Roland SH-3A

SH-3A
SH-3A with case
ManufacturerRoland
Dates1975–1976
PriceUK£400
Technical specifications
PolyphonyMonophonic
TimbralityMonotimbral
Oscillator1 VCO, 1 White/Pink Noise Generator
LFOLFO1 has sawtooth waveform, LFO2 sine or square and delay slider, Sample-and-Hold with level and sample time sliders. LFO's can be assigned to VCF, VCA, VCO.
Synthesis typeAnalog Subtractive
FilterResonant self-oscillating low-pass filter w/ frequency and resonance controls
Attenuator1 ADSR
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionNo
Storage memoryNone
EffectsNone
Input/output
Keyboard44 keys (F–C)

The SH-3A is a monophonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Roland from 1975 to 1981.[1] It is unique in that it is capable of both the usual subtractive synthesis and also the less common additive synthesis, offering mixable waveforms at different footages. Two LFOs and a unique sample-and-hold section provided capabilities not found in competing self-contained synthesizers of the time. The SH-3A was Roland's first non-preset based synth. The predecessor, the Roland SH-1000, could also do this but didn't offer as much control as on the SH-3A. The rhythmic pulsing in the Blondie song "Heart of Glass" is an example of its sound.

Contrary to common belief, the initial version "SH-3" did not infringe on the transistor ladder-filter patent of Robert Moog. It used a diode filter like the EMS VCS 3. The SH-3A does use a transistor ladder-filter and as a result can generate Moog-like sounds.

Notable SH-3A users

  • Close-up of SH-3A controls
    Close-up of SH-3A controls

References

  1. ^ Forrest, Peter (1996). The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers, Part Two: N-Z. Exeter, England: Short Run Press Limited. p. 85. ISBN 09524377-1-6.
  2. ^ "Roland SH-3a | Vintage Synth Explorer". www.vintagesynth.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.