FOUR TIMES THE SOUNDS IN A FRACTION OF THE SIZE The SH-01A is a meticulous reproduction of the iconic Roland SH-101, one of the most popular classic synthesizers of all time. Our Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology reproduces the SH-101’s legendary sounds by faithfully recreating the actual behavior of the original analog circuits, right down to the fine details and odd quirks that have endeared the synth to musicians and producers for decades. The SH-01A builds on the great sounds and creative immediacy of the original, now in the popular Roland Boutique format—offering exciting new polyphonic capabilities, inspiring new performance features, and a level of authenticity that could only come from Roland.
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Beauty Through Simplicity The now-legendary SH-101 was a seemingly simple monophonic synthesizer launched in 1982. Unlike more complex synthesizers available at the time, the SH-101 quickly became popular for its characteristic tone and simple one-VCO → one-VCF → one-VCA → one-LFO structure. A legion of artists found it quick to program and adept at bright edgy tones and exciting sound effects. Its bass sounds are universally revered, and somehow any sound it produces always just fits perfectly in a mix.
An Inspired, Iconic Sequencer Revisited One of the most creative features of the original SH-101 was its 100-note step sequencer. Press Load, add sequential notes with legato and rests, and press Play. Easy. Designed to inspire through simplicity, the SH-101 sequencer has been the source of countless bass lines and lead melodies on legendary dance tracks. But the limitation of playing one sequence back at a time has been resolved with the SH-01A. Now you can save and access 64 sequence patterns, perfect for any performance situation. Recall any pattern at any time, and use the iconic sequencer to control your modular rig, hardware synthesizers, and software plugins via CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB. Let the SH-01A be the heart of your electronic instrument setup, on stage or in the studio.
Did You Say Polyphonic? The SH-101 found its power in a huge monophonic voice for a wide variety of sounds. The SH-01A now has four huge voices, allowing for more modes to expand upon the original’s sound palette. On top of the classic Mono mode, you can stack the four voices in Unison mode to add some punch to your bass and lead lines. Chord mode layers any four notes, and can be shifted up and down in semi-tone intervals. Poly mode allows for four notes to be played simultaneously, making the famous monosynth now capable of pads and chords.
Portable. Performer. The simple design of the SH-101 made patch creation immediate, with sounds quickly forming under the movement of each key and slider. But that inspiring sound could vanish as quickly as it appeared due to its lack of patch memory. The SH-01A adds 64 writeable patches that can serve as presets for different tracks or quick starting points for experimenting with new sound designs, making inspiration only a button press away.
Features
Sounds of the classic SH-101 synthesizer via ACB tech, including bass, lead, noise, and sound effects
New Unison, Chord, and four-voice Polyphonic modes expand on the original’s iconic sound palette
Built-in sequencer with 64 patterns available to save and recall
Easy performance arpeggiator with three playback modes, note hold, and three-way transpose switch
CV/Gate output for controlling modular or vintage gear
Multiple sync options including internal and external MIDI, MIDI via USB, LFO clock, and trigger input
64 writeable preset patches for increased performance capabilities
Selectable advanced LFO with new waveforms and extended range of clock rate
Sends and receives MIDI control change messages via traditional MIDI jacks or USB
High-quality construction with metal front panel
Highly portable for mobile music making
Battery-operated (4 x AA) or USB powered
Compatible with the K-25m Keyboard Unit and other optional Roland Boutique accessories
Specs
Connectors
CV OUT jack: mono miniature phone type
GATE OUT jack: mono miniature phone type
EXT CLK IN jack: mono miniature phone type
PHONES jack: stereo miniature phone type
OUTPUT jack: stereo miniature phone type
MIX IN jack: stereo miniature phone type
MIDI (IN, OUT) connectors
USB port: Micro-B type (Audio, MIDI)
Power Supply
Rechargeable Ni-MH battery (AA, HR6) x 4
Alkaline battery (AA, LR6) x 4
USB bus power
Expected battery life under continuous use
Rechargeable Ni-MH battery: Approx. 6 hours
* This can vary depending on the specifications of the batteries, capacity of the batteries, and the conditions of use.
