Synth: Roland SH-101
Review by: Matt Haines

Summary: Monophonic, pre-MIDI synth, originally designed as a strap-on
	synth and now currently popular with the techno crowd.

Years Made:
Polyphony: 1
Multitimbrality: no
MIDI: no
Other inputs/external control:
    CV/Gate: v/oct cv, voltage gate (in/out)
    Clock: ext clock in (for arp, sequencer)
    Other CV: hold pedal
    Audio:
    Proprietary (DCB, etc): snap-on guitar-neck-like mod-grip
    Programmer:
Outputs: monophonic, headphone
Patch storage: no
    Patch dumping (tape, MIDI, etc):
Voice architecture:
        1 VCO (independent levels for saw, square/pulse/pwm and sub-oscillator)
        LFO with triangle, square, random and noise waveforms
        pulse-width modulated by envelope or lfo, or static
        resonant, self-oscillating LPF, mod by EG, lfo and kbd tracking
        VCA, mod by EG or gate
        EG trigger mode: gate/gate+trigger/LFO
        portamento, auto-portamento

Interface: sliders
Sequencer/Arpeggiator: primitive sequencer, arpeggiator
Keyboard/rack: 2.5 oct keyboard
Known problems: ground hum when using sub-standard wallwarts. Roland does
                not have sliders available for some functions, so if they go
                bad they're hard or impossible to replace.
Accessories: mod-grip
Related synths/gear: related in sound to other SH products, such as the SH-09.
                Same architecture and sound as the MC202 sequencer/synth.
Price range: medium (not a good value for the money, as unit commands higher-
                than-normal prices due to popularity)
Availability: common as dirt (for an analogue)
Comments:
    Strengths: second-best "official acid synth". Auto-porta is nice extra.
                Light and small. Runs on batteries or AC. Comes in a variety
                of colors.
    Weaknesses: AC usage requires wallwart, and wallwart can cause ground hum.
                Plastic and cheaply made.
    Overall:   Good if found cheaply.




Matt Haines  haines@cloverleaf.com

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