From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Roland SH-101
Synthesizer
Synthesizer
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| image | SH-101.jpg | |
| image_caption | Roland SH-101 grey model | |
| synth_name | SH-101 | |
| synth_manufacturer | Roland | |
| synthesis_type | Analog subtractive | |
| polyphony | Monophonic | |
| timbrality | Monotimbral | |
| oscillator | 1 VCO with 3 simultaneously mixable | |
| waveforms : Pulse with PWM, Saw and | ||
| Sub wave (selectable -1 Oct. Square, | ||
| -2 Oct. Square or -2 Oct Pulse) | ||
| The Pulse wave can be modulated by | ||
| LFO, by Envelope or manually | ||
| Noise is also available at the oscillator | ||
| mixing stage | ||
| filter | 1 resonant VCF, modulated with | |
| ADSR, LFO, keyboard tracking | ||
| and/or bender controller | ||
| attenuator | ADSR envelope, triggered by | |
| gate or LFO | ||
| lfo | 1 LFO: triangle, square, random | |
| and noise waveforms | ||
| keyboard | 32-note | |
| left_control | Bender assignable to VCF frequency | |
| and/or pitch as well as pitch bend and | ||
| mod wheels on attachable handle | ||
| portamento | Yes | |
| velocity | No | |
| aftertouch | No | |
| ext_control | CV/Gate, Clock in | |
| memory | 100 step sequencer | |
| fx | Arpeggiator (up, down, up/down) | |
| dates | November 1982–1986 | |
| price | {{Plainlist |
waveforms : Pulse with PWM, Saw and Sub wave (selectable -1 Oct. Square, -2 Oct. Square or -2 Oct Pulse) The Pulse wave can be modulated by LFO, by Envelope or manually Noise is also available at the oscillator mixing stage ADSR, LFO, keyboard tracking and/or bender controller gate or LFO and noise waveforms and/or pitch as well as pitch bend and mod wheels on attachable handle
- US$495
- GB£249
- JP¥59,800 (1980s) The Roland SH-101 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by the Roland Corporation between 1982 and 1986. Though it did not achieve significant commercial success, it later became a staple of electronic music in the 1990s, particularly house music.
Sound and features
The SH-101 is monophonic, meaning it can only play one note at a time. It has a single oscillator (the Curtis CEM3340) and a sub-oscillator, a low-pass filter, a mixer allowing users to blend different waveforms plus a noise generator, and an arpeggiator and sequencer. An ADSR envelope generator controls the filter and VCA, and the filter, VCA, pitch and pulse width can be controlled with an LFO. Users can attach an optional handgrip with modulation controls and shoulder strap to play the SH-101 as a keytar, and it could also be powered via battery. According to MusicRadar, the SH-101 has "snappy and razor-sharp" bass, "squelchy and expressive" leads, and a "piercing yet smooth" filter.
Release
The SH-101 launched in the US at $495 and in UK at £249, making it much more affordable than the popular digital synthesisers of the time. Two limited edition versions were also released in both red and blue colours, in contrast to the original grey. Roland marketed the SH-101 to the emerging keytar market, with magazine slogans such as "freedom for expression" and “[the 101] takes you where you want to go". However, it was outsold by the digital Yamaha DX7 and was discontinued in 1986.
Legacy
During the 1990s resurgence of analogue synthesisers, the 101 became a staple in dance music studios. It was used by many famous electronic musicians.
In 2014, MusicRadar wrote: "Some inexpensive synths were brilliant 'for the price'. The Roland SH-101 was brilliant, period. Never a rock star's instrument like the Minimoog or Prophet-5, the 101 was a synthesiser for the rest of us, and a damned fine one, too." In 2016, Fact named the SH-101 one of the 14 most important synthesisers in history.
Famous users
Famous musicians that have used the SH-101 include:
Nitzer Ebb, Aphex Twin Vince Clarke of Erasure, Paul Frick from Tangerine Dream, Future Sound of London, Orbital, Überzone, The Prodigy, 808 State, The Grid, Eat Static, Jimmy Edgar, Apollo 440, Devo, Union Jack, Luke Vibert, Dirty Vegas, Skinny Puppy, Pig, MSTRKRFT, Josh Wink, Depeche Mode, The Crystal Method, Astral Projection, Les Rythmes Digitales, Squarepusher, KMFDM, Freddy Fresh, Lab-4, Jimmy Dickinson of Little Angels, Code 64, The Chemical Brothers, Boards of Canada, The Knife and many others.
Hardware re-issues and recreations
In 2018, Roland introduced the Boutique SH-01A, a virtual analog synth, based on its Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology. It is available with or without a keyboard.
In 2019, Behringer started producing a clone of SH-101 called MS-101. The layout and sound is very close to the original, with the addition of enhancements such as MIDI and USB.
In 2019, Superlative Instruments launched a Kickstarter campaign to produce the SB-1 Space Bee, very similar in layout to the SH-101 with a unique keyboard design and all keys and keyboard in dark gray.
In 2023, Roland introduced the S-1 Aira Compact, based on its Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology. It is a small form factor with built in keyboard.
Software emulations
In June 2014, Roland announced the release of SH-101 Plug-Out synth for the Aira System 1, using ACB that according to Roland "painstakingly recreates the hardware’s sound down to the behavior of the original circuits."
In June 2020, Roland released Zenology plugins for Roland synths, which includes an SH-101 emulator. Zenology engines are not based on the ACB algorithms but on a less power-hungry technology called ABM (analogue behaviour modelling). Roland describe ACB as being 'ultra-precise' whereas ABM offers 'a more holistic and dynamic recreation' of vintage synthesizers; in other words, the company's engineers have attempted to obtain similar results without modelling in as much detail as before.
Other software emulators include Togu Audio Line TAL-Bassline-101, D16 Group LuSH-101, Togu Audio Line TAL-Bassline (a free limited version of the other Togu app)., and Softube Model 82.
References
References
- Anatomy, Synth. (2018-01-04). "Erica Synths Reissues The Curtis Synthesizer Chips CEM 3310, 3340 & 3360".
- Tech, Computer Music2014-04-17T13:55:00 106Z. (17 April 2014). "Blast from the past: Roland SH-101".
- "Red Bull Music Academy Daily".
- (2016-09-15). "The 14 most important synths in electronic music history – and the musicians who use them".
- Rosenschein, Ari. (2020-07-28). "Synthesizing Belief: A Conversation with Bon Harris of Nitzer Ebb".
- "Aphex Twin's Roland SH-101 Synthesizer {{!}} Equipboard®".
- (2017-04-14). "7 pieces of gear that helped define Aphex Twin's pioneering sound".
- "Erasure: 'We're still trying to work on the perfect pop song'".
- "Roland SH-101 monosynth - The Prodigy equipment - The Prodigy .info".
- "808 State Article: TBD".
- Dummy. "Terekke interview: "Astral projection."".
- "Roland SH-101 {{!}} Vintage Synth Explorer".
- (2017-07-23). "Roland's brand-new SH-101 Boutique synth has allegedly been leaked via Instagram".
- Corporation, Roland. "Roland - SH-01A {{!}} Synthesizer".
- Kane. "Review: Roland SH-01A".
- February 2018, Bruce Aisher 19. (19 February 2018). "Roland Boutique SH-01A review".
- "Everybody needs a 101".
- "Behringer's synth clone train keeps rolling with modular System 100".
- (2018-12-19). "Behringer's Roland SH-101 clone goes into production".
- (2019-10-17). "Behringer MS-101 Review".
- (2019-10-22). "Superlative Space Bee SB01 opens for preorders on Kickstarter".
- April 2019, Simon Arblaster 11. (11 April 2019). "Superbooth 2019: Superlative Instruments teases rechargeable SH-101 synth clone with unique keyboard".
- October 2019, Ben Rogerson23. (23 October 2019). "Superlative's SB01 synth looks like a Roland SH-101 from the future".
- Rogersonpublished, Ben. (2014-06-27). "Roland announces free SH-101 Plug-Out synth for Aira System-1".
- Corporation, Roland. "Roland - SH-101 {{!}} Software Synthesizer".
- July 2020, Ben Rogerson01. (July 2020). "4 classic Roland '80s synths are coming to the Zenology plugin: the JX-8P, SH-101, Juno-106, and Jupiter-8".
- Abrons, Sara. "Roland Intros ZENOLOGY Software Synthesizer Plug-in – rAVe [PUBS]".
- "Roland Jupiter-X".
- Music, Computer. (17 April 2014). "Blast from the past: Roland SH-101".
- (6 July 2022). "Softube Model 82 Sequencing Mono Synth".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Roland SH-101 — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report