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FREE 64-patch Sound Bank!

The GAIA SH-01 you buy from Sweetwater comes pre-loaded with a full bank of 64 Sweetwater-exclusive patches, which give you tons of classic and new sounds to play with. Plus, our included QuickStart Guide will help get you up and running fast! And, for a limited time, get additional sounds from Roland by filling out a short questionnaire online at http://www.rolandus.com/news_events/current_promotions.

Roland GAIA SH-01

Item ID: SH01

37-key Virtual Analog Synthesizer with Arpeggiator, Phrase Recorder, Onboard Effects, and 64-note Polyphony

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  • Retail Price$799.00
  • Sweetwater Savings-$100.00
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  • Sale Price:$699.00PLUS FREE 64-patch Sound Bank!
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From Our Research Team:

Massive Sounds in a Lightweight Synth!

Are you in love with the sounds of the past but equally in love with technology? The GAIA SH-01 uses a trio of virtual analog engines — each with its own dedicated oscillator, filter, amplifier, envelope, and LFO — to conjure massive tones that would make you swear you're playing a vintage synth. But the cool thing is that this baby is thoroughly modern, giving you vintage flavor and the conveniences afforded by the latest technology. There are no menus to navigate and no pages to scroll through, just analog-style knobs and faders that drive the synth engines.

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The GAIA SH-01 gives you a ton of effects (reverb, distortion, fuzz, bit crash, flanger, phaser, pitch shifter, low boost, and delay) to take your sonic explorations even further. And with 64 voices of polyphony, expansive synthing (sans note dropout) is at your fingertips. When combined, all of these elements come together to create massive sound, packed into an extremely lightweight chassis. How lightweight? The GAIA SH-01 weighs less that 10 lbs., making it easy to take your sound with you. Plus, you can run the GAIA SH-01 on battery power. How cool is that?

And no synth would be complete without a solid arpeggiator. Just hold down a single key and let it work its magic! Plus, you can record your creations — along with the movements of the knobs and sliders — by using the onboard phase recorder. Use the USB port to plug the GAIA SH-01 into a computer to send and transmit MIDI data, or store your patches and phrases (recorded with the phrase recorder) to a USB memory stick. Integrate the GAIA SH-01 with external devices, such as MP3 players, via the EXT input and play along with your favorite songs or backing tracks — great for practice and performance.

And the GAIA SH-01 is perfect for newcomers to synthesis. The SH-01's front panel puts every control right at your fingertips. The logically laid out front panel shows the signal path from left to right, helping beginners understand synthesis. Experienced players will dig the instant gratification of hands-on control.

Roland GAIA SH-01 37-key Virtual Analog Synthesizer Features at a Glance:
  • 3 virtual analog engines onboard, each with a dedicated oscillator, a filter, an amplifier, an envelope, and an LFO
  • Layer up to 5 simultaneous effects, including distortion, flanger, delay, reverb, low boost, and more
  • 64-voice polyphony
  • Hands-on control panel
  • Lightweight, compact body
  • 37 full-size keys
  • Runs on AC or battery power
  • D Beam, arpeggiator, and phrase recorder onboard
  • USB ports for saving user patches to USB flash drives, and for audio/MIDI connection to computers

Once again, Roland innovates the synth, with the GAIA SH-01!

GAIA SH-01 Image Gallery

Specification Detail
Sound Engine Type(s) Analog Modeling, ROM
Number of Keys 37
Type of Keys Semi-weighted
Other Controllers Pitchbend, Mod Wheel, D Beam
Polyphony 64 Notes
Number of Presets 64
Expansion No Expansion
Number of Effects 9
Effects Types Reverb, Delay, Flanger, Distortion
Arpeggiator Yes
Sampling No
Audio Playback USB Thumb Drive
MIDI Sequencer No Sequencer
USB 1 x MIDI, 1 x Audio Playback/Saving Patches, etc.
Number of Audio Inputs 0
Audio Input Types No Audio Inputs
Number of Audio Outputs 3
Audio Output Types 2 x TS, 1 x TRS (Headphone)
Number of Digital Inputs 0
Digital Input Types No Digital Inputs
Number of Digital Outputs 0
Digital Output Types No Digital Outputs
MIDI I/O In, Out, and USB
Pedal Inputs 1 x Pedal
Height 3.94"
Width 27.19"
Depth 12.5"
Weight 9.31 lbs.
Power Supply 8 x AA Batteries Not Included, DC 9 V Included
Manufacturer Part Number SH-01

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Reviews

based on 15 reviews

Best in it's price range

by Rob Parker from Murfreesboro, TN
April 15, 2012
Music Background: Owner, Producer/Engineer
I heavily debated between the Gaia and Novation's Ultranova. While both have a great sound, the shear amount of hands-on controls and lack of any screens/menus is what won me over. If you're looking f... read more [+]or a synth to create your own sounds on, (you know, what synthesizers like this are meant for in the first place) then this is the best choice in terms of price range. I'm not saying it will compete with the likes of a Virus or Moog, but new-coming synthesists and seasoned synthesists alike will find this to be a great synth. close [-]

Great synthesizer

by Z from
April 14, 2012
Music Background: Sound Artist, Composer. Experimental Electronic Music
Roland Gaia is great - all parameters you can control from the front panel. You don't need screen really, because everything is on your hands. The sound is very clear, low boost makes your sound so de... read more [+]ep! And nice to use also as midi controller too. It has 2 USB - one for computer connection, other for flash drive for extra space to store more own presets. Very light for traveling.

What the most I like it is really intuitive and "no diving menu". Superb close [-]

Smokin Hot

by mike gervais from klamath falls oregon
April 5, 2012
Music Background: hobbyist
I knew roland made awesome stuff and the roland gaia sh-01 is just that. It is a perfect match to my digital grand. The tones are awesome. And the special patches added by sweetwater are cool. This sy... read more [+]nth is beyond cool. close [-]

Best synth under $1000

by Mark Ridlen from Bedford, TX USA
April 4, 2012
Music Background: Electronic Music Composer and Keyboardist
If you are looking for an analog synth for less than $1000, with lots of hands on control, look no further.

It looks and sounds amazing. I only wish the keyboard was larger (only a very... read more [+] minor complaint). The keys are well constructed and very solid feeling for a synth action keyboard. The effect section is comprehensive, and includes several distortion and amp models for a wide variety of sounds. I have been working with electronic music now for about 15 years, and this is one of the most effective tools that I have to work with. I am able to create suitable copies of the synth sounds from my older material with relative ease.

The key benefit of this synth is the hands on control. There are many synths in the price range that are comparable or even better sounding than this (such as the Alesis Micron), but none that match the level of instant control that this one does. There are no screens and no menus. None of that "select this button and then you can move this knob for cutoff and then you have to select this button to access the other knobs" you see in so many other synths in this price range. You can access some deeper options by hitting combinations of buttons, but pretty much everything you need is clearly labeled, and the most you usually need to press is the shift key. In any case, it's very easy to work with.

I have played this keyboard at live shows on a number of occasions, and it worked great. The key quality makes this a joy to play. Sometimes I will need to come up with a preset on the fly, and in about 2 minutes I can get any sound that I need. close [-]

DONT SLEEP!!!!!!

by MARK EATON from Staten Island, New York
March 26, 2012
Music Background: PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN!!!!!!!!
Man this little synth adds flavor on he fly once u get to know where the sounds in the banks are!!!!! man i used it in church and the crispness of the sounds and the additional organ sounds have my ch... read more [+]urch and gigs bouncing. The price is right and the little synth is dynamite!!!!!!! did i forget no taxes and i live in the big apple!!!!!!! close [-]
Read more reviews

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See Also: Synths , Roland , Roland Keyboards / Synthesizers

Roland GAIA SH-01

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