Roland SH-4d joins the mini-engine synth wars... + audio download: presets mashup
Added 2023-02-23 08:08:27 +0000 UTCHi!
Roland's ZEN-Core is by far the most feature-rich (and parameter-rich) synth engine I've ever seen. That's also its problem - there's so much going on, it can be quite overwhelming to program.
With the SH-4d, Roland has broken away from ZEN-Core compatibility, in favor of simpler, smaller synth engines (still based on ZEN-Core tech), with just a handful of parameters each, and for the most part - hands-on controls. They're also pricing it quite aggressively (around $600 I believe), giving MiniFreak a good run for its money.
As usual - all the details are in this video, and a mashup of the factory patterns is attached!
All my best,
Ziv (apparently mini-engines don't make for shorter reviews on a channel called "Loopop"...)
Comments
Sorry for the late reply - I was finishing up a review :) 1. The chord synth doesn't send out individual MIDI notes; 2. the visual arp does! yes, many of the knobs and the faders send out CCs
2023-03-14 20:05:22 +0000 UTCI am curious how this does controlling external synths. Would it’s chord function translate to midi notes out? Or the visual arp function? Could you motion control cc parameters?
2023-03-12 07:18:50 +0000 UTCSound-wise you're almost totally covered (Except for the wavetable and drawing synth) - it's the interface that's better here, with much less PCM content (and other differences I discuss in the video). Thanks BTW for your long time support!
2023-02-24 06:35:09 +0000 UTCGreat run-through, as ever, and definitely appreciate the comparison discussion. I'm a total sucker for all new Roland stuff, and was sort of all fired up to grab this... it looks like a fun sort of multi-oscillator synth. I can see it being much more of a sound palette than the MC-101. But, I'm thinking, if I have a Jupiter-XM and a MC-101/MC-707 (plus other Roland stuff), and enjoy them, maybe almost everything the SH-4d offers is covered? Is it like a desktop/module XM that sits between the 707 and the 101 in terms of portability/functionality (battery powered, but more controls/screen-size), and more synthy--akin to Jupiter XM in tracks/controls? Will have to watch more vids to see where it slots in from a creative perspective.
Zacklur
2023-02-24 04:46:30 +0000 UTC
