Roland SH-201 Users

[ProfD]

Mark S., raised an interesting question about the SH-201.

 

Can user patches be saved on this synth?

 

I did not find a users manual on the Roland site. Considering there is a USB connection, VSTi software and an editor librarian, I would hope patches can be saved/loaded via computer.

 

The lack of user saved patches at the board would not be a deal-breaker for me. However, for those who prefer not to be tied to a PC, such could be the case.

 

Let's hear from folks familiar with this cool little synth.

 

 

[RABid]

I just downloaded the manual from the RolandUS site. According to the patch list 8 banks of 8 presets. 4 banks are ROM and 4 banks are user rewritable RAM. So, looks like you can save 32 of your own presets on the SH-201

[gzurkan]

From RolandUS.com website:

 

"A total of 64 patches can be stored. The patch storing location works like a file cabinet.A patch can be selected through the GROUP, BANK and NUMBER buttons.

 

Half of the total or 32 patches are user programmable. In other words, use these locations to store your original timbres that you have created."

 

Looks like 32 presets (read only), and 32 user programmable (write). I'm interested in this synth as well

 

zurkan

 

 

 

[Bill H.]

I don't own one, but according to the review n Keyboard (11/06) there are 32 user locations. That's not a lot, but there is an included editor/librarian that allows unlimited patch storage.

 

According to an interview given by Roland head Mr. Kakehashi, one of the design goals was to make the synth attractive to the SE Asian educational market, which is why it's so dead simple to figure out. I guess there are synthesizer classes in Japan and China.

 

It also happens to sound really good IMO. It is all there, with some added bonuses like two LFOs per voice, overdrive, and low boost. The only thing I found limiting was a pitch envelope with a range of only + - one octave (just barely enough for sync-sweeps but not much else), and a filter envelope amount slider with both positive and negative amounts on the slider instead of having a switch also (like on my Jupiter 6 or on the JP-8000). You can also hear some stepping if you tweak the filter cutoff rapidly... for those who like to record while adjusting in real time instead of using the envelopes or LFOs this could be an issue.

[ProfD]

KC forumites come through with the news.

 

Initially, I was enamored with the Moog Voyager for the low end theory. I played this puppy (SH-201) and while certainly not a Moog, the bass and lead sounds are usable and the supersaw...cuts.

 

Not a bad deal for an inexpensive board allowing real-time manipulation of some cool noises.