Roland SH-201
49-key Analog Modeling Synthesizer with Built-in Delay, Reverb, and Saturation Effects
An Analog-modeling Synth That's Fun to Play!
For musicians new to synthesizers, Roland announces the most friendly and fun analog-modeling instrument on the market: the SH-201. For synth pros, the SH-201 will remind them of why they fell in love with synthesizers in the first place. The SH-201 is a blast to play! It sounds great too, thanks to such features as Roland's famous Supersaw waveform, resonant filter, saturation control, and more. Roland SH-201 Synthesizer at a Glance:- Great analog-style sound
- Ultra-easy operation
- USB connectivity
- External audio input
Great analog-style soundEven though it's super fun and easy to use, the SH-201 is no toy when it comes to sound. With two beefy analog-modeling oscillators on board, complete with Roland's famous Supersaw waveform and resonant filter, this little synth can blow down doors. It also comes with high-quality delay and reverb effects for adding depth and dimension to the sound, a saturation control for adding a ripsaw edge, and an arpeggiator for instant rhythmic motion. Ultra-easy operationThis is synthesis at its friendliest. The SH-201's front panel puts every control directly under your fingertips in a logically positioned signal path from left to right. No hidden menus, no nonsense. Just play and move the knobs and sliders. It's as simple as that! Students of synthesis will love the ease and immediate gratification of the SH-201. No other modern synth on the market is as fun, friendly, and inviting. USB connectivityConnect the SH-201 to a computer (Mac or PC) with one simple USB cable. Send and receive MIDI and audio through the USB port. Take advantage of the VSTi editing software that's included with the SH-201 to manipulate sounds from your computer, and to save/organize patches remotely (Editing software compatible with AU also from Version 1.10. See "Downloads" page). External audio inputPlaying the SH-201 from its keyboard is only half the fun. Try plugging another audio source into its external input (such as CD/MP3-player and samplers) and twist the sound with the front-panel knobs and sliders. Wave your hands over the SH-201's invisible D Beam and drive the audience wild! Roland SH-201 Synthesizer Features:- Great-sounding analog-modeling synth
- Ultra-easy front panel is logically designed to teach the basics of synthesis
- External input for manipulating external audio from CD/MP3 players, etc.
- Built-in delay, reverb, and saturation effects
- Arpeggiator adds instant rhythmic motion to sounds
- USB port for audio/MIDI connection to computer
- VSTi Editor software included for computer integration
- Invisible infrared D Beam controller
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inSync Review
Upon my first inspection of the Roland SH-201, I was a little intimidated. First of all, there are tons of knobs and faders and blinking lights that could overwhelm an inexperienced synth user like my... read more
Sweetwater Advice
Carson McClain
Great TB-303 sounds, wonderful arpeggiators, and under the hood lies the engine of the V-Synth. Obviously it is not the V-Synth, but you can get some amazing sounds with this and really add a unique sound to your mixes.
Matt Adams
Knobs, buttons, sliders and lots of glowing lights... this board has it all! WARNING! This keyboard is extremely addictive. The sounds are thick and rich and so easy to warp and change on the fly. If you're like me, you will spend hours turning knobs and moving sliders. Do yourself a favor: start a creative frenzy and pick up a SH201 today!
It's like having two synths under one keyboard
by Paul Rego from Asheville, NC
September 20, 2008
Music Background: Drummer, Analog Synthesist, Composer
With a background of analog synths (patch cords), I was skeptical about buying this. After digging into it a bit, I realized the SH-201 has some powerful features. One is dual voicing (2 layers) with ... read more [+]each instrument (patch). Press "Lower" and one layer is heard. Press "Upper" and you hear the other. Press "Dual" and both can be played together. 64 instruments (32 Preset, 32 User) become much more. USB transfers MIDI and audio to your computer. The included Editor / Librarian software provides unlimited instruments (and archiving). Being a drummer, I can run my Roland V-Drum audio through the Ext In on the SH-201 and have it filter sweep my sound (great effect). After 9-months, I'm still extremely happy with the SH-201. close [-]
The Digital Synth That Thinks It's Analog!
by goodnoize 43 from Santa Fe, NM USA
November 25, 2009
Music Background: 30 years, performer, recordist, composer; 80's metal 70's country, 80's new wave
The Roland SH-201 analog modeling synth will give you the "meat and potatoes" (the basics) of analog syn thesis. The SH-201 is actually a spinoff of Roland's 1999 JP8000, but perhaps in a more afforda ... read more [+]ble form. This synth will give the player lush sounding Oberheim pads and strings, Moog leads, Jupiter 8 basses, and Korg sound effects. Yes, the SH-201 is digital, but this baby sounds more analog than some analog synths! Think Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Thriller was recorded in 1982 with mostly a Roland Jupiter 8 keyboard. Fantastic analog synth music on that record. You can get every Thriller sound with the SH-201. Think Gary Numann's "Cars", which has in it a small taste of every analog synthesizer sound possible. The SH-201 sounds very MTV 1980ish, the 80's was the best era for music made with polyphonic synths. The control panel of the SH-201 is laid out like a signal flow chart. You start at the occillators, and stop at the envelopes. You can craft your own sound, by just following the arrows and turning the knobs and pushing the buttons where you land up. Anyone who is new to synthesis can learn the basics of synth programming quick and easy with the SH-201. My favorite features of the SH201 are the knobs and sliders, a characteristic of true analog synths. It is just better to adjust the ADSR on the envelope with sliders rather than knobs because you can see the shape of the waveform. And also the knobs on the SH-201 are start-and-stop potentiometers rather than endless encoders, which makes this synth all-the-better! And there are also other great features such as Roland's D-Beam controller, (an infra-red modulation sensor exclusive to all other makes of synthesizers) you can alter sounds just by waving your hand over it. And for all you DJ's, there is even an external input for your turntable, so you can use your record as an occillator! There is also a nice on board arppegiator with 64 preset patterns, (of all styles) and if you prefer,they can be customized with the included librarian and editing software. As far as effects, the SH-201 has a nice built-in digital reverb, and delay. This synth cuts through clear and clean in band performance, but also sounds pristine and pure for recording. And for all you smart, young people who know how to use recording software (I don't) The SH201 even has a USB port so can integrate it with your computer-based music production. The SH-201's black and white piano keys are quick and responsive; the keyboard has a nice feel to it. Twenty five years ago a synthesizer of this capability would of cost thousands. But now digital technology has made it affordable to get the fantastic analog synthesizer sounds of yester-year. This synth is of such good quality that Madonna's keyboard player even has an SH-201 in his rig. (I read this in Keyboard magazine). I own many high-quality expensive analog and digital synthesizers from the 80's and 90's, (Roland Jupiter 8, Juno 106, Ensoniq Fizmo, Moog Voyager, Access Virus Ti 61 key, and Korg Radias, just to name a few)and the SH-201 sounds just as good as any of them, so I had to get it. So if you are purchasing your very first analog synthesizer, "Buy the Roland SH-201 and You'll Have Fun! close [-]
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