Roland SH-2

It's an <a rel="nofollow" href="/analog-synth/roland/SH-101/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SH-101" target="_blank">SH-101</a> or <a rel="nofollow" href="/analog-synth/roland/SH-09/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SH-09" target="_blank">SH-09</a> with two VCO's. 3-octave keyboard, an envelope, 1 LFO.
Modulation, Glide, Portamento, and FM.
Very complete synth, except for the single LFO and envelope.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use. 1 button = 1 function.

SOUNDS

Big sound. Much better than the <a rel="nofollow" href="/analog-synth/roland/SH-101/?utm_source=audiofanzine&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=netting&utm_content=product&utm_term=SH-101" target="_blank">SH-101</a> for example. You can detune the 2 VCO's and get very big and bold sounds.
It is solid, has a very aggressive and musical filter. A great authentic vintage synth.
It has the sound of the high-end SH series.
Its possibilities, despite limited, are better than for the Pro-One, an MFB or other modern synth.
I even prefer it over the Pro-One because it has a much more authentic and characteristic sound.
A perfect instrument to complete a plug-ins setup for example. With some echo or reverb, it delivers more than a modeling synth, there is no argument!

OVERALL OPINION

Somewhat limited in terms of sound creation, but what it does, it does really well.
A great choice for any vintage lover that doesn't want to get ruined.
On the other hand, it is very rare. So the argument of Audiofanzine makes me laugh a bit...

Monophonic... Super!
As for features, a photo will be more telling.

UTILIZATION

No need for manual, everything is simple. Only Autobend may seem mystical at first, but it's just a kind of very fast automatic portamento which adds a bit of randomness, counter-repetitive, and really nice.

The feel of the keyboard is cool for frenzied solos!

The input for the filter with envelope follower is pretty good too.

SOUNDS

Big big sound! Sounds like the analog sound of Boards of Canada.

OVERALL OPINION

It's all good!&nbsp; I'll never part of it!
It's simple and very effective

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.