Roland SH-01A Analogue Synthesiser

The Roland SH-01A is a remake of the classic SH-101, a monophonic synthesiser initially launched in 1982. Most synthesisers at the time were complicated and unintuitive, but when the SH-101 came around it quickly became hugely popular thanks to the unique tones and simple one VCO – one VCF – one VCA – one LFO structure. Upon the release of the original, artists found how quick it was to program new and exciting sounds from bright, edgy tones right down to vibrant sound effects. The bass sounds it could produce were universally revered and was renowned for how any sound it can produce fits correctly into any mix. Even thirty years later, artists are still looking for the hallmark sounds of the SH-101, a true staple of vintage classic synthesisers now returns as the inspiration of the SH-01A.

One of the most creative functions of the original SH-101 was the 100-note step sequencer that allows you to load, add sequential notes with legato, and place it rests. The design helps to inspire you through simplicity, and the SH-101 sequencer has been the source of bass lines and leading melodies on countless legendary dance music tracks. However the limitation of playing with only one sequence back at a time has been resolved with the SH-01A, you can now save and access 64 sequence patterns which make it brilliant for live performance situations. You can recall any pattern at any moment and then utilise the iconic sequencer to control hardware synthesisers, modular rigs, and even software plug-ins via CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB. Let the SH-01A become the heart of your instrument setup whether on stage or in the studio.The original SH-101s are hard to come by, making them extremely rare and ever so expensive on the used market. Because of this many producers have resorted to hardware knockoffs, sample packs, and software plug-ins based loosely on the SH-101. However now with the SH-01A, you can accurately recreate the sound that made the original such a unique synthesiser with an authentic interface in a much more compact unit. Thanks to the Analogue Circuit Behaviour (ACB) technology the SH-01A gives you a vibrant sound that carefully recreates all the subtle details and quirks of the original unit by modelling each analogue circuit right down to the component level. Talks with the original developers and relentless research into the original schematics means you get a meticulously recreated oscillator, filter, and envelope behaviour; a perfect foundation to build upon for the next generation of ‘101’ fans.

The SH-01A came with a huge monophonic voice which gave power to its wide variety of sound. Now the SH-01A has four huge voices, giving you more modes to help expand upon the original’s sound palette. As well as the classic mono mode you can stack the four voices in unison mode; this helps you add punch to your basses and lead melodies while chord mode works by layering any four notes and can be shifted up and down in various semi-tone intervals. A polyphonic mode lets you play four notes simultaneously; this gives the legendary monosynth the capabilities to play pads and chords.

The simple design of the SH-101 made patch creation an instant process with sounds that could quickly form under the movement of each key and slider. That inspiring sound had the ability to vanish as quickly as it appeared due to the lack of a memory bank. Thank goodness for the SH-01A’s ability to save 64 patches that can serve as presets for differing tracks, or you can use them as starting points for experimenting with sound design, giving you inspiration at the touch of a button.

The SH-01A is compact enough to slip directly into your bag, allowing you to take it to just about anywhere and features a rugged build with super-sturdy knobs, metal shaft sliders, and solid silver controls just like the original. There are several tilt options so you can easily see the interface in a variety of live performance and studio situations. The synthesiser can also be used as a high-quality, low-latency, portable audio interface, and even features a built-in speaker and can run on four AA batteries. When mounted in the optional K-25m keyboard the unit becomes a compact all-in-one synthesiser with 25 velocity-sensitive keys. All this power and flexibility is available to you with a wallet-friendly price tag which places the vibes of the original SH-101 directly into your hands with the SH-01A.