RolandSH-01A Synthesizer with Analog Circuit Behavior

Great piece. Very expressive

The Roland SH-01A is my first entry into the Roland Boutique lineup, and it's a pretty impressive little machine. My interest in hardware synths is fairly recent, so I'll keep this short and to the point. I own all 6 of the Korg Volca (instrument) units, plus a Korg Minilogue (4-note polyphonic analog synth with 37 keys). These Roland units fall somewhere between that spectrum - they're battery powered, but more robust and hands-on than the Volca series. Actually, I was impressed by the amount of modern functionality Roland packed into this vintage reboot:- Options for 5-pin DIN MIDI or USB MIDI control- Docking with the K-25m keyboard module- CV/Gate Output for syncing with other gear- 4-note polyphony (a digital enhancement over the original SH-101, which was a mono synth)- 1/8" jacks for headphones and audio out- USB Audio output- 100-note sequencer- Stores up to 64 preset patches- Can be powered by USB cable (phone charger) or 4 "AA" batteriesI've read a lot of purists knocking the Roland Boutique models that use digital emulation of the original analog hardware. But making it "digital" is what also allows it to be compact, affordable, reliable, and feature-laden. I'm finding the sounds in the SH-01A to be excellent. It can handle thumping basses, plucky leads, and (thanks to the added polyphony) warm pads and chords. Reading the manual may save you some time, but I was able to figure out most of the sequencer with simple trial and error. 64 presets isn't a ton, but having that capability was a big draw for me, since I'm always worried I'll create a cool sound "by accident" and never be able to find it again once I move some sliders.Most importantly, the SH-01A is just a ton of fun. You can put on it your lap and just start experimenting with the sequencer and come up with amazing things. Even my perfunctory understanding of synthesis doesn't stop me from getting to work and quickly creating approximations of the "sound in my head".

This particular unit came out of the box poorly constructed. This usb peripheral was soldered on crooked which is the manufacturer Roland’s fault. The synth did not come with any cords whatsoever. I’m not sure if that’s standard or if this is a refurbished unit as there’s no way to tell. Not a cheap piece of gear to have manufacturing defects. I’m going to talk to the seller what they want to do about this.

This will never sound *exactly* like the real thing, but it does sound great! I also have a System-1, System-8, Behringer MS-1, and a Jupiter-Xm, all which emulate the SH-101. I also have TAL Bassline 101 and the D16 Lush 101 plugin.Since I own all of these, and my red SH-01A still has a place in my heart, I'll let you figure it out how much I love it. The Behringer could replace it, but there's something about the workflow and size of the Roland Boutique that just works for me. I also love that I can use it with batteries, making it more portable than something like my Jupiter-Xm, but more hands-on and fun than a soft synth. The fact that the Behringer doesn't run on batteries makes the whole handgrip and guitar strap thing feel lame. Hope this helps your decision!

A simple synth design made EXCELLENT after installing the Ultimate Patches. Loving the polyphonic sounds!

This is a blast to use. I can definitely recreate some of the classic sounds reminiscent of 80's and 90's music. Easy to use sequencer as well. Highly recommended.

Stopped working after 3 days, audio barely registers now, and this appears to be a common problem with this unit. It was great volume, clear signal for 3 days, now basically impossible to hear clearly