Roland has resurrected their SH-series of synthesizers with the SH-201, an analog modeling synthesizer that's both fun and easy to use with plenty of features and cool sounds at a great price. The sounds and controls are analog style, and the SH-201 features Roland's famous Supersaw waveform (introduced in the JP-8000), resonant filter, saturation control, and more. Unlike the original SH-synths which were monophonic affairs, the SH-201 offers 10 voices of polyphony, which is perfect since we only have 10 fingers and this is definitely a hands-on performance oriented synthesizer.

At its heart the SH-201 has two beefy analog-modeling oscillators with ten analog styled waveforms. The two oscillators can be blended together in the Mix section, and there is also oscillator sync and ring modulation. Of course there is a filter section with High, Low and Band pass filtering at 12 or 24 dB/oct slopes, with the usual cutoff, resonance and key follow controls. Two LFOs add some modulation with 6 wave shapes plus sample-n-hold and multiple destinations. It also comes with high-quality delay and reverb effects, an overdrive control, and (like the SH-101) an arpeggiator function with 32 patterns.

Like the SH-101 of the early eighties, the SH-201 is quite user friendly, with a fairly simple and organized panel lay out (in a logically positioned signal path from left to right) and every control onboard is within reach. There are no complicated touch screens or menus of parameters to wade through, just grab a control and tweak! The keyboard is compact with just 49 keys and is only sensitive to velocity (no aftertouch). Patch memory is a bit on the disappointing side, with only 32 user and 32 preset patches. However, with its state-of-the-art USB connectivity, the SH-201 can be connected to a Mac/PC computer (both MIDI and audio can be routed through the USB port) and a VSTi software editor is included, which allows SH-201 sounds to be edited and stored from within a VSTi-compatible host software sequencer.

The SH-201 also features external audio inputs with dedicated filters and effects. The SH-201 also features Roland's D-Beam technology allowing you to simply wave your hand above the D-Beam controller to create some wacky pitch-bends or modulations to the sounds. While it is clearly loaded up with Roland's latest technology it is packaged in a synth that is easy to use and simple to understand, with instantly accessible analog-type synth sounds that won't empty your wallet to attain--and in that way, this truly is a Roland qualified to carry the "SH" designation.

It is used by Richard Barbieri.

siki

November 10, 2010 @ 6:27 am

Don't know what to say - this is the only Roland synth I really dislike. I forced myself to make it sound desireable, but, whatever I've done within 3 months of torturing it, I couldn't make it sound attractive enough! OK, it has a promising layout, and some sound moments that might sound astonishing. But, these sparkling moments are quite rare, and, despite the really low price these days, it doesn't justify itself for couple of interesting sounds only, you may use freeware vst's for better sound. It has a sound of it's own, but the problem is, whatever you do, however you try, it always sound metallic and nasal, good for industrial I guess...Luckily, I got rid of it quite easily, and bought SH-32 instead - this is a very good, entertaining and versatile synth, I only wish SH-201 would sound like it...

Connor

November 7, 2010 @ 11:36 am

This was the second synth I bought and I love this thing. I have had to send it in for repairs once so far (it's still being repaired), but overall I love this thing to death. I do not see myself selling it in the future.

lient

November 6, 2010 @ 3:33 pm

had roland synths synths since 85, jx8p alpha juno 1 etc.
had sh201 for a year and ok, it isn't analogue like the old rolands its not mean't to be.
And i have to say when i first got the synth i wasn't too impressed with the sound, however take time to programme it, use the on board effects and the results are way better than i expected. stick with it.
maybe thats the point.

ruiner54

October 16, 2010 @ 3:55 pm

This was my first real synthesizer, so it is fair to say that my knowledge was lacking and my expectations should have been set low. I will tell you it didn't take me long to realise I hated it. I found the sound engine so thin and cheap. It sounded like a toy. Then I moved up to a Nord Lead 2x, which was MUCH better.
Now, I have sold the fancy Nord Lead (which cost almost 2 grand) and I am the happy owner of an Alpha Juno 1 and a DSI Mopho.

Glaze

October 1, 2010 @ 4:22 am

@stefbuik Velocity can be linked to cutoff, I hate it when people don't read the manual, theres acually a lot more features in this thing than people know about.

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