The SH-2 Plug Out sounds remarkably good, considering it is a DSP version of the synth. The lead at the beginning of the video sounds very organic with a lot of depth to the sound.
Dear sonicstate I just purchased my Roland System-1 a day ago after watching your reviews. Roland have since changed their policy and the sh-101 plug out is no longer free to system 1 users nor is the vst or au version of the synth for editing patches etc in your DAW. I feel extremely short changed by Roland, it might be worth making a note of this in your video to save future buyers the dissapointment that i got.
+Alex Quested same here... everything you get now is the synth without anything... the extra plugout okay... but not even the vst version for the goddamn thing? Im actually pretty pissed at roland
+Dan Bog i know how it feels...and after the release of minilogue by korg,im actually in fear of roland giving up on the plug outs project...for a new analogue synth to compete with korg..by the way,how do you like the system 1 synth?
I'm glad it was Snake Plissken who knew that. Not only my favourite ever character from a film, but also an expert on Sheffield based electronic music pioneers. Bet The Duke of New York knows absolutely nothing about Cabaret Voltaire!
The System-1 is a powerfull synth with great sound (and simple FXs which have very unique character). Some find 4 voices a limitation, but I prefer to think about the System-1 as about a PlugOut mono synth which has an option to play 4 voices in its native engine (the System-1 engine sounds awesome!).
To my ears this Plug-Out sounds better than the onboard synth engine or the SH-101. I am still not behind the no pitch / mod wheel ( I know the scatter wheel handles that) but this is the first time I've thought seriously about picking one up.
Played it two weeks ago in a shop and had a great fun time with it. 1/2 hr passed and I thought, no tuning issues! My old sh-101 would wander like a pedophile in a playground. But then I had a go on the arturia mini brute and well, it was just more fun. System 1 is good fun, but for an old guy like me, I can't shake the analogue thing. You can't model randomness.
This sounds really good, BUT.... I got an SH-2 a few months ago and have been using it non-stop because I love it and the thing is, this didn't sound anything like the real SH-2. This sounds much more "perfect" and processed. It doesn't sound bad, just not what an old analog sounds like. I find that almost all virtual analog developers miss the point of analog and make it sound too perfect, too clean. They always somehow miss the buzziness of original analogs and so it just doesn't sound organic. The only company who got it right was Creamware (and, therefore, Use Audio). I might eventually get one of these, but it wouldn't replace my SH-2.
Well, the SH-2 came out in the late 70s so it's hardly surprising that a new emulation of it does not sound exactly the same as the 30+ years old original hardware. I've used a SH-2 on two occasions and think that the System-1 plugout does manage to catch its spirit quite nicely. It may not be perfect but then what is.
TheRealTakumaji yeah right , roland magically has a sh2 pristine example that didn't age at all in 34 years because they put it in a roland cryogenic freezer because they predicted they were gonna emulate it in the future , that argument doesn't hold any truth , software just sounds different because it's a whole different concept , we've got 20 years now of emulation (jp8000- nordlead mid 90s) and they never got rid of the 'software sound' , shure there have been improvements and in a mix the difference is sometimes hard to tell , but a real analogue still has the edge and always will have
AlainRaes67 The sound of my original analog MC-202 that I've bought in the 80s changed a lot over the past decades. It got more grit, dirt and soul than ever before and I love every bit of it but it's nowhere near how it sounded like when I bought it, the same goes for the SH-101, SH-09, etc. That is what I wanted to get across - stuff gets old and changes its character over time. Most software emulations of these synths are modelled after the original specs and circuit layouts, that's one of the reasons why many of them lack that certain oomph which cannot be emulated and makes analog gear so desirable. Then again, I don't subscribe to the "analog uber alles" thing. In my opinion, a good sound is a good sound, no matter whether it was made on an analog synth, a digital workstation or with software, it's all about the creativity and talent of the person using it. In this regard, the SH-2 plugout will deliver enough options for people who simply want to make music instead of getting stuck in tiresome analog vs. digital debates.
agreed... and all you responders notice he said it doesn't sound anything like it. My SH-2 doesn't sound like this at all. This sounds great but not like an SH-2
i've owned amongst so many other analogs 2 sh2's at the sametime and they both sounded quite different from eachother (mainly because internal calibration is different between models and not component related) , to me it was the closest that roland had sounded to what many call 'american filter ' sound with far better bass respons than any of their older linear voltage ones (sh5 ,sh7/ sys100), but the plugout has in no way the character of the sh2 , it's just a way to capitalize on their past glorys , plugout sounds ok but they should have given the model a different name so people don't expect realistic copy of the actual instrument
Holy *beep* this sounds awesome! I really like the sound of the System-1 and the SH-101 Plug Out, but there's something about this that makes me all jittery. I think Roland just might have cracked it, and finally made something that got the true analogue beaten. Too bad about the lack of coarse detune knob... Awesome move with the plugin version being for everyone!
sonicstate Something i just noticed; the lighting of the "mono/unison/poly" -button changes when you change the VCA-mode. In all the shots where the VCA-envelope is active, the mono-button is steadily lit. And it changes across several patches/shots, so presumably you can change the VCA-mode straight from the front-panel using the mono-button.
Marc the Darc, check out the System-100 Plug-out. I like the System-100 the best. Just love the sounds I get with it. I got all of the Plug-outs when I bought my System-1.
As a hardware only guy.well I do use apps on an ipad.Why cant they make the synths longer.Don,t they know how hard it is to find a stand for these things? More octaves please. Mybe it,s just me but I,m still out on this...
$95 on top of the System 1 price? I'm a bit surprised they're charging that much, honestly. The System 1 is $600. If they wanted to make money on plug-outs/ins, they should have followed the Gillette razor model and made the base hardware dirt cheap, while just charging a lot for the blades. Or they should have made the System 1 hardware nicer. All IMHO, of course.
This Aira lark is looking/sounding better & better! Still think I'll wait for the 2nd iteration hoping it will be a desktop box of knobs and the ability to run a few 'plug-outs' at a time.
Definitely sounding much better now. I too am not sold on the single plug out at a time and the miserable 8 patch memory slots. Although I think it is 8 for the System-1 and 8 more for the loaded plug out but still... 16 patch slots on a digital synth in 2014? Really? A fully analog Bass Station II has somewhere around 128 patch slots and is a cheaper synth.
this sounds really good - as a live player it would be great if I could switch between more than one plug-out at a time without connecting to a computer, I am presuming however that this is not possible and there is only enough memory for the base synth plus one extra plug-out?
I've looked, there aren't that many plug outs available. SH-101 isn't free anymore. I've alse heard the keybed isn't that great compared to others. Described as "plasticy". That said, I'd love to own a System-1. 7/9/18
Yes and no. As Nick demonstrated with the filter envelope giving that snappy sound, it was modeled after the SH-2 which should have reacted that same way. I bet you could make something sound close with the normal System-1 engine but that engine also trying to be original in other directions as well. Not every synth uses the same filter and even those that do won't necessarily sound the same. Oscillators even sound different. For all we know the SH-2 has some oscillator drift to it (it's analog so very likely) which the System-1 engine does not. They could have added a slop feature like DSI and Elektron have done in their own ways but that isn't the point in this design.
Korg has announced the upcoming release of, quote, "a faithful recreation of the legendary 1970s analog synthesiser, the ARP Odyssey." Your wish has been granted!
Get both! I have the System-1, but also got a few of the System-1m so I can connect to my EuroRack stuff. Granted, I started with one to check out EuroRack. Love the jacks and having 64 patch memories. Just do it! :)
The system 1m has last note priority. The sh2 plugout is fixed low note priority. I'm finding it unusable right now. Am I missing something in the settings?
Comments about the price make me laugh... $100 is less than the average price for a lot of VSTis of that kind. (Arthuria's Mini V is still $100 and it was released several years ago...) System 1 is usable as itself, and SH101 plugout is also offered. The plugout concept is nearly unique if we forget some really expensive solutions. With the new semi-modular version, it's a completly new concept. An evolutive standalone hardware synth with good sound for $600 is not such a bad deal. Of course it won't be THE real SH101 or SH2 sound. But if you have the money or the opportunity to buy a vintage in good conditions, then go... People wanting free stuffs should stay on their PC with free VSTis, it probably won't be the same sound/stability/confort of use (except some rare jewels). I'm tired of this torrent generation who think that everything should be free, I work as a software developper and I don't eat bytes for dinner...
Alternative: Bass Station II hooked to Lush 101 and you have a great keybed with aftertouch and the bonus of a real analog synth when you are not hooked to the computer.
As a potential first timer (I'm feeling creative!), what exactly is needed to run this thing? If I buy this will I be able to produce the sounds shown here? Or do I need some software or do I need that bigger $600 unit that somebody mentioned? I'm very new to all of this...
Buy the System-1 synth, then you will need to buy the Plug-out if your choice and install the Plug-out using your computer and DAW. There are several Plug-outs available. I got all of the Plug-outs (SH-101, SH-2, ProMars, System-100 and the System-1) but like the System-100 plug-out the best.
I can see them doing a Jupiter Series Plugin... Select in the Plugin... Subscription based ... in app purchases for their Zencore... might be cool stuff.
Roland seriously needs to do something about this whole VST3/VST2 compatibility issue.. I'm an Abelton user and cannot use the soft synth version of the sh-101... let alone motivate me to buy the sh-2 vst now! :(
I've been waiting for roland vsts for a while & i think i hit the jackpot, still as a precaution, i ordered the arturia jupiter-8v, but still, I have some questions, first of all, how much is it to buy as a vst3? Is there a requirement like the sh-01 vst where you have to purchase system-1 synth and when is it due for release
Are these plug-outs just pre-packaged presets of the System-1 or a completely different engine? I mean can these sounds be generated with some clever tweaking in System-1 mode?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but is it possible to recreate *SOME* of the SH-101 / SH-2 / Promars patches on the System-1 without the plug-outs? Through front-panel tweaking alone? I ask this because it seems like the System-1 is more capable than any of those monosynths.
Super late to the game but I'm hoping someone can answer this. I now looks like the SH-2 plugin is compatible with VST 2.4, which means I should be able to use the plugin in Ableton Live on my Windows 8 PC. Is that correct or will I still be screwed?
What's that thing your having to do to adjust tuning? Looks like you were holding down two buttons to achieve this. And the Amp Env only works if activated from the plug-in on the computer? Is that correct? Still looks like it's very tethered to a computer even when plugged-out. And can you only have one plug-in plugged-out (jeez, who comes up with these ideas?!) at a time?
I have to say the SH2 sounds amazing however, I am hesitant to buy since the SH101 plug-out VST does not work properly in Nuendo (for me anyway). The plug-out technology was one of the main reasons I bought a System-1 but it looks like I won't get to use it. Thankfully the System-1 is great for making new and original sounds on it's own.
i agree. i bought it on the understanding i would get a sh-101 but i have logic 9 and cannot load the plugout. i feel a bit cheated but i should have checked its limitations before buying it.
markusfuller I recently tried the update for the SH101 VST but that still doesn't fix the problem for me. Can't select or save presets and it crashes frequently so right now I have no faith in the plug-out technology. BTW love your channel Markus, very watchable and addictive!
you should've mentioned that the free SH-101 was only a time limited offer which ended by the end of 2015! So whoever is buying a System1 today will NOT get this for free anymore. I was affected. Its a shame :-/
markusfuller are they as shit as i think they are ?? im torn between the bassstation 2 , minibrute SE or this thing, i have a novation ultranova, its ok but lack of hands on is annoying.
riskybusiness80 minibrute or BS2 for sure. They will probably still be worth something in 30years time! By then VA will of course be perfect so perhaps vintage synth market will collapse...
For those outraged at the price of plug outs, this is not the first time Roland pulls this shit on its customers. Remember the SRX Expansion cards for their Fantom series and later Groovebox models ? Same idea, different format
Great emulation, but it does sound cold, dead and hard compared to the real one, which is very warm and "friendly" sounding. I'd much rather have the original, to be honest, but that's usually how it is with these emulations, after all. And you can make a lot of great music with the plugout.
The AIRA continues to impress me with its sound. I can't help wondering what Roland was thinking though, releasing such a cheap and chincy feeling piece of hardware when their goal is, obviously, to make this a go-to synth for people. If they'd charged $200 more and added the Roland joystick, velocity sensitivity, a nicer feeling keyboard, and another octave of keys, I might be buying this (of course they have other constant design flaws like unreadable front panels, but that's another story).
Ok, now I understand: "System-1" is just a big expensive dongle for Roland's VSTs. Yes, "SH-2" plug-in sounds good - finally, after 10 years Roland learnt what it is an oversampling. Too late.
I thought the System 1 was horrible to play and very cheaply built, the green LEDs were so bright that they made it impossible to read the parameter information in low light and the key bed was so shallow that your fingers slipped off the keys. It sounded pretty good but had a ridiculous feature of only 8 preset slots which doesn't make sense on a digital synth. Just making some points that don't seem to be touched on in all of the mega biased reviews
imho, sounds very good for a digital instrument. I would still like to see an actual remake of the analog version. The whole green theme on these new roland instruments I really dislike, they look like something the green lantern would play but the idea is good for someone who wouldn't spend a whole lot of money on gear, my guess. Maybe a white LED background would've looked fancier. Great job on the review as always Nick, keep it up!
Wow, It blows my mind how people ( commenting below) are BITCHING about paying 200$ for basically a RE CREATION of a synth that costs 1000$-5000 or more if you can even FIND ONE. also the System 1 synth is already a powerful analog in itself ..lol and people are bitching about 200$... this new "Entitled " " I need everything for free , how DARE they charge me for a vintage synth" mentality is sickening. It's like these millennials kids who think paying 20 a month for UNLIMITED music on TIDAL is bullsh&(t... --lol al ALBUM used to cost 14$ in the 80's and I would buy 10 albums a month..lol wow...sad.. but these same people will RUN to mall and basically sell thier SOUL to get the money to buy a 800.00$ IPHONE....and people wonder why music has no value anymore-- just plain stupid...
Wow, I think Roland have really done incredible work here. My lone caveat is how awful the keybed feels, I say quite without sarcasm but rather regret that there are better key beds on children's toys. But if they nail the Jupiter 4 - which is truly an analog's analog - I don't think I could resist jumping on board. This is what the Jupiter 80 should have been.
I've had this system 1 for 20 min , send it back where it came from to never look back , cheap piece of hardware thats what put me off.... brrr , can they make areal hardware ? I guess not '
Nice review but that thing sounds nothing like an SH-2, not in the least. It sounds like just about every other piece of software...digital...clean... uneventful. It's ridiculous to call it an SH-2.
The SH-2 Plug Out sounds remarkably good, considering it is a DSP version of the synth. The lead at the beginning of the video sounds very organic with a lot of depth to the sound.
Dear sonicstate I just purchased my Roland System-1 a day ago after watching your reviews. Roland have since changed their policy and the sh-101 plug out is no longer free to system 1 users nor is the vst or au version of the synth for editing patches etc in your DAW. I feel extremely short changed by Roland, it might be worth making a note of this in your video to save future buyers the dissapointment that i got.
+Alex Quested went through the same thing
+Alex Quested same here... everything you get now is the synth without anything... the extra plugout okay... but not even the vst version for the goddamn thing? Im actually pretty pissed at roland
+Dan Bog i know how it feels...and after the release of minilogue by korg,im actually in fear of roland giving up on the plug outs project...for a new analogue synth to compete with korg..by the way,how do you like the system 1 synth?
They kind of did with the new boutique hardwares like the 303 and 909. You have a crystal ball?
The Human League reference must be "Circus of Death" from the "Reproduction" Album...incredible good music :-)
Well spotted! Correct
sonicstate Oddly enough this synth reminds me of Blakes 7, something to do with the greeen trim on the Liberator perhaps. Perhaps I'm nuts...
I'm glad it was Snake Plissken who knew that. Not only my favourite ever character from a film, but also an expert on Sheffield based electronic music pioneers. Bet The Duke of New York knows absolutely nothing about Cabaret Voltaire!
one of the best Human League songs
@@markussamnell6408 Nah sound of the crowd is one of the best but I prefer the dare album to the earlier stuff.
Any chance there will be a JP-8000 plug out I wonder...
it does have a nice sound to it. very round in comparison to the harsh edges of the other stuff
The System-1 is a powerfull synth with great sound (and simple FXs which have very unique character). Some find 4 voices a limitation, but I prefer to think about the System-1 as about a PlugOut mono synth which has an option to play 4 voices in its native engine (the System-1 engine sounds awesome!).
To my ears this Plug-Out sounds better than the onboard synth engine or the SH-101.
I am still not behind the no pitch / mod wheel ( I know the scatter wheel handles that) but this is the first time I've thought seriously about picking one up.
Get a System-1m and use the keyboard you want.
Now is also VST2 and works on Ableton Live for Windows (64/32 bits)
Played it two weeks ago in a shop and had a great fun time with it. 1/2 hr passed and I thought, no tuning issues! My old sh-101 would wander like a pedophile in a playground. But then I had a go on the arturia mini brute and well, it was just more fun. System 1 is good fun, but for an old guy like me, I can't shake the analogue thing. You can't model randomness.
Original Roland SH-2 has more 1 waveform (PWM) for each osc. Why?
Mr Sonicstate ,i like your serious vids!
So, has Roland just abandoned this plug out thing? I see it still for sale, but information about available plug outs online seems non-existent.
This sounds really good, BUT.... I got an SH-2 a few months ago and have been using it non-stop because I love it and the thing is, this didn't sound anything like the real SH-2. This sounds much more "perfect" and processed. It doesn't sound bad, just not what an old analog sounds like. I find that almost all virtual analog developers miss the point of analog and make it sound too perfect, too clean. They always somehow miss the buzziness of original analogs and so it just doesn't sound organic. The only company who got it right was Creamware (and, therefore, Use Audio). I might eventually get one of these, but it wouldn't replace my SH-2.
Well, the SH-2 came out in the late 70s so it's hardly surprising that a new emulation of it does not sound exactly the same as the 30+ years old original hardware. I've used a SH-2 on two occasions and think that the System-1 plugout does manage to catch its spirit quite nicely. It may not be perfect but then what is.
TheRealTakumaji yeah right , roland magically has a sh2 pristine example that didn't age at all in 34 years because they put it in a roland cryogenic freezer because they predicted they were gonna emulate it in the future , that argument doesn't hold any truth , software
just sounds different because it's a whole different concept , we've got 20 years now of emulation (jp8000- nordlead mid 90s) and they never got rid of the 'software sound' , shure there have been improvements and in a mix the difference is sometimes hard to tell , but a real analogue still has the edge and always will have
AlainRaes67 The sound of my original analog MC-202 that I've bought in the 80s changed a lot over the past decades. It got more grit, dirt and soul than ever before and I love every bit of it but it's nowhere near how it sounded like when I bought it, the same goes for the SH-101, SH-09, etc. That is what I wanted to get across - stuff gets old and changes its character over time. Most software emulations of these synths are modelled after the original specs and circuit layouts, that's one of the reasons why many of them lack that certain oomph which cannot be emulated and makes analog gear so desirable.
Then again, I don't subscribe to the "analog uber alles" thing. In my opinion, a good sound is a good sound, no matter whether it was made on an analog synth, a digital workstation or with software, it's all about the creativity and talent of the person using it. In this regard, the SH-2 plugout will deliver enough options for people who simply want to make music instead of getting stuck in tiresome analog vs. digital debates.
agreed... and all you responders notice he said it doesn't sound anything like it. My SH-2 doesn't sound like this at all. This sounds great but not like an SH-2
i've owned amongst so many other analogs 2 sh2's at the sametime and they both sounded quite different from eachother (mainly because internal calibration is different between models and not component related) , to me it was the closest that roland had sounded to what many call 'american filter ' sound with far better bass respons than any of their older linear voltage ones (sh5 ,sh7/ sys100), but the plugout has in no way the character of the sh2 , it's just a way to capitalize on their past glorys , plugout sounds ok but they should have given the model a different name so people don't expect realistic
copy of the actual instrument
Holy *beep* this sounds awesome! I really like the sound of the System-1 and the SH-101 Plug Out, but there's something about this that makes me all jittery.
I think Roland just might have cracked it, and finally made something that got the true analogue beaten. Too bad about the lack of coarse detune knob...
Awesome move with the plugin version being for everyone!
sonicstate Something i just noticed; the lighting of the "mono/unison/poly" -button changes when you change the VCA-mode. In all the shots where the VCA-envelope is active, the mono-button is steadily lit. And it changes across several patches/shots, so presumably you can change the VCA-mode straight from the front-panel using the mono-button.
Marc the Darc, check out the System-100 Plug-out. I like the System-100 the best. Just love the sounds I get with it. I got all of the Plug-outs when I bought my System-1.
As a hardware only guy.well I do use apps on an ipad.Why cant they make the synths longer.Don,t they know how hard it is to find a stand for these things? More octaves please. Mybe it,s just me but I,m still out on this...
$95 on top of the System 1 price? I'm a bit surprised they're charging that much, honestly. The System 1 is $600. If they wanted to make money on plug-outs/ins, they should have followed the Gillette razor model and made the base hardware dirt cheap, while just charging a lot for the blades. Or they should have made the System 1 hardware nicer.
All IMHO, of course.
check out the editor librarian demo, it does a CS80 emulation very well
Richard Stevens who cares!
cheap bastard
Mr. Mike Hardly. This is just not a good deal for what you get, IMO. But thanks for your comment :)
Well what about people who want to buy the plugins without the hardware? These do work as solo VSTs - you know that right?
This Aira lark is looking/sounding better & better! Still think I'll wait for the 2nd iteration hoping it will be a desktop box of knobs and the ability to run a few 'plug-outs' at a time.
Definitely sounding much better now. I too am not sold on the single plug out at a time and the miserable 8 patch memory slots. Although I think it is 8 for the System-1 and 8 more for the loaded plug out but still... 16 patch slots on a digital synth in 2014? Really? A fully analog Bass Station II has somewhere around 128 patch slots and is a cheaper synth.
this sounds really good - as a live player it would be great if I could switch between more than one plug-out at a time without connecting to a computer, I am presuming however that this is not possible and there is only enough memory for the base synth plus one extra plug-out?
True, but look into the System-8. Full sized keys and comes with 3 plug-outs, each with 64 patch memories. I love mine.
How well does the synth respond to external controllers?
aww i was hoping this might be my next synth but as i'm an ableton user... well i guess i'll just have to wait til they make a vst2 ver
Jupiter 4 please Roland. Great Video Nick.
roland should have made the led colours changeable via pc, that said its an amazing synth
Roland could just as easily made the LED multicolored like they have on the latest TR-8S, and should have.
I've looked, there aren't that many plug outs available. SH-101 isn't free anymore. I've alse heard the keybed isn't that great compared to others. Described as "plasticy". That said, I'd love to own a System-1. 7/9/18
If you are a bit handy with programming you don't need any plugout at all, because it is already in the system 1. or am I missing something?
Yes and no. As Nick demonstrated with the filter envelope giving that snappy sound, it was modeled after the SH-2 which should have reacted that same way. I bet you could make something sound close with the normal System-1 engine but that engine also trying to be original in other directions as well. Not every synth uses the same filter and even those that do won't necessarily sound the same. Oscillators even sound different. For all we know the SH-2 has some oscillator drift to it (it's analog so very likely) which the System-1 engine does not. They could have added a slop feature like DSI and Elektron have done in their own ways but that isn't the point in this design.
Now I want one, only if it works with new renoise..
renoise is a synth you don't need anything else
BS, sh2 is bad asss
i want the 101 and the sh2 so bad i might buy cubase 7.
@@nautzero renoise is not a synth
Great review Nick! How do the plugin and plugout versions compare?
Does Roland have any plans to emulate other brands? I've always wanted an ARP Odyssey or a Mini Moog.
Korg has announced the upcoming release of, quote, "a faithful recreation of the legendary 1970s analog synthesiser, the ARP Odyssey." Your wish has been granted!
G force
Novation controller
End:
I'm really torn between this and the module version.
Get both! I have the System-1, but also got a few of the System-1m so I can connect to my EuroRack stuff. Granted, I started with one to check out EuroRack. Love the jacks and having 64 patch memories. Just do it! :)
The system 1m has last note priority. The sh2 plugout is fixed low note priority. I'm finding it unusable right now. Am I missing something in the settings?
Comments about the price make me laugh...
$100 is less than the average price for a lot of VSTis of that kind. (Arthuria's Mini V is still $100 and it was released several years ago...)
System 1 is usable as itself, and SH101 plugout is also offered.
The plugout concept is nearly unique if we forget some really expensive solutions. With the new semi-modular version, it's a completly new concept.
An evolutive standalone hardware synth with good sound for $600 is not such a bad deal.
Of course it won't be THE real SH101 or SH2 sound. But if you have the money or the opportunity to buy a vintage in good conditions, then go...
People wanting free stuffs should stay on their PC with free VSTis, it probably won't be the same sound/stability/confort of use (except some rare jewels).
I'm tired of this torrent generation who think that everything should be free, I work as a software developper and I don't eat bytes for dinner...
I think people also thinks in terms of price/polyphony ratio. Wich is so so in this case.
Alternative: Bass Station II hooked to Lush 101 and you have a great keybed with aftertouch and the bonus of a real analog synth when you are not hooked to the computer.
The Lush 101 is a 101 emulation, not an SH-2. The two synths are very different.
As a potential first timer (I'm feeling creative!), what exactly is needed to run this thing? If I buy this will I be able to produce the sounds shown here? Or do I need some software or do I need that bigger $600 unit that somebody mentioned? I'm very new to all of this...
Buy the System-1 synth, then you will need to buy the Plug-out if your choice and install the Plug-out using your computer and DAW. There are several Plug-outs available. I got all of the Plug-outs (SH-101, SH-2, ProMars, System-100 and the System-1) but like the System-100 plug-out the best.
Would it be possible for someone with tech knowledge to put other vst synths into the system-1
I have not heard of anyone yet that is able to do this. Great question though. I am also curious.
Let's hope they bring out a Jupiter 4 plug out :-)
I can see them doing a Jupiter Series Plugin... Select in the Plugin... Subscription based ... in app purchases for their Zencore... might be cool stuff.
might be late to the party but pretty sure that was a line from Empire State Human by The Human League in there ...
Roland seriously needs to do something about this whole VST3/VST2 compatibility issue.. I'm an Abelton user and cannot use the soft synth version of the sh-101... let alone motivate me to buy the sh-2 vst now! :(
I've been waiting for roland vsts for a while & i think i hit the jackpot, still as a precaution, i ordered the arturia jupiter-8v, but still, I have some questions, first of all, how much is it to buy as a vst3? Is there a requirement like the sh-01 vst where you have to purchase system-1 synth and when is it due for release
LOOKS LIKE ONLY MACK PC CAN SEND SH101 DATA to ROLAND SYSTEM 1 PLUG OUT .AM I RIGHT?
Are these plug-outs just pre-packaged presets of the System-1 or a completely different engine? I mean can these sounds be generated with some clever tweaking in System-1 mode?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but is it possible to recreate *SOME* of the SH-101 / SH-2 / Promars patches on the System-1 without the plug-outs? Through front-panel tweaking alone? I ask this because it seems like the System-1 is more capable than any of those monosynths.
With different oscs and filter they’ll hardly sound the same. You can get somewhat close with some clever programming
Is this better than the SH-101 plug out?
Just different classic Roland synth engines. I got them all.
How many patches does SH-02 plug out have?
64 patch memories. 64 for the System-1 engine, and another 64 patches for the Plug-out, regardless of which plug-out you install.
damn, sounds REALLY nice.
really want to like this thing, but it's so freaking GREEN. It reminds me of a Christmas Tree reject!
***** Who cares!
***** Who cares, are you following this thread with your nice nice language? MORON
***** MORON
***** MoRon!
No, its awesome synth, MATRIX & CYBERGOTH GREEN! , Christmas tree...WTF, lolol
do you get any "free" plug outs/ins with any of the three aira synths, does anyone know for sure???
Jupiter-8, Juno-106 and JX3P for free with the System-8
Neither the System-1 or System-1m include a plug-out.
damn! I'm impressed.
Super late to the game but I'm hoping someone can answer this. I now looks like the SH-2 plugin is compatible with VST 2.4, which means I should be able to use the plugin in Ableton Live on my Windows 8 PC. Is that correct or will I still be screwed?
Did recognize the patch what song is it ???
What's that thing your having to do to adjust tuning? Looks like you were holding down two buttons to achieve this. And the Amp Env only works if activated from the plug-in on the computer? Is that correct? Still looks like it's very tethered to a computer even when plugged-out. And can you only have one plug-in plugged-out (jeez, who comes up with these ideas?!) at a time?
This works in vst 2 now does it?
years have past and no more new plug-outs are added.
I have to say the SH2 sounds amazing however, I am hesitant to buy since the SH101 plug-out VST does not work properly in Nuendo (for me anyway). The plug-out technology was one of the main reasons I bought a System-1 but it looks like I won't get to use it. Thankfully the System-1 is great for making new and original sounds on it's own.
i agree. i bought it on the understanding i would get a sh-101 but i have logic 9 and cannot load the plugout. i feel a bit cheated but i should have checked its limitations before buying it.
markusfuller I recently tried the update for the SH101 VST but that still doesn't fix the problem for me. Can't select or save presets and it crashes frequently so right now I have no faith in the plug-out technology. BTW love your channel Markus, very watchable and addictive!
SH2 sounds great
If ran as a stand-alone VST is it still monophonic?
+Jordan Passmore To answer my own question, it is still monophonic.
Was that outtro bit from a song? Sounded awesome in a NIN kinda way.. may have just sold me. I hope you're getting kickbacks from Roland. lol.
it's more Impressive than the SH101 PLUGOUT
SONAR X3e got you covered for VST3
Circus of death.........5 years later 😢
you should've mentioned that the free SH-101 was only a time limited offer which ended by the end of 2015! So whoever is buying a System1 today will NOT get this for free anymore. I was affected. Its a shame :-/
Looks like it could be a cool midi controller if you can easily make and load templates
MONO? Why? It's a 2014 DSP synth.with only enough processing power for one voice?
it's emulating a monosynth...that's why it's called the SH-2
cresshead ah yes but if it's dsp, why the limitations? Poly would be nice
hi James. im selling mine already. i havnt even tried loading the 101 into it yet. infact i have all 4 aira items up for sale.
markusfuller are they as shit as i think they are ?? im torn between the bassstation 2 , minibrute SE or this thing, i have a novation ultranova, its ok but lack of hands on is annoying.
riskybusiness80 minibrute or BS2 for sure. They will probably still be worth something in 30years time! By then VA will of course be perfect so perhaps vintage synth market will collapse...
fucking hell that does sound quite great
For those outraged at the price of plug outs, this is not the first time Roland pulls this shit on its customers. Remember the SRX Expansion cards for their Fantom series and later Groovebox models ? Same idea, different format
Great emulation, but it does sound cold, dead and hard compared to the real one, which is very warm and "friendly" sounding. I'd much rather have the original, to be honest, but that's usually how it is with these emulations, after all. And you can make a lot of great music with the plugout.
The AIRA continues to impress me with its sound.
I can't help wondering what Roland was thinking though, releasing such a cheap and chincy feeling piece of hardware when their goal is, obviously, to make this a go-to synth for people. If they'd charged $200 more and added the Roland joystick, velocity sensitivity, a nicer feeling keyboard, and another octave of keys, I might be buying this (of course they have other constant design flaws like unreadable front panels, but that's another story).
Add $800 more to that number and go pick up a System-8 ;)
I actually think I will. The JP-8000 has limited time left, so I could use a new monster VA.
BTW, I made that comment like 2 weeks before they released the System 8, so it was basically my idea. 😉
That’s what the system 8 is for…
Ok, now I understand: "System-1" is just a big expensive dongle for Roland's VSTs. Yes, "SH-2" plug-in sounds good - finally, after 10 years Roland learnt what it is an oversampling. Too late.
I thought the System 1 was horrible to play and very cheaply built, the green LEDs were so bright that they made it impossible to read the parameter information in low light and the key bed was so shallow that your fingers slipped off the keys. It sounded pretty good but had a ridiculous feature of only 8 preset slots which doesn't make sense on a digital synth. Just making some points that don't seem to be touched on in all of the mega biased reviews
actually, I think I mentioned all of that if you go back and check the other parts
***** Who Cares if the lights can be dimmed.
@ 3:46 that sounds like the circus of death 1979.
imho, sounds very good for a digital instrument. I would still like to see an actual remake of the analog version. The whole green theme on these new roland instruments I really dislike, they look like something the green lantern would play but the idea is good for someone who wouldn't spend a whole lot of money on gear, my guess. Maybe a white LED background would've looked fancier.
Great job on the review as always Nick, keep it up!
Wow, It blows my mind how people ( commenting below) are BITCHING about paying 200$ for basically a RE CREATION of a synth that costs 1000$-5000 or more if you can even FIND ONE. also the System 1 synth is already a powerful analog in itself ..lol and people are bitching about 200$... this new "Entitled " " I need everything for free , how DARE they charge me for a vintage synth" mentality is sickening. It's like these millennials kids who think paying 20 a month for UNLIMITED music on TIDAL is bullsh&(t... --lol al ALBUM used to cost 14$ in the 80's and I would buy 10 albums a month..lol wow...sad.. but these same people will RUN to mall and basically sell thier SOUL to get the money to buy a 800.00$ IPHONE....and people wonder why music has no value anymore-- just plain stupid...
But a SH2 is not that expensive 2nd hand.
Not only that, look at Korg, manufacturing true analog Arp Odisseys for, what, 800 euros?
Now that's extremely competitive.
Wow, I think Roland have really done incredible work here. My lone caveat is how awful the keybed feels, I say quite without sarcasm but rather regret that there are better key beds on children's toys. But if they nail the Jupiter 4 - which is truly an analog's analog - I don't think I could resist jumping on board. This is what the Jupiter 80 should have been.
philipmason108 I think it's made for portability, you could easily plug in any $50 MIDI keyboard and have pitch, modulation, aftertouch and velocity.
It's a shame this is dsp based, surely it'd run on a modern cpu?
it does run on modern cpu's when you host the plugin on a windows machine or mac..within the hardware synth it's dsp.
cresshead
Ah I see, thanks for the info.
sounds good!
That's more like it!
03:46 Circus of Death ! Good man :)
Sounds nice, knobs are way to close together not the best interface design, very fiddly, not impressed with scatter wheel
totally Human League
They spelled Colour wrong.
Most of the world spells it without the unnecessary 'u'.
not free for ppl who bought the synth??? lol bullshit
SH-101 plug out no longer free :(
Whoooahhhh!
My opinion on this is that the hardware system is just absolutely cheap, it does not feel of quality. The system 1 is a deterrent for me
8:56
I've had this system 1 for 20 min , send it back where it came from to never look back , cheap piece of hardware thats what put me off....
brrr , can they make areal hardware ? I guess not '
Does anyone like the look of all these AIRA Systems?
(Personally, i wanna puke about it)
They look tacky as fcuk. Most of the Aira series is rock solid, but the look of them, goddamn.
it repels me!
Really? I think it's awesome! Makes me feel like I'm playing something powered by demonic fell energy. haha
Have you lost some weight dude? Interesting synth but wish it's cheaper and doesn't need a computer/software to sort things out
Circus of death
Dude, no offense but all you're doing is going through all the waves. I thought you'd actually go through the SH-2 presets 😔
Review not a demo....
Horrible piece of crap made by Roland DSP Lol and Mono just Bogus, don't waste your money.
Right right - nevermind the way it sounds (i.e. awesome) :-/
Brandon Ryan Exactly, some people are just spec hunters not musicians.
Nice review but that thing sounds nothing like an SH-2, not in the least. It sounds like just about every other piece of software...digital...clean... uneventful. It's ridiculous to call it an SH-2.