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Roland SH-2
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Roland SH-2

Analog Synth from Roland

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Anonymous

«  monstrous synth »

Published on 11/19/10 at 08:14
88 keys, PH4 mechanics, 512 notes polyphony, editable via FireWire with the SHedit-Rol ProX app, 340 accompaniment styles from bossa nova to happy house, etc. ...

Naaaah. Look at the picture just above, it says more than a lot of text. It is a monophonic analog Roland 70s - it sums up a lot already.

UTILIZATION

One button = one function. Sliders, knobs and an ultra-cheap keyboard but still fun to play, it's a real pleasure to play on a Roland SH-2 and "program" sounds. So, no need for a user manual or software editor.

SOUNDS

Those who seek the true Roland SH sound from the 70's, here it is in all its splendor. It's certainly less powerful than a <a rel="nofollow" href="/analog-synth/roland/SH-5/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SH-5" target="_blank">SH-5</a> or <a rel="nofollow" href="/analog-synth/roland/SH-7/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SH-7" target="_blank">SH-7</a> at the possibilities. But with 2 VCOs and a sub-osc, you can say it's very very thick! The envelopes are very snappy and quick. The filter is magical; very fat. I also still have an SH-2000 (equipped with the filter modeled on the Moog) it's not really the same sound... The <a rel="nofollow" href="/recording-gear-for-records/tascam/hs-2000/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=HS-2000" target="_blank">SH-2000</a> is a little more archaic. But the basic sound character is very close.

Too bad the SH-2 did not have aftertouch, like the <a rel="nofollow" href="/recording-gear-for-records/tascam/hs-2000/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=HS-2000" target="_blank">SH-2000</a>. It would be a real carnage in expressiveness.

Look not for "realistic" sounds on the SH-2 ... but for all the synthetic sounds, enormous basses (the SH2 does not fear comparison with the Mimimoog), really fat leads, the SH-2 is a first choice instrument.

OVERALL OPINION

It's a small synth, very light, compact (3 octaves), but very endearing. And that is reliable! No problem to take in a live setup.

The only problem is that it is relatively rare in our region. So the price is sometimes a little high. It's more or less a 2-VCO version of the SH-9.

It perfectly complements a <a rel="nofollow" href="/korg/ms/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=Korg+MS" target="_blank">Korg MS</a> or a <a rel="nofollow" href="/yamaha/cs/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=Yamaha+CS" target="_blank">Yamaha CS</a> in terms of sound.