Roland SH-4d: 5 reasons to be excited (and 3 things we would have done differently)

We have had the pleasure of being in the company of Roland's newest synth for just over a week now, which has been long enough to form a fair few opinions on the SH-4d.

Overall, we're quite enamoured by this desktop synth's feature set, but as with all things, there are a few features we're not so keen on. So, in the interests of fairness, we've gathered together some pros and cons.

[Edit: We mention the rhythm track have 16 sounds in the video. It's actually 26!]

0:00 Intro
01:35 Pro – Sounds
02:23 Pro – Virtual analogue
05:49 Pro – Digital synthesis
10:30 Pro – Drum synthesis
13:50 Pro – Sequencing tools
16:49 The cons
21:09 Our verdict
22:09 Sound demo (no talking)

[ChristopherOrth]

You call it a limitation that it's not a zen core synth into which roland can sell more stuff, but I call that a huge plus! This has way more synthesis breadth and depth than either a Juno or SH101 and those are both still perfectly valid creative tools even today, so approaching this box as "limited" in any way is crazy.

[donnoone]

I think this has a lot of value. Basically, it's like having 4 Roland boutique synths ($350 each) at once, plus drums. There's drum synthesis, sequencing...Who wouldn't hook this up a to MIDI controller? I'm confident there will be updates as well like they did for my MC-707!

[cresshead]

drum kit is 26 sound not 16 as stated in the video btw.

[avace]

I just got the MPC One Plus a couple of days ago. Looking to build a hybrid setup starting with the MPC and possibly this. I'm not much of a programmer, so this is definitely in the running to hook up to my MPC.

[jeffryarchambeau]

This has so many features that click with me! I'm selling several other units that came part-way.

[VJFranzK]

18:06 No Audio In effects - it's a big problem for vocalists. Do you think they might be able to add with a firmware update?

[symbiat]

Roland have pushed out several updates to the MC-101 and 707 that addressed many of their cons and I expect the same to happen here with the SH-4d

[devonhansen]

does it do sh-101 filter emulation? i expect the oscillator emulation to not be that useful for sh-101 sounds without the filter to go with it.

[sCealt]

Can you modulate the different sections of the waveform in drawing mode?

[BobNoble]

Does this pattern sync like the Aira Compacts? Like when you change patterns on the master, it changes patterns on the slaves. I recently got the Sh-4d, I'm really happy with it and might get a second one. Would be great if it synced.

[eddievanheinous]

My biggest con is the filter. This box is all code. If the Zen Core engine can emulate oscillators, then it can emulate filters. There could be a dozen filter types (101, 106, ladder, sem, etc - there are 3 on their X series keyboards) available PER oscillator, with the option to run in parallel or series. Just engage the oscillator, pick the filter type and use the physical control for it. That would have been insane. But no, one generic multimode filter.

[sCealt]

18:09 I think individual outs could be hacked out of it with a microcontroller, a few DACs and something like an emUSB-Device.

[koalemos]

Are the patches saved per sequence in such a way that sequence 1 and sequence 2 can have completely different sound set ups but still transition between the 2 sequences somewhat smoothly.

[Berus]

Great review, great demo. One thing I can say is that I will NEVER use that metallic clap sound in the end demo on anything. LOL. Anyway, I'm still on the fence between this and the MiniFreak.

[ChrisPx]

What does the very last "note" button play in the scale?

[TechGently]

I just bought this to replace my OP-1 and for whatever reason I’m not able to get the drums sequenced other than doing a recording. I just want to lay down the patterns and hit start. Color coding is confusing.

[isaac.anthony]

I don't understand why Roland made a product that over-laps on their MC line so heavily? A bunch of people on the Elektron forum said they going to sell their 101 for this and i would rather have my MC707.

[odyssey]

please record the sound coming through your cpu so we can hear the quality of the synth ;)

[jones]

Saving in this box is the biggest pain in ass....I save everything - switch off/on - day - reload the same thing and it remembers nothing

[UnpopularOpinion]

Pads like a Qnexus would make much more sense. Looks like a fun machine.