Played with an SH-201 today

While down at GC today I was hanging with 'The Foosa' and checking out the brand new SH-201. I don't know what all the complaints are about... it's really not bad. It's just limited like a mono synth would be only it's not mono. The sounds are pretty similar to any VA, but I remember them saying it's the VA section from the V-synth which I've never actually played. Action on the keybed was typical, there's no LCD so everything is done by bank letters and numbers unless edited thru the PC, and the light beam was pretty cool. I just found out that the Juno-D had one too and never knew it, but I think they improved the one on the SH-201. Size-wise, it's not that small. It's just slightly smaller than a regualr 61-key synth because the endcheeks are large. The build quality was the only peeve I had being that it feels like cheap, Yamaha PSR-esque plastic, but I guess for $595 if you need a dedicated VA it's not that bad. After toying around with the JP-8080 it may make more sense to have one of those than an SH-201. Ironically, the JP was 100 bucks more used.

mmmm

is it mono? i cant find any polyphony specs.....

10 voices, same as the 8080.

You haven't searched very well, then .

Jean Michel Jarre is testing one for his next cd.

Oh thanks, for some reason it wasn't listed under the Roland specs.

Sorry my review wasn't too technical - I just wanted to report back that I actually used one for a little while. and yes, it's polyphonic.

I think for the price it's a good buy, considering that the Ion is right around the same price still, no? I still can't comment whether or not I like the Ion VA engine or the V-Synth one (like in the SH-201). What I do need to do when I get back home is play one at my local GC and sit with it for a little while more. Again, price-wise, cutting out the LCD was smart in keeping the costs down.

The nearest GC to me is two hours away so it's going to be a few weeks for me to get some hands-on, but for those who are considering this, I'd run the oscillators up a high as they go and apply some LFO. See if Roland has addressed the aliasing issues fo the V-Synth, which the SH-201 is based on. Also, the plastic case is expected at this price, but wiggle the knobs to see how sturdy they are. This is another Roland build quality issue. If you are considering a used 8000-8080, this is something to definitely check out as well. Otherwise, these JP units from what I've read are pretty dependable. But it's another reason to consider buying a new SH in this case.

Knobs seemed to be nice and sturdy - this unit was actually unboxed and set up that same day so it didn't see hardly any use, so it's a good way to judge it.

The used JP-8080 they had was more than the SH! By 5 bucks...

The plastic casing is really unattractive but yeah, for 600 bucks if it sounds good just be careful not to drop it.

Ha, I was going to make the same thread.

I think its a neat machine but like I was saying there, I wouldn't get one for 600...maybe 5. Same with the JP-8080 they were selling at 600 and telling me what a good price it was. I liked the layout of the SH-201...no menus is awesome, it is all right there, and once you get used to it then the sound creation process would be FAST. I know some people have a problem with the lack of patch names, you just have to remember the bank and number of it, which might be tricky. But then, if you are playing a Motif or Fantom or Fizmo or V-synth etc. then the buttons themselves don't have names...you have to remember that your favorite EP is bank 2, #27, and then after you select it you get to see the name of it too...

I was really hoping it would be easier to play with the parameters of the feedback/supersaw waveforms on it...and I'm sure there's a real easy trick to get them to work as well as the JP-8080, I just couldn't do it.

Overall a cool machine though. It has induced a minor case of GAS...and if I thought that they would budge on that overpriced JP then it would already be in my house. Maybe I'll talk to that guy that was bugging you to buy the SH and take it home with you. He was so eager to get that thing moving that maybe he'll cut me a good deal on it.

Edit: Also, no aftertouch, which makes a big difference to some people here if I remember right...

Are the Sh 201's released for sale yet? At my Local GC they cant sell them yet, they stated that roland hasnt givin them the green light to sell it.

RolandXR

Sure can - they're trying to move them out apparently... they just got them in stock yesterday. I don't know if it's global for all the guitar centers but if one is selling them, I would think all have the authority to.

Dude... I totally saw that coming I kinda felt the same way, though I see what you mean about not having patch names at hand and having to remember the banks. Considering the price though it's not a hard decision to make I guess. Would be a great recommendation for newbies who want to get a VA and don't want to spend a lot.

this piece only makes me want to buy a sh101 and a midi kit.

I tried to buy one yesterday at my local GC, I had cash in hand and I was turned down. The salesman asked the manager twice and even put a call into the Roland rep.

He was going to call me if the Roland rep or management OKed it , I havent heard from him. I then tried to put a hold on it (by trying to pay cash up front) - still have not heard if that worked, I assume it didnt.

I talked to another Roland dealer they were told the green light on the sale date is July 31 but if they had stock they would sell it to me sooner.

If I were GC and Roland , given how the market is for hardware synths I would be selling these things while there still on the delivery truck , because all you hear is how bad the market for hardware synths (given all the good software out there).

I just don't understand how I got turned down , I have been a good customer for years, does GC have any regards for their customers??

GC is a bunch of dumb-ass guitar kids, they wouldn't know a MC-808 from a TR-808! I cant believe they wont sell what they have in inventory. I think the latest Roland products suck compared to what they were making in the late 90's.

I went to GC again today and again they said they cant release them yet. Oh well i was able to place one on hold so thats better than nothing.

Rolandxr

If they have it in stock and can't sell it, they ought to keep it in the back room. Or put a giant sticker across the whole control panel that says "Not for sale...yet."

I'm honestly not sure if the one here would have been able to sell it, had WhinyLittleRunt taken the advice of the sales guy to buy it and fly home with it. I would not be surprised if while ringing it up, they encountered some kind of problem and then had to say "Thanks for trying, please come again!"

This definitely looks interesting - especially at that price point.

I haven't had a LOT of experience with Roland VA-s.

How well can they emulate Moog/ARP Odyssey-ish leads and basses?

I stopped at my local GC, and they didn't have one yet.

Looks like *somebody* unboxed it too early in the AZ store....

EXACT.

Ha, I dont know, didn't really try. With the Roland VA's (JP's and now the SH-201) I just wind up doing weird {censored} with supersaw/feedback oscillators.

Btw, there is a new video on rolandus.com for it. WhinyLittleRunt, this may be of interest to you since we were talking about it...he shows the overdrive function during one part of it...and it actually does something. I don't know what we were doing wrong.

I'm gonna call GC sometime this week and see if they are actually allowed to sell it.