The Synth That Made Me Start // Roland Sh101 and Boutique SH-01a

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Hello there!
Today we celebrate one of my favorite synth, the one that taught me the basics when I started : the Roland SH101 (and his little sibling SH-01a).
Despite a very simple interface, the SH has an amazing sound that I used extensively during the years, especially for minimal compositions.
I will use also a Strymon Nightsky and a Death By Audio Rooms to show how this synth pairs well with effects.

Enjoy!

00:00 Introduction
06:20 A comparison between SH101 and SH01a
07:46 Overview of the SH101
13:48 The Sequencer, Arpeggiato and Keyboard Controls
20:06 What the Sh01a Is Adding
26:50 More sounds
34:30 Conclusions

#sh101 #rolandsh101 #roland

More Oora:

[murrrr]

I like it, how you actually use your gear that you showcase. Many influencers just make one video about a gear telling how it's the best thing ever... and the gear is never to be seen again.

[Decoy]

My favorite person on the internet to watch make music and also verbally share their passion in creating it.
Higher vibrations to you sir.

[qi_kayon]

27:14 sounds so amazing, loved this walk-thru, had been looking at the SH-01A and this sealed it 🙏

[geofff]

I had a real SH101 back in the day but never loved it that much and was happy to see it go, replace by digital synths in the late 80. I have an SH01a now and really like it. I think the boutique is actually better than the original.

[thefantasticlaurab]

just bought an SH-01A and watching your video while I'm waiting for the delivery. I'm chuffed of my choice :) :) :) I have many old analog synths and the penny dropped when you said that the SH-101 has no MIDI! I have a number of 'no MIDI' synths and I love them to bits but I must admit that having MIDI on board has become a bit of a deal breaker now. (and memories for presets too!) . I really enjoyed your company during this video, AND really like your sequences and choice of sounds too. Thank you :) :) :)

[AndreaCiaba]

I remember you suggesting me the Sh01a as a good starting point in the synth world indeed. Still not in my hands, but I'll get one as soon as a right priced one will pop up nearby for sure. It just sounds so beautiful.
Great content as usual, ciao!

[saorcid]

Thanks for the walk through on the 101 have Ms 1 and it is best video I have seen yet on this synth a great help and inspiration. 💙

[DAMAGR]

So glad I got the SH01a. Sold my JP08 for it and do not regret it. a 101 is a must have.

[dxtrs_mnpltr]

I really really like my SH01A, I think Roland did a fantastic job with this one and the added features make it so much better.
Had they made it RS and had slapped a cv input on it, it would of been just perfect

[robertjarden]

The blind test I tried to do and can only really tell is the 101 has a larger sound but is indeed naked. The 01-A has a potentially fatter sound but is weaker (think mainly this is analog versus digital) but then with the modulations and polyphonic on the 01-a and stacking effects like reverbs and delays… wow it gives it a whole new vantage point.

I agree effect pedals with synths is almost like giving fertilizer to a plant. You don’t need it… but it greatly enhances it.

I wouldn’t get the 01-A to have by itself but with effects… it’s so perfect for deep ambient or rich tone.

Even the Roland sh101 wasn’t unlocked until effects. I used to mess with that one naked and it’s fun to mess and have fun but it always felt too “weak” to use in music production… then I too found eventide (I use time factor and night sky is on my next grab versus the big sky just being a god tier reverb for reverb) effects make the 101 just pop and become an oozing beauty of sound synthesis. So it’s wild. I definitely think from watching this video.. one could have both or want both 😂 very different versatility versus preference and situational approach. But I love this video. You put all the strengths, weaknesses and preferences without bias for … no two machine will ever be “the same”
Bravo!!! I love this video!

[earlsfield]

First, great video as always. Second, we follow the same logic - I value a device if it provides me with a sound I like, but also, If I enjoy working with it, if it feels as an instrument, a platform, rather than a device that makes me not feel music. I had countless instruments, controllers, synths, samplers, both hardware and software and it always boils to these two things I mentioned. Sometimes, when I was working for clients, I would have to endure a certain instrument I did not like, but that's a job. For instance, OB6 feels like immediate instrument. Prophet 10 and Prophet REV2 do too. Moog One - doesn't.
I also love Roland SH 101, and it was one of my first synths. I had romplers from Roland and Yamaha first (tried to get as many diverse sound sources as possible with one or two units as I was on a limited budget, and stuff like JV 1080 that would play 16 parts, was polyphonic and also had all Roland classic drums was a bargain back then. I got SH 101 by chance, and at the time I did not realise I got an iconic synth (it came with a swap - I gave one of my DX7's, a mixer and a pair of monitors for something else and SH came with that bargain (1995-6 can't really remember).
I instantly fell in love with it, and since then I always liked Roland's approach to envelopes and values with sliders/faders rather than pots. Later on, I got Jupiter 6 and Juno 106 and its the same thing, I wish all synths had those sliders. I also think I wasn't cherishing it enough in the begining, I even used it as a midi keyboard only to play JV 1080 and Akai s3200. I even broke C key plastic because I was programming drums with it, and kick, as it usually goes by default, was at C2, and I thought it wasn't loud enough.
The sound of SH is pivotal in evolution of electronic music in general, from techno and acid house to those whacky genres under umbrella term of "IDM" - BOC, Autechre, Four Tet, Richard D James, Square Pusher... entire generation was using CHEAP synths, not the top of the line stuff, and I think the limits of those machines is what made them master the instruments and get the best tunes out there with just one or two synths.
I must say I don't like boutique series at all. My personal thing. I would rather use software version made by D16 (they have amazing emulation).
As for the sound, OF COURSE something made three decades ago will not sound the same as a boutique line, nor will it sound the same as Behringer's knock-offs (I am not advocating pro or con Behringer now, just saying).
SH 101 was one of my entries into the world of synthesis from a different point, as I said I started with romplers, physical modelers, samplers and fm synths. Then this, although the architecture was familiar and all, took some time for me to master building blocks. I will always cherish SH as "poor man's Minimoog" and while I do move lots of keyboards left and right around my studio, SH stands proud on the "mono" rack with Pro 2, Pro 3, Subsequent 37 and Matrixbrute. Old man in company of new kids :)

[uweschnitzler]

Still one of my favourite machines, next to my Avalon and Juno 60 …

[Rupert.Bingham]

My first synth! Just got a used one and I am loving it. It is proving very fun and easy to learn. This video helped a lot too!
Next step, I need a reverb and/or delay pedal for this. Saving up 😬

[pixelwash]

Interesting comparison. Definitely more of an ‘edge’ to the sounds from the modeled version to my ear anyway, although I would not claim a 100% ability to tell which one is which in a blind test.

[IanWaugh]

Wonderful! I also wonder at the navel gazers who want to know if the waveforms on two synths are identical! In a mix, no one can tell and, at the end of the day, as you say, it is the sound that counts. Recently got a SH-01a 👍

[devondetroit]

I love both the sh101 and the sh01a is amazing, even better maybe? It have 4 voices and a unison mode and sounds straight up techno.
I love these Roland synths, hooked for life lol

[henrikpersson]

am i right in assuming this one can be triggered (via clock input on front panel) by, for example, a tr06 or tr09 drum machine?

[X-]

You had the mod up for the first part :D

[lprimatemtl]

Hi, how’s the key bed of both the SH-101 and the little brother? The 101 sounded a bit clunky (but i love the sound and easy workflow)…

[tendingtropic]

Hi Oora: SH-01a or JU-06a: which one would you choose if you had to choose only one?