Roland SH-4D Demo (No talking)

[@floridahiker1503]

The one person I wanted to demonstrate the SH-4D. Thanks for uploading.

[@esersound1]

Thanks for watching!

[@he-man-music]

Nice demos for sure! Is there any post treatment to the sound here? It sounds really lush. Thanks for doing this 😊

[@esersound1]

Thanks! No, I've just recorded a stereo mix to Ableton with an SSL 2+ interface and put a limiter (Frontier from D16) with standard (non-destructive) settings. The onboard Track MFX does a good job in additional shaping. And the filters are not bad. The built in effects are generally really ok.

[@CleanConnections]

A deceptively deep box of tricks & portable too. First synth I lusted over was an sh09 so I maybe biased on this one. Great track 👌 how such a huge sound comes out of such a tiny box is beyond me. Think Roland did good with this one.

[@Lupoberry]

Fantastycznie! Jak zawsze wyciągasz ze sprzętu wszystko, co najlepsze! 🙂

[@henrikmeyer9236]

A lot of videos/youtubers never really show the capabilities of instruments. But just cheap talk, and crappy examples of sound. This one made me buy it. Now i just have to step up 😂

[@Nicolas_J3869]

Houaa ! Great sounds !!!

[@esersound1]

Thanks!

[@Bobo]

Very nice demo! I have it and j think it brings out creativity in me and I like that but at the same time I also have Digitakt, Digitone and syntakt but this is all on one box 😆😁 deciding if I should keep it or not right now ☺️

[@esersound1]

Thanks! I still have some "messy" feelings about it sometimes, but it will stay, as it helps me rest a bit from the computer screen and lets me sketch some ideas. But I don't have any similar box now, still wishing for an Analog Four MKII, just that price now... 🙂

[@RuiGon1]

Can you change from a patern to the other with no interruption? The machine has no chain or song mode, so that is important. Thanks for the demo.

[@esersound1]

Yes, but for now it needs some time to load the next pattern. So If you have a 4 bar pattern and want to seamlessly play the next one, hit it around the half of the first. This will be probably improved, but for now it is good chose the next one earlier. I see space for lots of improvements, let's hope they do like they did with the SP-404 MKII :)

[@joebaf]

If you had to choose between the minifreak and the sh-4d, what would u pick?

[@esersound1]

They're different type of gear, I've had both in the same time and they compliment each other well. But If I have to choose one as a first hardware synth for example, I would go with the Minifreak. I've tested it after I bought the SH-4d, so of course it will be my next purchase.

[@gabrielromanow-yt8rk]

w życiu nie słyszałem kogoś takiego. byłbym przeszczęśliwy, gdybyś pozwolił mi pisać pod Twoje beaty Gabryś

[@vj512]

Cool demo! Do you miss microtimings and swing for the drums in the sequencer?

[@esersound1]

Thanks! I didn't search for micro timings, but there's swing for the drums (I use it most of the time) it can be set in the pattern menu for each part separately.

[@leNotstrom]

Thank you, Hunart! Always a pleasure to listen what you do with the machines. How would you compare the SH4d towards the Jupiter Xm?

[@esersound1]

Thanks much! I think the SH-4d is half of the Jupiter-Xm panel XD The build quality, the knobs and buttons (except faders) look the same. The engine is different, the oscillators (beside Juno and SH) are not emulating anything, yet they sound very similar (If you're browsing patches by category, except the "Juno-Chorused" and patches you can't tell by only character which of the osc's do you use). But the sound is very ok, no hum, loud and clear enough. A bit different approach from Roland and I kinda like the way the 4d works (I've had to open the manual once, just to find out that saving a full pattern is the same pain in the ass as in Jupiter-X series 😂 But it's logical and I've adopted to it quickly. Overall a great, but specific box for the price. Jupiter-Xm is filled with emulated classics and the 256 voice polyphony does the job when it comes to walls of sound. The SH-4d is more about experimenting. Or rather for me is about it.

[@HansuMyura]

@@esersound1 You said it right, this synth is very specific. I also have it (fortunately I was able to receive it earlier), but besides my other devices I don't know if I'm going to keep it. The sound is there which I like, but I think I'm looking for something a bit deeper and richer than the SH-4D currently delivers. I'm going to see if I can get deeper sounding patches with the built in EQ tonight, I'm curious. On the other hand, I can't think of anything from Roland in the same price range that comes close. Does the Jupiter Xm sound about the same or does it really sound different/better (but at a higher cost)?

[@HansuMyura]

Whatever I said about the fullness of the sound, the EQ per part does wonders for the sound if a patch sounds a little thin. Just add a touch of EQ and that problem is solved in no time. Yes, it's a nice device that I just need to get to know a little better.

[@esersound1]

@@HansuMyura I'm getting deeper in it, so I probably have to "revise" the demo :) The Matrix and Track MFX do the job, lots of potential in that box. Though an editor would be great. As for The Jupiter-Xm, it's a bit different kind of synth. The concept is similar (4 parts + drums, etc.), but the sounds are different, mainly classic emulations. Similar though. Also Jupier-Xm has 256 polyphony and that makes a huge difference when creating complex Scenes. But the sequencer is much harder to program.

[@HansuMyura]

@@esersound1 After I asked my question here I looked at some reviews of the Jupiter Xm, but despite the fact that you already have an editor for it, the directness of the SD-4D appeals to me much more. There's a lot to like about the Xm, but the way I want to use the SH-4D it suffices just fine. An editor might indeed be useful, but I don't think you need it as much as with the Xm, there's - a lot - of menu diving in that synth. While the SH-4D appears to have a subset of features, most of the functionality is or appears to be basically the same, but it also brings new options and capabilities that I feel are more accessible and more intuitive than on the Xm. Now that I've seen that I just need to make the EQ part of the sound shaping process, this synth really falls into place for me. I'm very happy with the functions the SH-4D offers. There is indeed a lot of potential in this device. 😎

[@FrediBach]

Couldn't you directly record over USB into the DAW without the audio interface? Just asking as I get one next Monday.

[@esersound1]

It was just a fast recording and I wanted to check the battery life and analog connections, but yes, you can send 5 audio and MIDI tracks simultaneosly into a DAW over USB.

[@sandyturner1911]

So, is this easier to program than the Elektron stuff? Or, is it all relative? I'm having a hard time trying to figure out the best polysynth to get. I've looked at the Minilogue XD Module, and the Elektron Digitone. It starts to get really overwhelming. Cool Demo! Thanks!

[@esersound1]

I've had only one Elektron (Analog Four MK II) for a few days, it wasn't hard to figure it out, but they have some complicated boxes out there. The SH-4d was easy to figure out, If it comes to programming, though I'm still figuring out the deeper synth stuff. Basically both Minilogue and Digitone are good synths, the SH-4d is good too, just specific a bit, more like for experimenting and tweaking stuff. But that's just me.

[@sandyturner1911]

@@esersound1 Thanks! I'm obviously not a synth guy.. so I want something that sounds good, and is easy to use.

[@esersound1]

@@sandyturner1911 In this case almost every synth with not too much menu diving will do. Also, If you're in to your first polysynth and want to get something from both hardware and software wolds, check the MiniFreak from Arturia. I currently have it on my desk and it's awesome ;)

[@sandyturner1911]

@@esersound1 I had the Microfreak, and I couldn't figure out how to use it. I had a hard time seeing the writing, for one thing. I got the Bass Station 2, used, so I have that part. I got a Drumbrute Impact, and I am still learning how to program that. Now I'm trying to decide on the polysynth . The less menu diving, the better. I'm looking at the new Roland, now, and the Digitone. The Roland looks good, but so far, it sounds kind of cheesy, depending on who's using it. I will watch a few more videos, and try to decide. It's not due out until April, now, so who knows? lol! I like the way the Digitone sounds, but the programming looks daunting, and time consuming, to learn. I can only afford, and have space for, one more piece. Thanks for the reply..I really appreciate it!

[@esersound1]

@@sandyturner1911 For twice the money you can check Sequential Take 5 ;) If it comes to the SH-4d, there's not too much menu diving. Even the Matrix has just few pages with max. 4 positions. But as I wrote earlier, it is specific. You will get different things out from an Elektron, but there the programming can be harder (although much more sound possibilities). You can also check Modal (I hadn't have the chance yet), interesting synths. Or If you want to go with something similar to the SH-4, there's the JD-Xi, but that one needs the use of the editor as on the unit itself the menu-diving when creating sounds will drive you crazy after the Microfreak :) With the Minifreak you will get a dedicated VST synth which will allow easier editing and allows you to have your synth everywhere.