices that will change the way people make and enjoy
music. Our leadership in music technology innovation - across both
software and hardware - strengthens with every link we add to ROLI's
toolchain. We're excited to continue pushing the boundaries of musical
expression and technological innovation with FXpansion, which has been
at the forefront of audio software development for the past 15 years."
Angus
Hewlett, founder and CEO of FXpansion, said, "This acquisition is a
momentous opportunity for FXpansion. Together ROLI and FXpansion can
create best-in-class instruments, even as we continue to develop the
FXpansion products our users know and love."
The
acquisition follows ROLI's $27 million Series B fundraising - led by
US-based Foundry Group - in May 2016. It concludes a transformative
12-month period during which ROLI released the Seaboard RISE, a
touch-responsive MIDI controller that the Consumer Technology
Association hailed as the most innovative Computer Peripheral product of
2016.
ROLI will support and develop FXpansion's
family of products which also includes Geist2, the beat production
system, and a range of sound effect plug-ins such as Maul and Bloom.
FXpansion products will continue to be sold in their current form.
Customer support and product maintenance will be available on all of the
current channels. Anticipated updates - including the release of BFD
3.2 and Cypher2 - are progressing.
All FXpansion
team members will join ROLI, where they will take on new roles as they
continue to develop FXpansion's products. Angus Hewlett will become Head
of Sound Synthesis and Lead Software Engineer. Rhiannon
Bankston-Thomas, FXpansion's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, will become ROLI's Head of Software Program Management. Skot
McDonald, Chief Technology Officer, will become ROLI's Lead Software and
Research Engineer.
Roland
Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI (third from left), chats with Angus
Hewlett, Skot McDonald, and Rhiannon Bankston-Thomas, the founders of
FXpansion and new
ROLI team members.
