Roland SH-4d | Nine months review

[@JanavarKan83]

As someone that travels for a living, I’ve been searching for the perfect travel size groove box and this checks almost all the boxes. I just ordered one.

[@malvinusmusic]

You won't regret, thanks for tuning in!

[@guyboatman6133]

I honestly bought this machine for one sound, a flexible poly warm pad sound to stack on my Nord electro. There is just something about having a dedicated hardware synth that software can’t replicate (although it comes close). I love mine! It truly is a great machine. Thanks for your videos!

[@malvinusmusic]

I agree. The sound, the pots and sliders, everything comes in handy for making good music. Thank you for your comment!

[@wendelynmusic]

I love mine also. The more I use it the happier I am having it. There a some flaws but I am really hoping many of them will be fixed with updates. I just love it.

[@malvinusmusic]

You are right, "happy" is the word. Playing this machines makes you happy. Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate!

[@russellyoung6498]

Got to agree with you there mate. I have spent many happy hours with mine, and there's always something new! Appreciate your work.

[@malvinusmusic]

Hi Russell, yes our SH-4d is great, thanks for your kind comment, as always, cheers!

[@beesting6135]

It's a beautiful machine!!!!

[@malvinusmusic]

Agree!

[@ouchieouchie8130]

I been waiting for a piece of gear like this, I'm a newer music producer and I'm still learning. This seems to be a great box to help generate ideas and learn track composition. I don't understand the hate toward this device. Looks great to me.

[@malvinusmusic]

The hate is because of some flaws regarding the groove box functions but if we look at It as a four parts plus rhythm part synthesizer, as the writing on it says, we all can almost agree it is a nice sounding machine. Love it too, thanks for stopping by!

[@rexcellencemagee6729]

I bought this without knowing anything but the specs on Sweetwater. 60 voices with a Juno and SH-01. This IS my favorite synth and I have Kronos, Nautilus, Integra 7, Motif, many Behringer 12 140 hps of eurorack, all of the latest Dreadbox. The point is, it’s my favorite! I would like to see an app made for it though!

[@malvinusmusic]

Although I have many other gears as well, It Is my fav too. Agree, top notch instrument!

[@duketranslucent3rd]

Nice overview, thanks! I've heard it said that the sound design is a little limited/shallow, which isn't surprising given the price point / sheer weight of features the box offers. It's still a great buy nonetheless.

[@malvinusmusic]

It's all about the price point compared to the sound and the ease of use it. IMO it's a great deal. Thank you for stopping by!

[@VJFranzK]

5:10 Yeah! Audio In should have EFX on it. We need it for Vocals and such.

[@malvinusmusic]

Absolutely!

[@Benutzer101]

Im using an old Yamaha Rm1x wich is a groovebox too 16 MIDI CH Multitimbral. I would have been buyin this maschine SH-4D on release if it had near the same MIDI functions but it doesn't. And the Yamaha is from 1999. I am a Roland fan ever since i touched my first Instrument SP808 Groove/Phrase Sampler. This one looks like new after 25 Years if i open it up (just dust cleaner sometimes) it was made from Roland Japan and it still works flawlessly even the zip drive

[@Benutzer101]

It was considered a commercial failure. I think i buy the SH4D in 2025 cuz i dont wanna miss it even if o dont need the Zen core Sounds

[@malvinusmusic]

@@Benutzer101thank you for stopping by!

[@DeliriumElectric]

Nice. I have the Roland A6. Haven’t had time to explore it yet.

[@SonicVibe]

it's one of my favorite grooveboxes i have ever used not sure why it gets all the hate yes id love to use it as a fx box on audio in but i think you do have triggers and param locks ya can record automation. The jam at the end was great synthwave ish

[@malvinusmusic]

I think it is disliked little precisely because it is simple. People like complicated things, lol! Thank you for your kind words!

[@SonicVibe]

this makes sense agreed @@malvinusmusic

[@TravisHi_YT]

@@malvinusmusic This is part of the reason I'm considering getting one! It will be my first Synth if I end up getting it. I saw a 67 year old playing one, so it must be easy enough!

[@malvinusmusic]

@TravisHi_YT it's straightforward and funny, go for it if you like It!

[@domeniquexander_]

great 🔥 order mine tomorrow. This thing sounds so good. really cool video. New Abo 🤙🏼🙂

[@malvinusmusic]

Thanks a lot, have fun with SH-4d!

[@Michel-r6m]

Nice review after the hype is over. Very nice Groovebox and the current price makes it a bargain since there is nothing comparable (MC-101 is loaded with sounds but a nightmare to work with).

[@malvinusmusic]

@@Michel-r6m thank you Mate, I do love this machine, cheers!

[@Michel-r6m]

@@malvinusmusic Am actually contemplating selling the TR-8s (CR-78!) and get an SH-4d (new). The TR-8s is great but in retrospect I'd gone for the SH (was not out when I bought the TR-8s). Had the MC-101 but didn't like the interface at all.

[@malvinusmusic]

@user-jy3io4iz2p although I love SH-4d, TR-8s is a whole other things, I suggest to sleep on it

[@Michel-r6m]

@@malvinusmusic Sure, I am thinking about it and looking at current used prices for thr TR-8s is what got me here 😅 Wish the MC-101 had the interface of the SH-4d. The real step back would be losing the CR-78, combined with 808 and 707 my favorites. What I do before even putting up for sale is use the item a bit and see if it I can live with it or let go. Bought the TR-8s few years ago when it was €579 so that makes it a little easier but that CR-78 🥲

[@Michel-r6m]

An update... The SH-4d I want but keep the TR-8s at first and see how that works out. Thanks for the advice to have a sleep over it 🤠 You seem to be a more sensible than impulsive person. Saw you're from Italy (been to Ventimiglia, Como and Milano) and want to visit Toscane 😎 Grazie mille from Paesi Bassi 😃

[@shinezacharias3118]

Cause I have tr8s, and what was in firmware update, Arpeggioter can use all Synth parts like 5 arp

[@HightechLowlife-r8x]

you have polyphonic probability , ratchet and rolls , different sequencer modes ( forward / backward / ping pong & random ) and automation (not exactly plocks but close ) so sequencer is not a slouch !

[@HightechLowlife-r8x]

you did mention the lack of effects on audio ins , but the fx tools is huge : with one insert effect per track plus one global fx and one global + delay + chorus +reverb and one master compressor and EQ and one dedicated eq per track ! this is cool

[@malvinusmusic]

Absolutely! SH-4d is a beautiful sequencer. I meant only that it',s not as Deep as the Elektron. Thanks for stopping by!

[@cambriakilgannon12]

If it had unquantized recording, and if the ratchet had different syncopations of the subdivisions like how the Aira S1 does (like only the last two 16th notes, or only the first and last triplet subdivisions), then it would be an instant classic, god tier piece of gear. The lack of unquantized recording is pretty much the first complaint I see from people online, which would remove most of the sequencers limitations. IMO the syncopated ratcheting would be much easier to integrate and would go a long way to allowing more complex sequences, a kind of middle ground between the two

[@trickfall8752]

Boss Roland seem to be against updating the firmware on their products, but IMO the SH-4D could go from very good to fantastic with some tweaks. One thing I don't think you mentioned as a con is the saving system which I personally find antiquated and annoying.

[@malvinusmusic]

I am actually not annoyed by the saving system, although it might certainly be better, I agree. Maybe I will make soon a video about this topic

[@Trollgaldrer]

My only complaint about the machine is the weird save functionality. If I use the same sound on several different projects but with minor adjustments on each I have to save as different sounds to keep the settings on individual tracks. Really annoying!

[@malvinusmusic]

I get it. I use tò think that, at the end of the day, It"s just one more click if you let it unrenamed. Thanks for your comment!

[@Trollgaldrer]

@@malvinusmusic Yes, it is just a minor annoyance. It really is a wonderful machine, I absolutely love it, it has given me so many hours of fun and enjoyment. In my opinion it is the best piece of gear Roland has produced in many years, it is so versatile.

[@hdslave]

This has plagued hardware groove boxes since the beginning

[@tekrahmuzik777]

Yeah def gonna keep mine

[@RuiGon1]

Nice work.

[@malvinusmusic]

Hi Rui, thanks a lot!

[@VJFranzK]

3:27 what's that weird sound? its like QBert noises

[@malvinusmusic]

I don't remember but yeah, very weird!

[@DamIen-y7b3q]

Thanks for the review ! I'm not sure I understood the saving system: you can save the tones, the patterns, but is it possible to save the entire project with all the Tracks? It seems essential to me to be able to recall everything on stage

[@malvinusmusic]

Absolutely. You save patterns, which contain tones and all the settings inside them

[@VJFranzK]

Is there an easy way to Fade In certain drums? but not others. (I keep thinking 4 sliders are good, but why not more?)

[@malvinusmusic]

You can fade in drums with the Timbre knob. Just uncheck the drums you don't wanna fade in and you're good to go. AFAIK there are no other ways.

[@orielsy]

I don't see multiple outputs. How do I split the audio to put an effect pedal on a specific channel/voice?

[@malvinusmusic]

Thete are no separate audio outs. To have separate channels you have to use the USB audio feature of the SH-4d so that you can put the FX in your DAW

[@shinezacharias3118]

if i dont want to use the drum track can i change to another synth

[@malvinusmusic]

Absolutely

[@shinezacharias3118]

Thanks for replay

[@bravebeats]

can you put probability on trigs?

[@malvinusmusic]

Yes, but you can only set the prob of that trig to be played (up to 100%), you haven't got the depth of an Elektron sequencer

[@angeldc54]

So you are the one person who actually bought this 😅

[@malvinusmusic]

I'm not the only one, what statistics do you have?