Bad Gear - Roland SH-201 - The MP3 Synth??? (feat. Alex Ball)

Check out Alex Ball's Roland SH-2 video:
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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland SH-201. Is this zero years plastic contraption with the big name the MP3 synth?

[@AudioPilz]

Don't forget to check out Alex Ball's Roland SH-2 video for some REAL SH-goodness!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnm4qYVniJulaNU

[@apislapis]

Alex is compulsory viewing for synthusiasts. Every vid is gratefully received as is the case with you Florian. Keep them coming.

[@RM-jj2kq]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3iXgKd5m7lmsMU

[@Synthysynthsynth]

This is a great synth for learning synthesis. All the major functions are laid out clearly and sequentially. Eventually, anyone who stays with synths is going to want a better piece of equipment, but this is a great tool for learning.

[@matthewdeward1984]

speak of devil lol

[@Big_Nigs64]

not even the sh-201

[@coolbossnessFTW]

Finally figured out the scheme: buy pieces of bad gear, make videos that make them slightly desirable, sell for a profit.

[@AudioPilz]

You know too much😂 😂 😂

[@SyntheticFuture]

100% this. I bet he buys hundreds of these to create artificial scarcity as well...

[@navboi12]

@@SyntheticFuture just imagine, piled high! 🤣

[@187onasimp]

He probably started this channel because he owns all this bad gear and nobody was buying it. Now he can finally hype them up and get rid of them and buy the hair treatment he always wanted. Watch one day you'll click on his channel an he'll say "Hey guys sorry to say but I've reviewed all the bad gear so I'm shutting down the channel"...and he'll be sporting a full head of hair.

[@SyntheticFuture]

@@navboi12 *bumps camera during live demo, giant piles of synths* "oh shit... Ooh you where not supposed to see that... Ooooh f*" *camera cuts out*

[@JorbLovesGear]

"Demo guys were held in captivity" absolutely killed me. Lmao

[@AudioPilz]

Freaking CAGES!!!

[@nolram]

@@AudioPilz The Tierschutzverband will be in touch shortly.

[@rcs2003]

Rolands SH-201 demo videos are so embarrassing. Kinda stuck in the mid-90s..

[@JorbLovesGear]

@@rcs2003 the early boss demos it what I really know well, like the re201 pedal, and the slicer etc. Really relics

[@RM-jj2kq]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3iXgKd5m7lmsMU

[@staticchoir]

my setup includes an SH-201, MPC500, and a Drumbrute. I am feeling so called out.

[@AudioPilz]

It's nothing personal;)

[@mrz80]

But, are you not one with the Body? You will be... absorbed. It is the Will of Landru™. :)

[@scottcupp8129]

Behringer Deep Mind 12, Oberheim Matrix 12, JD800 and an old school TR909 and Yamaha RX5 here. Oh also the Novation Mini Nova and Ensoniq SQ1+ We as creators love our toys don't we?

[@mrz80]

@@scottcupp8129 Ah, you're the first person I've seen in AGES who's using one of those Ensoniqs. We've had one as our primary (and for most of the time ONLY other than the piano) keyboard at church ever since it first came out.

[@scottcupp8129]

@@mrz80 Yeah it is a solid synth even to this day. I mean I use a lot of VSTi stuff when I compose, but I always wind up using at least something out of the good old SQ. It's built like a tank and a real work horse. I have some modern analogs too. I have a Behringer DeepMind 12 and a Novation Mini Nova. My controller is an M-Audio Keystation Pro 88.

[@s.fleming2441]

you're really killing it with this channel, its just the right mix of comedy and technical explanations and good songs, useful tips for us bad gear collectors(which this channel has taught me that I am one), great production values,. The bad gear angle is really fresh. A great channel that has resurrected many items from the back of my storage unit.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Happy to hear that!

[@RM-jj2kq]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3iXgKd5m7lmsMU

[@MikolajZMiasta]

@@AudioPilz Agree. Around 30% of my general synth knowledge is from your channel LMAO

[@aefonta]

"Leave a comment if you've used a D-beam sober" I really like this channel.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@StephanS]

The SH201 was marketed as a "real beginner" synth. Remember, it was 2006 and most synths were menu-diving complicated and expensive machines. The SH201 was targeted at younger audiences as VSTs were getting better and better. I remember the local music store selling them so damn cheap, i almost bought one. Years later, i bought one used for less. It appears on the first ambient works i did a few years ago and some remixes

[@AudioPilz]

Great for ambient as a string&pad machine!

[@seedmole]

Yeah I got one around 2010 as I was getting into making ambient music. It worked great, did exactly what I needed, and any alternatives either were menu-digging nightmares.

[@richardharris9708]

I bought one when it came out for £400 (quite a lot for me at the time). It aliases like crazy but I loved its simplicity. Jordan Rudess made patches for it including some amazing distorted synth leads and you can play the leads over a pad on the same keyboard thanks to the split. Oh yeah, some of the plastic knobs fell off and the second set of 8 memory buttons stopped working so I have to open it up and resolder them. Build quality was absolutely terrible.

[@rectivequen8117]

Thank you for explaining this. I learned so much from my 201 since I bought it in 2009. I do remember it being marketed as a beginner synth and that being one of the reasons I bought it. Sure there are better synths out there, but this helps hard wire the fundamentals for new creators.

[@franciscojaviergomez4807]

This was a long waited episode. I own the SH-201, I love it

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@JohnWDisco]

Might buy one now. 😂

[@jibjamjangles]

Love mine too! So happy you finally found one!

[@lizw2587]

Me too!

[@GabeMillerMusic]

LOVE that Rolandvania jam. And maybe it's because I grew up on mid/late 2000s electronic music, but I actually dig the way this thing sounds.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! The 201 would totally work in DnB, Dubstep or Trance of that time

[@JobimSynthMusic]

I can see those sounds becoming nostalgic and sought after in about 10 years.

[@oxycominum]

I second this. If you were a kid like me who gobbled up all the Future Trance and Dream Dance CDs there were, this hits you right in the nostalgia.

[@illford6921]

@@AudioPilz would sound fitting in something made by Flume ngl

[@mrz80]

It's a little too nasal sounding, though you might be able to eq your way around that. Really though, my bloodlust for cool old synths has largely been assuaged by the myriad array of free and nearly-free (bang on Juno 106 emulation for 25 clams? SIGN ME UP!) plugins out there. Software takes up no desk space, and (at least with the free stuff) doesn't show on the Visa statement for the wife to gripe about :D

[@els1f]

This is precisely what still makes me nauseous when i see Roland's name on things. I always try to explain it as: Imagine if fender only made guitars for a few years in the 50's or 60's. Then, they continue making these weird plastic things that don't have strings but have buttons that makes a sound that's somehow similar to a guitar, but call them telecasters and stratocasters anyway.

[@AudioPilz]

Very fitting comparison!

[@187onasimp]

Really??? The SH-101,TR0-808,Jupiter 8, TB-303 where all HATED and I mean absolutely HATED and despised when they came out and now they praise them like they're the greatest instruments in the world. If you had a time machine and you ventured back to the 80's there would be some dude just like you complaining about one of those legends calling them the worst thing on Earth. Every gear is bad until a good musician steps behind it and uses it to create what becomes a classic hit and then all of a sudden it's AMAZING!

[@MSM5500]

@@187onasimp "Really???" No. It's just about the TS getting an excuse from the "loser oriented" KZbin channel for being a loser.

[@cheapmusicgear]

@@187onasimp so true

[@a-nus]

@Jonathan Stark its not just about that, these things were not cheap new. Imagine being hyped for your new instrument, and when it arrives its a wobbly mess. Then you call the manufacturer to ask if iits a defect, and they tell you that's how its supposed to be.

[@Gainn]

That minimal jam is fiyah. Roland likes abandoning products.. *Cries in SH-01 GAIA*

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Did they really abandon the GAIA already?

[@Gainn]

@@AudioPilz there are still win10 drivers.. but they're more like 'suggestions' that ask your PC if it'll work with it for the most part. Some days, some PC's it plays nicely.. others not.. They stopped updating the firmware in about 2012 even though there were buglists that would have made Starship Troopers proud.

[@PhilanderingBastard]

Joins in V-Synth GT

[@tomfenn7149]

Lovin' the Retrofuturistic piece! You are a talented chap Herr Pilz. Please release an album!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Working on it!

[@t3hjnz]

Fantastic, as always. You have a real knack for making hilariously bad synths sound cool in context. What a pleasant surprise to have Alex Ball's face to react to some of the sounds as well!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@JeanBernal]

"Sounds like an MP3", I thought the same when I heard the Juno Di, or other keyboards of the same range hahaha. Great video!!

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, there are quite some instruments that trigger this association

[@wickedmonroe]

@@AudioPilz don't you dare do an episode on the juno di

[@B1SCOOP]

Yamaha RM1X sequencer gave me similar impression. Internal patches sound not terrible, not great, yet work fine as placeholders.

[@raistaparta]

The Juno-Di would be a great candidate for Bad Gear!

[@NickHchaos]

Strangely enough, there’s an old interview with Grimes where she says something like, “Well, now that I got this fancy keyboard, the Juno Di..”

[@MichaelCozineSounds]

I'm so happy there's finally a good demo of this on KZbin. I love this synth!!

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, it surprised me not to find any

[@baddriddimworkshop]

@@AudioPilz because people are keping them, not worth selling for the price

[@ishroyer222]

“The supersaw... a sawtooth waveform on party supplies” is probably your greatest quotable yet

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@ianmccoy13]

Every time I see such low quality knobs, a little piece of me dies inside. Another solid video! Keep up the great work!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@MrBrandonLau]

It would be nice with plain solid black knobs. I think a store on eBay sells the correct replacements.

[@seedmole]

I got the sh-201 as my first synth, absolutely loved it. It had a huge learning curve because I had no clue how subtractive synthesizers worked, but it worked really well in the end. The phrase recorder has some super cool functions when you tweak stuff like the delay time. There's also a decent number of hidden two-button functions for stuff like ramp times and reverb/delay parameters.

[@mycosys]

Definitely has everything i dislike about the sound of early VA synths, neither crunchy and lo-res like an early digital synth, nor smooth and squelchy like a good analog, it sits in this uncanny valley of thin fingernails on chalkboard.

[@AudioPilz]

That sums it up pretty nicely!

[@alexwestconsulting]

This came after the JP-8080 which is awesome. I wouldn't call it terribly good VA, but I would call it terribly good regardless. Roland just cheaped the hell out of this one.

[@WARDISWARD]

Roland has been doing va's for almost a decade when the the sh 201 was released in 2005-2006, so no it's certainly not a first gen va I still have one of the first gen va's , a clavia nord modular and it still sounds fantastic , even after 20 years

[@alexwestconsulting]

@@WARDISWARD Yup the Clavia Nord's have been top class always along with the Access Virus. The Rolands of that era were always more prosumer grade. Still are.

[@WARDISWARD]

@@alexwestconsulting The jp8000 most def. was NOT prosumer grade , agree that the sh201 is But it's still shoulders above the abomination called gaia , at least the sh201 had real calculated dsp generated waveforms , the gaia used sample based osc's and Let's just say that Roland also released prosumer stuff alongside their more pro grade stuff Clavia never released pro-sumer , clavia was cool , now they are just plain boooring

[@johnwilmarth833]

You really are the best in the game. From the editing to the delivery and most of all the insight of a lifer who has been in the game since WHAM! (maybe not that long, but still) Your videos have been a bright spot during the past year, thanks so much for this. I've also owned one too many of the pieces of gear you have reviewed, vindication!

[@johnwilmarth833]

SH-32 would be a good follow up to this! I had that one for a minute, kind of an oddball concept but you know, Roland's gonna be Roland.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much! It means a lot to me!

[@movraptor]

your videos are so well produced idk how you do it man keep up the good stuff :D

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you! I just don't mess around much

[@donaldpriola1807]

The designer of the synth went on to a healthy career making products for Axe Body Spray.

[@AudioPilz]

The SH201 Effect

[@marcuswilespage]

Best comment

[@lookapi]

😀😁👍🎯

[@JustinUrban1]

😂😂😂😂

[@Simon-ui6db]

Or for us lot in the uk, Lynx.

[@frhntubeable]

I remember when this thing just came out, I was still in elementary school and my parents was looking to buy a piano in a music store . I saw this synth in the store and asked the store staff what this was for, and he said “it’s to make weird sounds” 😂

[@AudioPilz]

Obviously a sales professional ;)

[@Lost_Dutchman]

One time, while I was spending all day in Guitar Center trying out some synthesizers, a customer being shown learning keyboards and digital pianos pointed and asked about the other entire room chock full of awesome synths and I overheard the salesman say, "I don't know. Those are for like DJs and stuff." They didn't come into the room.

[@kenfusion]

😆😁😅😂

[@franciscorodeghiero3679]

Wow!! Finally somebody made a cool video about this little boogie!! I still have mine. Really love the cool songs you made and the clever editing. You just got a new subscriber! I’ll join the request list on the GAIA. Thanks!! 👍🏻👊🏻

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Yeah GAIA is officially on the list!

[@kristofersknesis]

i remember when this was my Dream Synth that i dreamt i could one day afford. a locally famous band was using one and i loved the sound. eventually i was able to afford one and spent a lot of good time with it, although i had no understanding of what was going on with the knobs and sliders and what did what. later i sold it to fund a microbrute purchase, a decision i can't regret to this day, because of how important a step it was in my musical journey - i recently graduated from Elektron machines and started venturing into the modular world. yet i feel nothing but fondness for the SH-201 and wish i could get my hands on one today.

[@AudioPilz]

That's quite a journey indeed!!!👍 👍 👍

[@slowpunkforslowpunks2050]

Hehehe, I'm an idiot who doesn't sell anything, ever. So I still have mine. I can't say I cherish it, or even that I use it a lot (I need to fix some of its preset switches, after all). But when I later got an actual analog synth and started with modular, I kinda sorta knew what was going on thanks to its control layout.

[@paulnevvgeneva3157]

hey, me too. 201 is a good synth for those who wants to learn how to understand the concept of (subtractive) synthesizer. it should be the synth in every school until its modwheel was beat to death.

[@hubbarao]

At the first glance, the Roland SH-201 is ticking all the boxes. I dig it! Thanks and nice work on the episode!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@gamma_noize]

"You can set up Leias and splits" - Shiiiit! I fell from my chair because i was laughing so hard! 🤣🤣

[@AudioPilz]

That's what I understand when I'm listening to myself;)

[@skysten2605]

I'm enjoying your production style and pace and your humour

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@23jackleeder]

I love the Alex Ball method for the reviewing of synth presets. Great episode all round!

[@AudioPilz]

He never misses. Thanks!

[@maxstatic]

The futuristic minimalist bit was awesome! I could listen to that all day.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@kenfusion]

Same

[@CrookedHillSound]

This was actually my first synthesizer 15 years ago. I still use it plenty. I think it's unfairly disliked, it mostly seems to be hated by tech-snobs so I don't lose sleep over its bad reviews. I find it fun to craft sounds on.

[@AudioPilz]

Great if it fits your sound and setup!

[@baddriddimworkshop]

i agree all the way, i love my 201, and it's been thru lots... got in when it was released aswell, mored than 15 years ago...

[@noth606]

@@baddriddimworkshop I tried to find one but couldn't, but I found a Gaia SH-01 instead which I'm quite happy with. Doesn't quite sound the same but I've grown to like the Gaia sound, and I find the keys to feel very good on it.

[@baddriddimworkshop]

@@noth606 i think the main differtence is that the oscilators are sampled, but i wouldnt sware. dont forget to check the layer function

[@TallicaMan1986]

it's amazing that every video has banging tracks

[@AudioPilz]

Happy to hear that, thanks!

[@TheLokiBiz]

You finally found one!!! I've been waiting for this episode - this was my first ever "real" synth (as in not just a rompler or whatever)

[@AudioPilz]

Not the worst introduction to the whole synth thing from a usability perspective

[@AngryBulldogg]

Just listening to your intro track again around 5 mins and I thought to myself, sounds like im waiting in a team death match lobby on black ops 2. Amazing work

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@emiel333]

I should be working on productions at this moment but I just can’t get enough of your awesome video’s!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you! I catch myself at procrastinating all the time

[@emiel333]

@@AudioPilz I’m glad I’m not the only one procrastinating! 😊

[@LORDS.And.Hammers]

As limited as it is, its super incredible as a set of synthesis training wheels. I learned so much from this piece of equipment. Side note: Weight wise, it’s so light. When it arrived from the courier, I thought the box was actually empty and that I had been ripped off. 😂

[@AudioPilz]

True, a very educational (and super-lightweight) synth;)

[@matthewlowe1120]

Sounds like a recording of a recording of a SH-101.

[@AudioPilz]

A bad recording of a bad recording...

[@mrz80]

Advanced media and tape-head degradation free of charge

[@hednodsflyingoscillatorcir9827]

My pet rat ate mine, it was so cheesy. It’s kind of a Jugo version of a Juno or ... some fatherless creation.

[@danvandal4127]

Top comment!

[@mrz80]

Yugo version of a Juno... See, when cheap econobox and a synthesizer REALLY love each other... Yuno! :D

[@aksen303]

it has the legendary d-beam. it has to be amazing.

[@AudioPilz]

The ultimate UI element

[@illford6921]

WHAT DOES THE D BEAM DO THOUGH I'M HAVING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN OVER IR

[@GenuineHeather]

This was the first of your videos I've seen, so as a fan of the SH-201 I wasn't sure quite what to expect. As it happens, I think you did a good job highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the SH-201. Everything you said is perfectly fair. It's not what I'd consider a major league synthesizer. But I still love it for several reasons. For one, the simple surface controls make crafting a sound fast and efficient. I use this board in my live rig, along with an FA-06 and AX-Edge. It fills in a lot of gaps and is super easy to play, even on the fly. It's also incredibly lightweight, which is one big reason the SH-201gets to go to gigs while my far better synthesizers stay home. Sad but true. Pound for pound, it does a fine job, and in live performance its shortcomings aren't very noticeable. I also still use it in my home studio. It may not be top dog, or even close, but it has its role to play and is always there when I need it.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Roboprogs]

I love the artwork on this channel. The “pre Jetsons” Art Deco retro future animation around 7:20 was really cool.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@zanderxymox]

SH-201 was my first synthesizer I got for a couple hundred USD several years ago, since then I added a few more synths to my lineup, but the SH-201 always has a part in the music I make. And funny enough, I do make Retrowave / 80s inspired dark electronic music, so I loved that you made a retro song for your demo of it

[@AudioPilz]

Great for adding a new touch to retro tones!

[@oneness_one]

love this episode! you hit every remark on this synth spot on! The SH was my synth that got me into all this. And still using it from time to time and liking the sound.. but maybe it is some kind of stockholm syndrome I've contracted over the years..

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@mattiazzoivarzzoni3854]

Your channel is easily the most entertaining on KZbin. Even though you sometimes give some of my favorite gear the "bad gear" treatment

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!

[@andimcc6131]

5:00 "Trance exercise": This is absolutely the menu music from a 1990s PC game 6:15 "Downtempo jam": This is the music that is playing in the rave scene in one of those slightly-goth sci-fi films from the glut right after "The Matrix" came out. The budget is pretty low. There is a woman starring that you thought was Milla Jovovich but when you look it up on IMDB you realize it was somebody else. 7:15 "Film score minimal music": I think you pretty much nailed what this one's about, but one thing that struck me listening to this clip was how much it just honestly sounded like a Ladytron song. Ladytron was in your list of SH-201 users at the start and I was like "really?" but no, now I think I can hear it

[@AudioPilz]

Very thorough analysis, thanks!

[@dylanleroysynth]

Nice video! Never played one of these but per usual you made it sound pretty dang good! Don't mind the look of the synth to be honest.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@NeoLudditevisons]

Excellent!! A true mp3 synth - finally! We need more face reactions from Alex in the future too

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! #alexface is trending;)

[@NeoLudditevisons]

@@AudioPilz hahaha excellent

[@mcringelpietzz4085]

Watching u since the m Audio venom Episode and ohhhh boy man u always made my Day Shoutout to you, you takin all out of the Boxen

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!

[@TommaurerMaurer]

You always make these sound epic.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@apislapis]

Still have my SH-201 and although it does sound rather thin and lacks heft at the bottom end I find it perfectly fine to use in the mix. If it were a vocalist it would be providing the BVs not the lead, as long as you accept that the 201 is in the middle of the food chain then it ain't bad gear. Thank goodness many people are unable to manage their own expectations Florian. You'll have a job for life at this rate.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much! Let's hope so!

[@beloyaraistov8007]

Sh-201 have a superb design, beautiful

[@AudioPilz]

The layout is indeed great

[@Nismology5]

YES been looking forward to this!

[@AudioPilz]

I hope it was worth the wait...

[@adrianoconnor3020]

love the visuals,nice little unreal tournament reference,another highly entertaining video

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@htechdance]

I have recently discovered your channel and it's the most impressive synth breakdowns I have ever seen. The 201 was the first synth I ever owned and it has great nostalgia for me even though I agree with most all your critique. The overdrive was my favorite feature! They said it could blow down doors and I agree but unfortunately, the build quality was abhorrent. The red area on mine saw all the paint wear off and I hand repainted it only later to trade it in for $175 in 2015 for a brand new Jd-Xi. If you watch both videos of this channel on these two models I think it becomes abundantly clear which sounds better. I remember Madonna's keyboardist had a custom white 201 and that comment how the lead designer went on to sell Axe cologne suddenly makes perfect sense. BTW, I own a Gaia and have to say the arpeggiator is really cool on the Gaia and overall sound quality with a stacked 3 oscillator sound trumps the 201 every time. However I hate the LCDs or lack thereof on ALL of my great sounding Roland boards. Korg's workflow beats Roland's every time. I have a MicroKorg-S and XL+ and absolutely love those two beasts!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@2112jonr]

True, but the MicroKorg's UX isn't exactly a paradime of joy either. Which doesn't reflect well on the Roland.

[@uly1981]

Love it! The demo sounds and arpeggio inspired me to create 100 new 1998 trance tracks

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Rave on!!!

[@christophermoore2414]

i love these videos. Any time i see a ad for a synth and it looks a decent price i watch you to figure out if its worth a go.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@christophermoore2414]

Thank you! Such fun videos. and informative. i loved the photo that flashed up by the way. I paused it, and it made me goggle.

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Always fun when my favourite KZbinrs link up and feature in the same video!

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ChrisSmout]

I've been on the fence about picking up an SH201 as there is one in my area but it's a little expensive. This video has killed my GAS for it - thanks!

[@AudioPilz]

It would be nice as a rack unit maybe

[@superikone]

On point! Very good music examples. 👏🏻 By the way: I had nearly the same impression of the Roland Gaia. Better look, but same plastic sound (in my ears).

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@YouBredRaptorsMusic]

i don't care what anyone says. this was the first NEW synthesizer i ever bought, because it checked all the boxes i was looking for, and i could afford it. i toured with this thing a lot when i was just out of high school,for a while just with a soft case (i didnt have very much money) and despite bouncing around the back of a trailer with heavy guitar cabs, it to this day has never let me down. it gave me INTUITIVE hands on control night after night without the need for an lcd screen of Any kind. seriously, i could go through a set blindfolded and still find all my patches and parameters i tweak live. it introduced me to the idea and process of synthesis. helping wrap my head around something i never would have with a lot of other, even more expensive digital (and many analog) synthesizers. it has routing IN (i ran an SP404 into mine) which isnt something you were seeing on a lot of synths at the time. had reverb and delay Built In. and honestly, you can say the preset patches don't sound good, but tweak them a little bit and you can get this thing sounding great. i think this sounded significantly better than the MicroKorg (which was the big competitor of the time) and with full sized keys and hands on controls for everything with practically no menu diving, i think this was a better performance machine. but hey, everyone can hate on whatever they want at this point. but in all honesty, i still find myself reaching for this thing on certain tracks To This Day.

[@AudioPilz]

I assumed that it would be hard to kill this thing 😅😅😅

[@YouBredRaptorsMusic]

@@AudioPilz 100% . And those knobs might have play in them, mine haven't broken off or stopped working yet. who knows, maybe it's a design element. hahaha. Rubber bendy pots. Hahaha.

[@kenfusion]

That JAM !! And the video . Both excellent . I just bought a gaia. Listening to a generative patch right now . I love analogue but always had a hankerin for that (plastic) roland sound . Listening to what the sh-01 does I can't wait to hear what you could do with it even if it gets the bad gear of the year award . ROCK ON bad gear dude !

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!

[@Analoque444]

Thanks a lot for the video. A friend gave me the synth for an weekend to program him the patchbanks with my signaturesounds. I know, it is easy to underrate this synth but don´t be fooled, it can sound very big and nice, raw etc. which is often good to cut through a mix or in live situations. There are hidden possibilities to make funny things with it, like delay/reverb section in extreme settings and modulation by hand to very short times etc. I like this synth :D it has a big fun factor too.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed, there are some interesting sweet spots albeit well hidden ;)

[@Analoque444]

@@AudioPilz Yeah, thats almost right but not quite. "Some" is relative - I think there are "many" and if you want almost infinite. Like many gear, it will show up with the time you use it. Or it will never show up. It depends on you.

[@ssmodk]

You truly deserve all the credit in the world for your editing choices, self-awareness, and self-deprecation. Even my five-year-old really enjoys watching your videos.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Happy to hear that!

[@LouisSerieusement]

Always cool to see Alex face in your videos :p thank you so much for this episode

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for watching!

[@LouisSerieusement]

@@AudioPilz may I ask where does this wonderful comic strip come from ? 8:09

[@tronos]

that was fast.!!! last week it was still in my posession. great to see my synth again in a awesome way

[@AudioPilz]

Hi! Thanks again!

[@DaneXbsinthe]

Oh! This is the one I’ve been waiting for! Edit: yeah, you’ve said exactly what I’ve been saying. Once you hear it....

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, you can't polish that one!

[@alexwestconsulting]

Thx for this. I've got a couple JP-8080's which are awesome so I never understood why this one released so soon after is so completely misaligned. I've always wanted to get one just to try it and solve the mystery. I personally think that the VSTi integration was really forward thinking and it/Roland should get credit for it.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! I read a post today that they were using cheap processors that were easier to write code for

[@BigMichaelR1]

Another great vid!!! ❤❤❤

[@AudioPilz]

💖

[@mixrasta]

So far the best KZbinr I've seen! But it also would be ok to deliver a new video every 2 weeks, don't wanna miss you cause of a burnout ;-)

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! No worries, I'm used to heavy workloads

[@dman030]

i like that retrofuturistic cinemascope track. you should get some of these tracks out or even tutorials on the creation process, if you are going to put the time into making them and they sound good, why not.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! I try to put as many of them as possible onto Patreon...

[@OutrageTerrorTraxx]

Had one, sold it... And i miss it a lot. I find it a great synth for what it is. A cheap and very easy VA poly synth. Thinking of buying one back.

[@AudioPilz]

Very easy to use indeed!

[@JonathanDotExe]

First of all, I want to say that I really enjoy this series and that it is probably my favourite one on KZbin right now. Keep up the good work! And now to my question: I know an owner of an SH201 and he wasn't able to get the driver running on Windows 10. Therefore I wanted ask which "weird things" you had to do to your computer. Thanks in advance :)

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! The seller sent me a link which I didn't want to publish bc of accountability

[@JonathanDotExe]

Oh ok. Thanks for your answer!

[@kalanix51]

Trippin! This synth was and still is a blast to write with.

[@AudioPilz]

Lots of fun can be had but I wouldn't want to mix a record that has this synth on it

[@marcomaureira]

Alex ball pretty epic, great video as always I love seeing new synths (even if they're bad gear lmao)

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! I ROFLed hard when he sent me the vid

[@fredrikh9299]

I've owned the JP8 that is super hyped, and the 201 that is super ditched. To me they are both inspiring instruments that sounds great in their own ways. The 201 is great for EDM, trance, house. After all, it's the musician that should bring pride to the instrument, not the other way around. Actually, I've never owned a bad Roland product.

[@AudioPilz]

It's got THAT 2010 EDM sound

[@frigginFin]

At the moment as I type this, I have a SH201 and JP-8000 right next to me to my left. They both serve their purpose as does the Yamaha CS2X between them. Not to mention the gear that's a bit further right and back of me. Korg Wavestation EX, Kurzweill K2000, Alsesis QS6, two Korg Tritons, Novation Supernova and a EMu yellow trance module. It's all about what floats your boat... 😎

[@TheLokiBiz]

I did always love the layout of this synth. It was a really good first synth in that way, as it was good at teaching me the fundamentals of how subtractive synthesis works - that build quality though..... i'd have totally donated you mine if it weren't sitting in my closet broken :P

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Yeah, it's very educational

[@auralplex]

I think it sounds amazing. I had it for years and made some really great tunes.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!!

[@imaginationstation321]

really love the retrofuturistic track! you should release it on music platforms..

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@halcyo]

Like many synths, in creative and competent hands it can sound great, especially if you actually write good music with it lol. But obviously, what makes some synths more desirable is how quickly and easily they seem to give up the goods, in contrast to some synths that require you to fight it a bit to get what you want. Your "retro minimal jam" at 7:16 was awesome sounding, and if you had told people it was from a super fancy expensive synth, no one would have questioned it haha.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! TBH the 201 doesn't make things exceptionally easy if you don't want it to sound like 2006;)

[@dariusmines]

I bought one of these for $50 5 years ago. It kills in RnB and Funk, the presets suck but going into an amp or EQ it does cool things.

[@AudioPilz]

Cool price!

[@djlocodoc]

Haters: sounds like an mp3 synth Audiopilz: hold my beer rookie! Us: Bad gear gold! Great vid and jams!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!

[@JuiceBrick]

"And most importantly, Scooter" 🙏

[@rcs2003]

And they never used this synth in fact. Just on stage during shows, switched off and fake playing on it

[@AudioPilz]

Legend!!!

[@pascalillustration3650]

When Roland released the TB-303 it was considered by many musicians as bad gear too. Small knobs, hard to program, only 2 waveforms and you had to change that on the back and it couldn't produce realistic bass sounds... and look what people say now about the original TB-303. How things can change...

[@AudioPilz]

True that! I'm still hoping for my Rhythm Wolf to become super expensive;)

[@martinlund4510]

Nice one with the MP3/wav comparison 😊 you mention the keys are smaller? Compared to what? They don't look Casiotone small to me in the video.... 🤔 Oh, and if you want more mid-00s Roland cheese, then you might want to check out the Juno-G. Not very many of them left that have a working screen nowadays... 😊 Thanks for a great vid again! And I love Alex' face reviews 😅 more of those, please 😁

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! You might have misunderstood me: the keys are actually really nice

[@WokeUpScreaming]

We had an SH-201 at my college and I used to love it because Hadouken! used one and they were my favourite band at the time!

[@AudioPilz]

Hadouken! is probably the most 90s zero years phenomenon

[@amygdalos96]

That one seems like a matter of taste to me. The build quality looks awful but aside that... No shitty screen. Lots of hands on controls and pretty awesome trance sounds. I probably would not buy it but this seems like a perfectly fine machine to me (compared to some of the gear shown on this channel). PS: the sloth joke was great :D

[@AudioPilz]

You really have to push that one to make it sound bearable and there are a lot of stupid quirds but it makes sense in some applications

[@methyod]

dude it sounds so bad

[@YouBredRaptorsMusic]

i toured with one of these for years back in the early 2000s. it is light weight, yes, but it survived bouncing around a trailer in a soft gig bag with heavy guitar and bass cabs, getting knocked off stands on stage, having hand stands done on it live, and knobs and sliders tweaked live night after night after night, and to this day have never had anything come loose, act temperamental, not so much as a scratchy pot. it honestly has held a lot better than a lot of more expensive gear that Hasn't been abused the same way. also.... the keybed feels great. feels better than most of my korg and yamaha stuff. keybed feels significantly better than any of my behringer stuff.

[@matturner6890]

@@methyod A poor craftsman blames the tool

[@Flop-Bop]

Holy shit, i bought my SH-201 for $200 about 2 years ago. Since this video, they’re on reverb for like, $350-$500. This video literally brought up the value!!

[@AudioPilz]

Wow, I haven't checked in a while!!!

[@Matt-zp1jn]

I just got an sh-201 for only around $260 usd. It only had 1 owner who only used it a few times and left it in his house after that. It is in mint condition, looks & feels brand new, I got the power cables, the unused cdrom editor disk and a nice padded perfectly sized keyboard bag that is basically new too! 😊. It will be the perfect 1st Synth for learning synthesis on and having fun with. I like the visual simplicity, the lack of confusing menu diving, and that it can be great for a dawless setup with a few other pieces of gear! The nice strings, pad sounds, multiple waveform options, 2 oscillators, and a Supersaw, for me it makes it an underrated piece of gear for learning and $ value wise on a budget. I was also considering a used JD-Xi synth too, but their prices were almost double what I got for the SH-201. While the JD-Xi has more depth to it, analog & digital synths, it also is more cluttered with knobs, sliders, buttons and has alot of menu diving WHEN compared to the elegance of the SH-201’s layout of what you see is what you get. Plus the keyboard on the SH-201 is vastly superior to to the JD-Xi small cheaper quality keys. When you factor in the major price increase for a JD-Xi , or even a Mininova synth, Bass Station II, Microkorg, etc, I know I can get alot out of the 201 , an still sell it for more than I paid in the future, if I grow completely out of it! Great SH-201 review and music tracks made by Florian on this video of its various tones, sounds etc! 😊

[@caktalfraktal]

I've found it's Saw wave sounds really nice for 90s trance and psychedelic type stuff. It's almost like they tried to put the jp-8000 oscillators with a (poorly) modeled sh-101 filter--but not quite. But you can get a uniquely sponge-plastic version of the 101 sound on it.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed! It does work if you want that plasticy sound

[@myousickoflife]

Thank you so much for this video! I am a drummer and this was my first synth. Got it after I had found a Wurlitzer 200A at the end of someones driveway and became interested in keys. Talk about a quality difference! I now have a Roland TR-8, SPD-30 and SH-201. Also Korg Monologue, MS-20 mini and a KAOSS PAD for good measure. Recently got the Wurlitzer repaired because the AUX out wasn't functioning, that thing has a soul. SH-201 into a KAOSS pad might just get you arrested....

[@AudioPilz]

Wow, a Wurli! Legend!!!

[@myousickoflife]

​@@AudioPilz Thanks! Something aligned in the universe for me to end up with it. I didn't even realize how much it was worth until recently because I never thought of selling it.

[@Dorpz]

My god, the Unreal Tournament Arcane reference! Legendary.

[@AudioPilz]

I know that level like my apartment

[@Necroblas]

I use VR-09's D-Beam in a band for growl sax and chime sweep effects all the time. I might even have been sober at practice once or twice.

[@AudioPilz]

Respect!

[@callummacdonald9610]

Some of the best music content I’ve seen on KZbin in a long time. You’re super talented

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@romanpistelak58]

Hey, i love your jams in the end of videos. Everyone! 👌

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@BrandonDJx]

I'm going to be controversial and admit I actually quite like my SH201. Sure, the sound quality isn't breath taking and its very cheap sounding in areas such as the 'raspy' high end and the very warm fuzzy tonal low end but that's why I like it. The other reason why is because its simple and everything to change the sound is laid out infront of you unlike the JV1080 and other various roland modules, where you'd spend double the time remembering and scrolling through menu after menu just to tweak a sound. I did buy a JP8000 a few years ago and ended up reselling it as it felt like a one trick pony in as it's just the thing for the super saw wave. I cannot remember the exact routing but I remember it being limited by the way the osc 1 is set out where you have to always use a saw wave? I may be wrong but SH201 give alot for the price you pay.

[@AudioPilz]

True, it's super feature-packed but hard to use in a professional context

[@jinggarcia]

deep inside his heart he actually loves the 201.

[@AudioPilz]

It's complicated;)

[@activelow9297]

Your summary at the end of this video is exactly how I feel about the Access Virus series. "Once you know what you are listening for, you can't unhear it".

[@AudioPilz]

😀

[@Old_Man_Jay]

Damn dood! I swear I was going to make a request for you to do a video on this synth! It’s like our minds are in sync! This is actually the first synth I had owned. sadly I got rid of it because i felt like it sounded a bit too thin for my liking. I kinda miss it though, to be honest. It’s how I got started learning synthesis!

[@AudioPilz]

Great minds...

[@robr135]

This thing is really, really good for Trance. If thats not your thing look elsewhere. If you want it to sound like a warm gentle wet fart like an old analog beast there are superior synths for that. As far as Supersaws go, this can get them no problem. The issue here are the presets on this thing. Lets face it, they sucked and most who tried it turned away. I have already created new ones to replace the existing ones and I can bet people would have a way better time playing it. Also the built in effects are just not good enough but with a good daw to connect this synth to as a vsti you can get superior reverb/delay and this thing will sound way more beautiful. Also why anybody would criticize this as a touring synth needs their heads examined because with a synth like this you put it in one spot and keep it there ie. Your studio. the quality is cheap but what's inside is gold if you actually know how to program it and disregard the lackluster presets it comes with.

[@AudioPilz]

Trance stuff actually works really well

[@Matt-zp1jn]

The classic trance and supersaw, pads, strings etc are great for what it is, fun to play and creativeness flows easily. Low cost too!

[@localhost4460]

Like it or hate it: it does sound like a "Roland." You've got to admire consistency

[@AudioPilz]

It certainly does. Remarkable!

[@MrSpinek]

OOOOOOOOOH baby ive fantasized about having one of these for a while. Juicy

[@AudioPilz]

Digital juice;)