Essential Information About the SH-101 Plug-In Software
- Ultra-faithful replica of the Roland SH-101 thanks to advanced modeling, capturing the analog warmth, vibrant basses, and sharp leads that defined electronic music.
- Fast-to-program monophonic synth: a straightforward workflow, ideal for creating punchy basslines, sequences, and vintage-style effects in seconds.
- Integrated modernized features: dedicated filter envelope, new LFO shapes, extended octave range, VCA control, Reverb, tempo-synced Delay and Bit-Crusher effects, plus a tempo-synced arpeggiator.
- PLUG-OUT compatibility: usable from certain compatible Roland hardware instruments, allowing you to play and control the SH-101 without a computer on stage.
What SH-101 Plug-In Is For
SH-101 Plug-In is a monophonic software synthesizer designed for producers and composers seeking immediate analog sound within their DAW. It excels at creating solid basses, cutting leads, rhythmic sequences, and dynamic electronic effects, with a sonic character directly inspired by an '80s classic. Whether you produce House, Techno, Electro, Synthwave, or modern Pop, it delivers that edgy "mono" character that cuts through a mix easily.
Main Features
Faithful circuit behavior, instant playability
Developed with input from engineers involved in the original SH-101, the plug-in reproduces the response and character of its circuits while maintaining the simple ergonomics that made it famous. The result: a lively sound, clear transients, and an "instrument" feel ideal for real-time playing or programming effective patterns.
More creative possibilities without betraying the original spirit
SH-101 Plug-In retains the iconic functions of the historic model and adds extensions designed for modern production: a dedicated filter envelope to sculpt attack and harmonic evolution, additional LFO shapes to vary modulations, and an extended VCO octave range to cover more registers. The VCA sound control eases dynamic behavior adaptation according to style, from percussive playing to softer mono pads.
Tempo-synced effects and arpeggiator for mix-ready sound
Built-in modern effects allow quick sound finishing: Reverb for depth, tempo-synced Delay for musical repeats, and Bit-Crusher to harden the timbre and add texture. The tempo-synced arpeggiator turns a note into an immediately usable rhythmic pattern, perfect for hooks and live sequences.
Skins and PLUG-OUT hardware integration
To stay true to the SH-101 spirit, several skins replicate its original colors. For musicians switching between studio and stage, PLUG-OUT compatibility lets you load and control the sound from compatible Roland hardware instruments, offering a more "hardware" approach and direct control.
Technical Specifications
Polyphony
- Maximum polyphony: 1 voice
Oscillator (VCO)
- Range: 64', 32', 16', 8', 4', 2'
- Pulse Width Modulation: 50 percent to minimum
- PWM mode selector: MANUAL, LFO, VCF ENV, VCA ENV
- Modulation depth: -min to +max
- Tuning: +/-50 cents
Source Mixer
- Square/Pulse wave level
- Saw wave level
- Sub oscillator level
- Sub oscillator waveform selector: 1Oct Down Square, 2Oct Down Square, 2Oct Down Pulse
- Noise level
Filter (VCF)
- Cutoff frequency: 10 Hz to 20 kHz
- Resonance: 0 to self-oscillation
- Envelope depth: -100 percent to +100 percent
- Modulation depth
- Keyboard tracking: -100 percent to +100 percent
Filter Envelope (VCF ENV)
- Attack time: 1.5 ms to 4 s
- Decay time: 2 ms to 10 s
- Sustain level: 0 to 100 percent
- Release time: 2 ms to 10 s
Amplifier (VCA)
VCA Envelope (VCA ENV)
- Attack time: 1.5 ms to 4 s
- Decay time: 2 ms to 10 s
- Sustain level: 0 to 100 percent
- Release time: 2 ms to 10 s
- Gate-Trigger switch: GATE, LFO, GATE+TRIG
Effects
- Crusher Depth
- Reverb Level
- Delay Level
- Delay Time
Modulation
- LFO and CLK speed: 0.1 Hz to 30 Hz
- Waveforms: SIN, TRI, SAW, SQR, RANDOM, NOISE
Controllers
- Volume
- Portamento time: 0 to 5 s
- Portamento mode: ON, AUTO, OFF
- Bend range: VCO
- Tempo Sync switch
Arpeggiator
- Arpeggio switch
- Types: 1Oct Up, 1Oct U+D, 1Oct Down, 2Oct Down, 2Oct U+D, 2Oct Down
- Steps: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/4T, 1/8T, 1/16T
Sampling Frequencies
- 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
Presets and Banks
- 64 patches in 1 bank
- Ability to create new user banks
Supported Plug-In Formats
- VSTi 2.4 (64 bit): Windows only
- VSTi 3.6 (64 bit)
- AU
- AAX
PLUG-OUT Compatible Hardware
- SYSTEM-1
- SYSTEM-1m
- SYSTEM-8
macOS System Requirements
- Minimum system: macOS 11
- Host: VST instruments (VSTi) VST 3.6 compatible
- Host: Audio Units (AU) Audio Units V2 compatible
- Host: AAX compatible
- CPU: Intel Core i5 or better
- CPU: Apple M1 chip
- RAM: 4 GB or more
- Disk space: 100 MB or more
- Display: 1280 x 800 pixels or more, 16.7 million colors or more
- Other: Internet connection required for software authentication
- Other: to use the PLUG-OUT function, installation of SYSTEM-1, SYSTEM-1m, or SYSTEM-8 driver required
Windows System Requirements
- Minimum system: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Not compatible: Windows RT
- Not compatible: Windows Phone
- Not compatible: virtual machines such as Hyper-V, Virtual PC, or Boot Camp
- Host: VST instruments (VSTi) VST 2.4 and 3.6 compatible
- Host: AAX compatible
- CPU: Intel Core i5 or better