Discovering the Roland SH1000: Pros, Cons & Famous Users - Dry

video upload by Andy Whitmore

"In this video, we are going to get into the fascinating world of the legendary Roland SH1000 synthesizer. Join us as we explore its extraordinary features, uncover the pros and cons, and even discover some famous users who have embraced this iconic instrument.
Throughout our exploration, we will also shed light on the concept of the SH1000’s 2 Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs) and how they contribute to the unique sound of the SH1000.
Whether you're a seasoned musician or simply intrigued by the world of synthesizers, this video is sure to provide valuable insights and knowledge.
So, if you're ready to learn more about the history, functionality, and impact of the Roland SH1000, hit that play button and prepare to be amazed! Don't forget to like and share this video with your fellow music enthusiasts. Let's celebrate the brilliance of this timeless synthesizer together.

The SH-1000, introduced in 1973, was the first instrument produced by Roland, and probably one of the first compact affordable keyboard synthesizers in all of Japan. It was designed to complement a home organ. Above its keyboard is a wooden sheet music stand. Organ-style coloured preset selector tabs are located below the keyboard. All the extra parameter controls are located to the left of the keyboard.
The SH-1000 is a monophonic analog synth with a single oscillator feeding a lowpass filter, an ADSR envelope, and two LFOs. It features 10 Preset sounds, but they are pretty weak. Fortunately you can create your own sounds for some really great mono-synth bass, lead, percussion and FX sounds. Basic square, ramp and pulse-width waveforms are available from the oscillator and the LFOs have sine, square and sample+hold. It has a terrific ‘Growl’ and ‘Wow’ effect for a pretty scary analog sound. It also features white noise, pink noise, portamento, octave transposition and a Random Note Generator. Although there is no user memory, unique sounds can still be quickly recreated or discovered thanks to its simple interface.
It’s a dinosaur! But it’s also a classic piece of Roland history. It has been used by Vangelis, Human League, Blondie, The Band, and Jethro Tull. A little later in 1973 the SH2000 was released with more Preset sounds (up to 30) but far less flexibility, controls and features. This may have been because the SH-1000 was a little confusing to its target demographic at the time. But today’s synthesists will love the unique sound and nostalgia of Japan’s first compact synthesizer!

The audio is DIRECT, 100% DRY, & IN STEREO - You are hearing the raw audio as it comes directly from the synthesizer. NO post processing (Effects, EQ, or Dynamics) whatsoever.

Timings

0:00 - Introduction & History
1:06 – Wind, Noise, Modulation, Tremolo
4:35 – Presets
5:27 – Live Panel, Bass Modulation & Tremolo
6:51 – Bass with Glide
7:24 – Imagination “Just an Illusion” Bass
8:40 – Filter Resonance Modulation"