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A Polyphonic Update of a Monophonic Classic





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Our Product Research Team





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The SH-01A reimagines Roland's venerable SH-101 synthesizer as a Boutique Series module. Just like the original, the SH-01A generates distinctive bass sounds and bubbly analog effects using a simple 1-VCO, 1-VCF, 1-VCA, 1-LFO design. But thanks to modern innovations, you can now perform full chords with 4-voice polyphony, greatly expanding your sound palette. And whether you craft a throbbing bass line, buzzing lead, or otherworldly sound effect, you can store up to 64 preset patches for instant recall. Complete with 100-note step sequencer, arpeggiator, and selectable advanced LFO, the SH-01A is a must-have for any synth enthusiast.





Related Videos: SH-01A Boutique Series Synthesizer with Sequencer


The original SH-101.


The SH-101 ? a simple synth with monster sound





For the SH-01A, Roland modeled their iconic SH-101 synthesizer right down to the component level using their proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior technology. The SH-101 was originally produced in 1983 and is now legendary for its alluring bass sounds and edgy analog tones. This popular monophonic synth was pretty simple, employing a 1-VCO, 1-VCF, 1-VCA, 1-LFO structure, and was used extensively in industrial and dance music throughout the late '80s and '90s. The SH-101's distinctive sounds are coveted by electronic artists worldwide, and now thanks to the SH-01A, those elusive sounds can be yours.





Expand your sound palette with 4-note polyphony





The original SH-101 was great for bass lines and leads, but its monophonic design restricted its usefulness. The Roland SH-01A removes this limitation, providing you with full 4-note polyphony. Build massive sounds with all four voices in Unison mode, or use Chord mode to layer any four notes, each of which can be shifted up and down in semitone intervals. Poly mode allows you to play four notes simultaneously for pads and chords. It's funny ? despite all these cool options, many of us here at Sweetwater still get a kick out of using Mono mode to deliver a classic monophonic SH-101 performance.





K-25m keyboard sold separately.


Create inspired compositions with the built-in sequencer





Countless bass lines and lead melodies owe a debt to the original SH-101's built-in 100-step sequencer. Unfortunately, it only allowed you to store one sequence at a time. This isn't the case with the SH-01A, however. Now you can save and access 64 sequence patterns, making the SH-01A perfectly suited to the stage. On top of that, CV/Gate, MIDI, and USB capabilities allow you to control your modular rig, hardware synths, and software plug-ins directly from the SH-01A.





The original SH-101 has been used by:


Orbital


Future Sound of London


Uberzone


The Prodigy


808 State


The Grid


Cirrus


Eat Static


Jimmy Edgar


Apollo 440


Devo


Union Jack


Luke Vibert


Dirty Vegas


Josh Wink


The Crystal Method


Aphex Twin


Astral Projection


Les Rythmes Digitales


Sense Datum


Squarepusher


Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM/MDFMK


Freddy Fresh


Lab 4


Nitzer Ebb


The Chemical Brothers


Boards of Canada


The Moog


Jimmy Dickinson of Little Angels


Roland SH-01A Features:


Re-creation of the classic SH-101 synthesizer using proprietary Analog Circuit Behavior technology


Simple design consisting of 1 VCO, 1 VCF, 1 VCA, and 1 LFO


4-voice polyphony with Unison, Chord, and Polyphony modes greatly expand your sound palette


Store and recall up to 64 patterns using the built-in 100-step sequencer


Onboard arpeggiator with 3 playback modes, note hold, and 3-way transpose switch


Control modular and vintage gear with the CV/Gate output


Synchronize to your other gear via MIDI, USB-MIDI, LFO clock, and trigger input


Increase your performance capabilities with 64 writable preset patches


Selectable advanced LFO with multiple waveforms and extended clock rate


Highly portable with durable metal front panel


Compatible with Roland K-25m keyboard (sold separately)