Donner's L1 is a budget analogue synth that builds on the legacy of the SH-101

Chinese manufacturer Donner has been building quite the reputation over the past few years, as it steadily expands its catalogue of accessibly-priced gear with the likes of the 303-inspired Essential B1 bass synth. Donner's latest is another generously priced analogue synth that also takes cues from a vintage Roland instrument while adding some neat additional features including extra oscillator modes and a detachable MIDI keyboard.

[@romulinprince]

It's a good starter for some youngsters to get into building their own inexpensive music lab. No complaints here, just encouraging Donner to learn from others and keep their products affordable.

[@scooba789]

Dear MusicRadar, let me introduce you to a camera feature called Stabilisation. Please use it next time. Cheers!

[@4mb127]

One of the most refreshing things I've seen from NAMM. The separatability of the keyboard from the synth and them being able to be used individually is really cool.

[@scottharris7222]

Man tough and grumpy audience in the comments. Synth looks impressive. Looking forward to the detailed reviews.

[@foljs5858]

Why does he demonstrate it with fart sounds instead of nice leads and basses?

[@INADRM]

So many cool legacy patches to recreate, instead makes fart sounds...

[@MrOuija-rr8kq]

Because he’s been told to demonstrate specific things about it.

[@MrOuija-rr8kq]

@@INADRMThat’s modular for ya

[@Novaheart1998]

Because he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

[@Tripwelleverday]

He didn’t know anything I made an earworm for him and he was amazed

[@moskva-kassiopeya]

Wow it’s like this comment section filled with bots and negative comments. The synth is able to save presets yet bots claim it can not. The synth itself is great btw, I like the design and it’s sounds great.

[@paulmski9564]

It can only save sequencer patterns. But it does look like a good synth.

[@Gyrbae]

The demo guy himself said that it can't save patches, but it can save sequences.

[@bhaveshmistry3255]

Interesting product. Demonstrators look very passionate. Like the way he gave demo. ❤

[@cordlesswire]

no patch memory. wth? how much more would it cost with patch memory? 5$? 10$?

[@juicythedj750]

Lol welcome to the world of analog synths. To answer your question: probably an additional €150 - €200 and it would require a complete re-design of the circuitry.

[@cordlesswire]

@ no way. msrp is like 300$. i refuse to believe it would cost double that if it had 128 preset memory slots. lol.

[@javieralvarezcalleja525]

It's Akai Dan all over again.

[@robertsyrett1992]

But like, what if you made an SH-101 with 2 oscillators?

[@Hrotti]

Then it's not an sh 101. I personally got really excited by this announcement but once I saw that it had a second envelope I was turned off

[@olafsigursons]

@@Hrotti LOL.

[@Digiphex]

Roland made one with 4 called the SH-01a.

[@vektor346]

Does the LFO sync ?

[@INADRM]

This filming was nauseating

[@VukcanWP]

Sounds like a GameBoy 🎮

[@BadTrip69]

I don't wanna sound rude but honest. In my opinion all Donner's synths sounds plastic and digital like old vst synth because new ones sounds less digital than Donner's synths. It will be no surprise for me if there inside is Raspberry Pi running some free vst synth 😅

[@TheBrainvision]

nice

[@OrganicGreens]

Put a nob and slider for everything except what you play most often the pitch and mod... "wheel". I hate touch strips

[@0oNoiseo0]

i was excited but now ill pass

[@hugocaldeiravinagre]

it can't save presets

[@Paulruk]

This sounds like me the day after a curry and I’m polyphonic and wireless.

[@uncccut23]

Just seems pointless. Has all the bad limitations of old gear (no presets, only 1 osc etc) but with modern ugliness (ugly pads, touch sliders) and it doesn’t even look like an SH-101. If you want to do some nostalgic shit with limitations, at least make it as good looking as the old synth it imitates. Behringer wins here big time.

[@juicythedj750]

I'd say the external input, triangle wave (yes the Behringer has it too), the modular design, the additional envelope and well thought through sequencer address a lot of the limitations of the original and the Behringer.

[@Nothingspeshalwaysfresh]

They sent the wrong product specialist. Ive been waiting for content to see how this sounded since annouced ...was excited. Now? Not so much.

[@Tripwelleverday]

I can’t believe it had no modulation controls on the sequencer it’s such a let down

[@SirSybian]

Shawarma L1

[@pauljeavons8878]

Donner have a major problem in getting their synths off the ground. They didnt start 10 years ago but behringer did. Donner also arrive with having manufactured very poor effects pedals both in performance and a reputation for going faulty. This synth has to be cheap to sell really cheap. Behringer have sold the ms in huge numbers. Who would buy this if they already have the ms? I wish Donner luck they will need it.

[@TheBrainvision]

i unfirsted myself

[@Nothingspeshalwaysfresh]

😂

[@Marc_Angel]

Sh02a en PLS.

[@eti313]

2:28 huhuhuh

[@johngorgis]

hopefully it sounds better than the behringer sh01

[@johngorgis]

the quality of their guitars is sub par but the price reflects that

[@Rr0gu3_5uture]

MS-1. There's no such thing as a Behringer SH-01. The SH-01 is the Roland Gaia.

[@zeitgeist909]

I wonder if Benn is going to post a video dissing Donner for this obvious rip-off of the SH-101? Probably not.

[@tamascsanaki9220]

Sounds like a 8 USD toy keyboard. I do not need it.

[@NullStaticVoid]

Its kind of entertaining to see Donner try to out Behringer B-Brand with even cheaper, shittier gear. At least this has real keys

[@moritz_schoenermann]

boring...

[@oracle-0018]

I like nothing about his demo! But I think me doing a better job is stupid🤕💉💉