Roland SH-32 for $200, should I get it?

[Shreddy]

I see some places selling this for $400+.

Its a table top synth module, looks like it would be a nice portable alternative to my Juno6.

Any opinions, Jerry, Frank, others? :?:

Ed

[Shreddy]

Ok some other places are selling these units at $250.

I need to hit a music store and play around with one of these again.

[Over The Edge]

Hey Ed,

. The desktop-sized SH-32 recreates the sound of sought-after Roland classics like the SH series of synths and the TR drum machines - the fat, full sound you didn't think they made anymore from the 80's hip hop sound. The SH-32 4-part multitimbral synth boasts 32 notes of polyphony, plus great DSP effects, analog style drums, a programmable arpeggiator. The generous selection of knobs, buttons, and sliders provides the kind of realtime tweak control every synth lover craves.

New Wave Acceleration synthesis creates a variety of synth waves - 67 total!

Includes standard synth waves plus new waveforms like Spectrum and Noise
Up to 32-note/4-part multitimbral operation
2 main oscillators and 2 suboscillators with ultra-thick Subsonic mode
Pulse width modulation and oscillator "hard" sync capability*
Insert and Loop effects processors with 10 types of reverb/delay and 35 multi-effects
Programmable arpeggiator for creating synth lines or drum patterns
They've got it at the Sam Ash in Buffalo Grove.
Check it out. It's a good buy.



FL
www.franklucas.net

[Shreddy]

I checked the unit out when the first came out but never with the intention of purchasing one of the units. I seem to recal it had the ability to sound like an EP or B3 (not as good as my XV). I will try to get a look at one again soon.

ed

[Jerry]

Shreddy:

I personally don't think the SH32 adds that much to someone with an XV class synth, especially if they have the vintage card. If you want a cheap and cheerful VA, I really prefer the AN200 (Yamaha) product that was being blown out at $200. At 5 voices, it's a lot less polyphony than the SH, but I imagine you want it for leads and the occasional rich pad.

The difference is in the architecture. The Yammie will give you all kinds of control over the oscillators, fm, oscillator sync, some VCA overdrive (different from an EFX overdrive), etc.

The only thing the SH really provides over the regular Roland romplers is oscillator sync. And I think it dings the polyphony to accomplish that. It's a modest, early example of waveform acceleration which really came to fruition in the V-Synth.

YMMV though.

Best,

Jerry

[Over The Edge]

Maybe so Jerry but look at that price! :shock:



FL
www.franklucas.net

[synthguy]

I would probably pick the SH-32 over the AN200, simply because the 32 has more polyphony and a full control panel. The AN200 is supposed to sound a lot like a Prophet 5, an old and highly sought after synth, and I think the Access Virus captures that sound as well tho I could be wrong on that. However, the SH-32 will give you a lot of mileage even if it doesn't sound much like a Minimoog or Prophet, more like an Arp, but the Arp rocked pretty seriously too. Jerry said its filters reminds him of his XP-80, but that's not a bad thing at all. Having that control panel available will bump up the usefulness of any unit up about a mile in my book, so I'd go for it.

[Shreddy]

I think I might hold off on this until I get to check one out again.

Thanks for the feedback guys.