Add new dimensions of expression to anything with Airwave

Airwave doesn’t just work with the included Airwave Player software — here’s how to make it work with the rest of your setup

Sam Taylor

9 March 2026

Airwave already comes with Airwave Player, a powerful software instrument packed with expressive sounds that are already mapped to the Dimensions of Air. But what if you want to expand your sonic palette even further?

Using the MIDI Learn feature in ROLI Airwave Control, you can map each dimension to your chosen parameters in any MIDI-capable hardware or software — and for each hand separately.

In our latest videos, ROLI Sound Designer and Innovation Manager Marcus Levy-Chance shows us exactly how it works for a range of popular plugins. He’ll also show us how to set Airwave up with a non-ROLI controller of your choice.

Check out the full series below.

Serum 2

Serum 2 is creator Steve Duda’s take on a do-everything dream synth. It’s all about offering the user total control over every element of their sound — making it ideal for Airwave. Open filters, sweep through wavetables, add effects, or just about anything else you can think of.

Kontakt

Native Instruments’ Kontakt sampler has long been the go-to platform for virtual instruments that sound just like the real thing. One thing that’s often lacking from sampled sounds, however, is the sense of movement and expression that a “real” performance typically contains. Mapping Airwave’s dimensions to subtle — or not-so-subtle — parameters is the perfect way to reintroduce a human touch.

Pigments

Pigments from Arturia is designed for combining multiple types of synthesis into layered, complex sounds. Thanks to a well-thought-out user interface and a new simplified Play view, however, it’s easy to keep everything under control. Add Airwave, and you can achieve spectacular sonic results with the flick of a wrist.

ROLI Studio Player

ROLI Studio Player is our own expressive, melodic virtual instrument. It pairs a wide range of inspiring presets with powerful creative tools and MPE compatibility to spark inspiration fast. With some straightforward setup, it’s also fully compatible with Airwave. Use it with a ROLI Piano or Seaboard too, and the possibilities are virtually limitless.

Using Airwave with non-ROLI keyboards

Did you know that Airwave also works seamlessly with non-ROLI MIDI controllers? If you already own a conventional keyboard you’re happy with, pairing it with Airwave is a cost-effective way to open up new dimensions of expression. Here, Marcus shows us how it works with Arturia’s compact yet powerful KeyStep.

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