While a somewhat simple synth, especially compared to virtual synths (VST, DXi, AU) the RH201 is a killer at what it does, which is emulate 80s style polyphonic synthesizers, particularly Roland favorites like the Juno 6 and Jupiter. This makes sense as the circuitry has been borrowed from the V-Synth model of the Jupiter and supersaw oscillator. What you get at it's modest price is a nicely editable, very good sounding synth. It is not a powerhouse type of synth such as the similarly priced Alesis ION. Some find the ION difficult to get good sounds from which is understandable as it incorporates a complex synth engine that has a substantial learning curve. Beyond price there isn't much to compare. The ION is deep and not as direct as the vastly simpler Roland SH201. Also, LISTEN to the SH201 as it is nothing like the SH101 that shares it's name. The original SH was a - IMO - cheesy sounding, squelchy synth that has a large audience; however, this SH is more useful as a warm analog-clone, vastly more worthy of the Juno name than the sample based synths that inherited that name. You can get some nice sounds that move thanks to a 2nd LFO, although I wish there had been a second filter as well. Also, it's nice to see a few routings for what the LFO affects. It's not a modulation matrix, but it does give some additional capability to the SH201. With the distortion and choice of reverb or simple delay I'm somwhat surprised a chorus effect wasn't added. That noted, it's very easy to get that type of sound. It's just nicer when you can use the synth for different programming purposes AND have chorus available. However, it is a minor desire. I wanted the SH201 for its simplicity, not it's depth of programming possibilities. Using the ION as a comparison again, and doing so as it has the exact oposite kind of design, being capable of many analog waveforms, simple FM synthesis, 3 oscillators, a noise oscillator and sub oscillator along with several filters available to all three oscillators. Even it's two effects are complex, with EQ parameters on it's reverb algorithims. Now; if that makes you drool, you should listen to it. I think it's presets are hit or miss as the synth can do so many things and the presets set out to proove it. Also, it has 500 some-odd spots for presets and combination presets. It can make drum kits, it can do very complex arpeggiator and phrase sequencing, and can do it over 4 channels for sequencing or on one patch with one massive sound or super-complex patches that move all over the place and throughout the stereo field. Also, there is a lot of formant and complex filter types, one per osc as well as amplifier section. Sound a bit complex? It is. And if you don't want to deal with that but want outstanding sound quality the SH201 is, as far as I'm concerned, the king of warm VA synth sounds. There's the Novation gear, but it's neither easier to use than the SH201, nor better sounding or substantially fuller featured. It does sound good, but it has less capability and much less fun factor than the SH201.

Remember; this IS a simple synth! Two oscillators capable of synching. Actual sliders for amp, filter and pitch envelopes! Sliders are very nice controllers which you'll love when using VST instruments. In fact, the SH201 is a great controller besides a great synth. From the oscillators you see the mix/modulation controllers followed by the filter. There are several filter styles with resonance. They are excellent sounding filters that have very musical frequency points. This goes to the simple amplifier control and finally the effects. The amplifier section has it's ADSR (attack-decay-sustain-release) slider controls below it which is a smart way to design the synth's interface. The only control beyond level in the amp section is the distortion effect. In the effect section there's an on/off switch, filter type which is a rotary control and nicely responsive along with depth and button for choice of reverb or delay. The actual synth interface doesn't have a single menu or LCD - it is a breath of fresh air! No menus, no crazy controls that require months to memorize the name of let alone it's function. I should note I'm a great fan of complex synths but longed for the day I'd find something as simple as my Juno 6, and it's in the form of the SH201, although the SH is more complex than the Juno. The one slightly complex feature is the LFO. You have several waveform choices to make along with a rate button and red blinking LED. There are several destination points for the LFO wave shapes including rates. These are placed below the mix and filter sections and again have the look of a signal flow diagram. It is a great way to learn what a synth does and how the signal flows. the GUI is smartly designed and near impossible not to learn from, in spite of those that hate manuals. I almost forgot, there are internal filters and the ability to modulate through the LFO. So you can put a mp3 or CD player into the SH201 and effect the sound. You can do so in time to your synth patch. You can even set it up so you play the input source like a patch. Watch the demo videos, they show how it works. DJs and progressive players will love this feature. Lastly, the patch structure is set up so you can have a left keyboard assigned patch and a different right sided patch. You can combine them should you choose. Patch memory is 32 factory presets and 32 of your own presets. It isn't as huge as many other devices, but if you need more you should question why. This isn't a preset synth. It's far to simple to worry about losing your sound. Should you it shouldn't take more than a couple minutes to half an hour according to your synth experience.

With the blueprint for basic synthesis printed right in front of you as part of the synth's interface you will learn if you don't already understand programming. If you are accomplished you will freak out at how fast you can get things done. People don't mention this but on complex synths it has been my experience that folks get lost in their cool features and sound creation abilities. I've seen others as well as myself, waste hours noodling on a patch that ends up not working within the song or band! Because there is a fixed amount of things you can do with the SH201 you'll find out what can and can't be done quickly and because time matters, you'll find it is wonderful to be able to edit in real time and saving what you need - if you even bother. Edits can be as simple as changing the filter's resonance to create major new sounds. Using the Alesis ION and less capable to program micron, you can tweak forever and get insanely complex sounds, on the micron you can literally make programs with a drum beat, saved phrase or arpeggiation, synth timbre and 2nd synth timbre that can be phrased in real time. It's powerful, but it is a long learning curve. btw, the ION has 8 note polyphony while the SH201 has 10 notes. You can do on the fly phrase synthesis on it too and all of it is so simple it will scare you, especially since it sounds so damn good.

It feels a bit flimsy, not that the SH201 isn't gigable. I'd use it without worry, but I would be careful. Fit and finish is good although I wish rotary encoders had been used. They are endless and remember where you were on the last edit. Still the feel is good and the faders used for controls are useful and gig-safe.

If I had to I'd have paid list as I love how this synth sounds and plays. The pricing isn't especially discounted, but it's not surprising. Roland knows they have a hot product and though there isn't anything remotely new in the SH201 you have to credit Roland for good packaging of older technology, something they seem to have mastered, usually to my distain. In fact, the SH201 is the first Roland product I purchased in a decade. I have no problem with companies making money but Roland recycles gear so quickly it is shameful. That said, I like what they did with the Juno G and "inexpensive" Fantom series, the one without the nice GUI. That said, try a Korg KARMA if you like lots of movement in your sounds. The KARMA is a fully programable section within the original Triton synth engine. It has been on the market for 5 years and other than a $300 drop a couple years ago there's been no publicity stunts or use of the KARMA system other than making it available to all Triton users for $150 via software. Try some of the patches and try the KARMA controls. It will change some opinions on the animated sounds of the Fantom. As for the SH201, it's brilliant! Essentially, it's the V-Synth's Jupiter engine with supersaw oscillator. I'm not completely sure if all the Jupiter features are part of it but the synth really sings, and with the VST interface that's available for PC and MAC you can work in your favorite sequencer and use the USB connector as a audio input and midi input - this is slick and noteworthy as only Roland and Korg really take advantage of making keyboards virtual instruments and the reverse. I still think Roland could have comfortably allowed this synth to sell for $400 - $500, but at it's current price I'm still happy but expect to see it at the $400 price range when they decide to replace the SH or get rid of it from their catalog; which is another reason I don't get Roland gear as much as I used to.

I made a pre-sale call and got a great deal of help without having to go through much telephone-bot hell.

If you like analog-like sound you should have this bad boy in your kit. If you are learning you'll get off to the best possible start with the SH201 and if you are experienced you will appreciate it's fast interface. I hate ads for the most part but Roland is telling the truth here. It is rare for me to agree with commercial synth ad campaigns, but I think this is a really fun, if almost too simple synth. There are features that would have been fun and cost minimal to add. OTOH I love the USB use and two steps backward in sound style, three steps forward on technology. The JP8000 had a lot of the technology as the SH201 but cost $1000 street price. I don't remember it well enough to know if there's a whole lot missing though I do seem to remember more knobs. Then again, the synth had a smaller keyboard. One certain difference; it doesn't do vocoding. Still, you have to love how simple the SH201 is and how fat and good sounding it is. The sound is somewhere around the Juno, JX3P, Jupiter area. If that isn't a good pedigree, and depending on what you want to do, it may not, but this really is a slice of the past and the kind of sound you'll be able to use on many, many projects.

professional guitarist, reviewer/writer, composer and TV work

Post Rock, Film, Progressive Rock, Krautrock

sound quality is amazing. despite only 32 presets and 32 user patches, the flexibility of this machine is ridiculous. couldn't ask for anything more.

some very interesting arpegiators, along with the basic ones. for me, the only feature for this that i don't use is the built in recorder. everything else is perfect.

couldn't be easier. my first thought when i saw this was, "where's the screen?" i went ahead and bought this without a clue on how to play or use a synthesizer. this machine taught me everything i know about synthesizers. as far as creating sounds, everything is perfectly mapped out for you right on board. very simple. best synth out there for beginners, in any price range.

overall pretty sturdy. making it a little more heavy duty wouldn't hurt. i constantly play shows with this bad boy, and no problems yet.

if i could go back, knowing everything i know now about keyboards and synthesizers, this would still be my number one choice. i bought this for a little under 500 dollars... best spent 500 dollars yet.

haven't had to deal with roland yet. right now i can't save any new sounds i make, but my guess is that the save button is just stuck. no big deal to fix. the manual gives a lot of helpful pointers too.

very impressive layout. keys feel great. my first synth, soon to be paired up with a microKORG.

active musician, touring band

hardcore/electronicore, pop, hip hop, techno

Unlimited. If you don't like the sound-turn some knobs and slide some sliders.

I am running Windows Vista 64 bit, Roland does not support that. Make sure you know if your running 32 or 64 bits it makes all the difference in the world. At this time I cannot use the SH 201 with my computer because of the bit issue.

Take it out of the box, power it up and start playing. That easy.

Like all products today. Made out of Plastic.

For what this thing does it is worth the price.

Emails are answered within 24 hours and Roland has an excellent web-site.

Hobbyist

Gospel, Industrail, Experimental

The sound on this synth is amazing. especially with rolands famous Supersaw......one of the best sounding synths ive ever heard.

For a synth that costs under $600, it is packed with awesome features, including an arpeggiator.

For all of the things you can do with this synth it didnt take me long to pick up the basic things you need to get rolling!

this synth seems like a pretty sturdy machine....not too heavy wich is good for the gigging musician.

For the things you get from this synth for so little price you would be mad to even consider another synth with the same qualities.

havent had to use it

great looking, great performance, great everything. what more could you want.

active musician

Electronica/indie/rock

I'm a Roland GURU. I used in a recording studio and feel in love with it. IT'S AS GOOD AS MY ROLAND JUPITER 8. I control it rather than it controls me. Vintage sounding babe, this is the real deal. Don't let the price hold you back, I thought it was at least $ 1,500.00 and up. Those of you with a huge EGO and your credibility on the line you have no worries. Pick up the phone and let zZounds deliver one to you.

The ease of operating is simple, the two Arpeggiator's where other synths only have one will surprise you. The keys will jump out once you begin to use it. The presets are advanced giving you total creation while playing just reach up and alter any parameters instead of going into EDIT FUNCTION like a DX 7. No operators Algorithms and screens, like Barry Manilow remarked I dont have the time or creating presets, I just want to play it now ! No Patience. The effects are shocking again just reach up and turn a knob. By the way the knobs are the same ones that Roland has on it's top synth.

You don't need to have a brain just modify as your playing or revert back to the factory presets. It's so easy to use without having a learning curve. You don't need a manual it's in front of you. Being able to have a computer connection with the interface.

As I stated this SYNTH IS REAL AND BUILT SOLID. Just note the way and where the controls are laid out and the colors used to highlite all controls. The Roland SH-201 will continue to be heard more and more, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG. Hey, the ROLAND ACCOMPLISHMENTS they have had over the years makes it even better.

I'm not a wealthy man, when I get the extra dollars of its price I hope I'll have one or two . Maybe Santa Claus ( wife ) will come early for me.

Being able to make some of the greatest music products ROLAND has climbed the ladder step by step over the years to become what it is today. Service, I've never had to have repairs on the items I own from ROLAND.

Just as the colors of a JUPITER 8 the SH-201 really shines and you can notice it at once.

PRO 25 years extensive history in recording and music publisher croakyfrogmusic1@aol.com

Pop rock the good old days of making beautiful music the 70's 80's

Good sounds. Sounds get better the longer you have it and better you get at controlling it.

The D-Beam is cool. Everything is useful.

No complaints. Very helpful and easy to read manual.

Well made, seems sturdy.

Very good value for a beginner synth.

Haven't had to use it.

The lights on it are cool. It's light weight.