Roland SH1000 emulation v 2.5
Emulation of the famous Roland SH1000 synth
DESCRIPTION
The SH-1000 is an emulation of the Roland SH-1000 synthesizer first released in 1973 and which was Roland’s first synth. Its successor was the SH-2000 but that was designed to be more of a preset instrument and had far less flexibility. The SH-1000 was used by Vangelis, Blondie, The Band, Jethrow Tull, The Human League and Eddie Johnson (Roxy Music) as well as many others. This was also the first synth I owned.
It is available as a Native Instruments Reaktor or a NI Reactor Player instrument (if Player is run in demo mode).
See my website. Www.stuartpryer.co.uk for more VSTs and music applications.
Reaktor can be a VST, AU or AAX plugin.
PC /Mac Specs. Windows 7, 8 or 10 / OSX 10.8 or higher - Mac or PC - ideally >2gb ram and >2ghz processor.
Main features v 2.5
1. SH1000 comes with over 50 snapshots (programs) in 1 bank. Please lower volume when trying these as some are much louder than others.
2. I also recommend ‘Simply Fast Shots’. A Bank by Paule Amca in the NI User Library for the SH1000. This is embedded in the ensemble as bank 2.
3. I have tried to keep the instrument as the original as possible except for the settings and oscillator sections. If you use initialise snapshot 002 values it emulates the original instrument fully. The synth has info hints for all controls. You can adjust the waveform frequencies to apply slight mistune which gives a fuller sound. You can also vary the individual volume of the waveforms.
There is a Portamento switch to turn the effect on/off and you vary the amount by turning the knob like the original.
The synth has the organ style tabs below the keyboard modelled. The preset instruments tabs link to the snapshots in Reaktor – 42 to 51. You can of course change these should you wish.
The settings box and oscillator box contain enhanced features over the original. If you want just the original instrument use program 002 initialise.
In settings its possible to vary the vibrato delay (value in milliseconds) and vibrato waveform. You can also vary the Growl and Waw waveform as well as cross fade parameters.
4. Pitch – adjust in Reaktor or on Instrument for fine tuning, in cents. Like original it has option to raise or lower by 1 octave.
5. Tremolo – cyclic variation in volume – choose waveform, depth and frequency. Tabs switches on/off and waveform type sine/triangle.
6. Vibrato–cyclic variation in frequency. Choose delay in settings box (sine wave only) waveform, depth and frequency. Original had 2 waveforms. Tabs switches on/off, delay and waveform type.
Noise – adjust cutoff frequency and resonance of noise generator – select HP, BP or LP filter using LEDs. Original had just white/pink option. = HP and LP.
7. Growl – phase modulation. Waw cut off frequency modulation. Choose waveform, depth and frequency. Tab switches on/off.
8. Portamento – when polyphony set to 1 notes glide in frequency. When polyphony set higher say 2. When third note played first note glides to it. Original SH-1000 was monophonic. Switch on panel switches on/off.
9. The ADSR envelope and cut off frequency controls are modelled as faders as per the original instrument. Envelope can also control volume and cut-off frequency Filter – cut-off and resonance – filter type selectable – High Pass, Band Pass and Low pass – use yellow LEDs to select. Original was just high pass. VCF sensitivity knob added like the original. If the ADSR is used for the filter this over rides the cutoff slider. Note the instrument responds to touch sensitive keyboards (note velocity) , adjust the ADSR sliders to get the required effect.
10. Volume controls Reaktor Master Volume.
11. Polyphony 1 to 64 notes. Original monophonic. Adjust polyphony in Reaktor settings. Instrument/function/voices.
12. Oscillator section - Waveform mixer – adjusts each waveform volume and de tuning. Original on/off only.
13. Modulation wheel changes note frequency when moved up or down – use LED switch below it to activate. Original had simple glide button.
14. Playing - use PC keyboard which is polyphonic or even better your own external midi keyboard. Full 128 midi notes accessible. Three octave on-screen monophonic keyboard activated by mouse will produce sounds which are not as rich as using the computer keyboard or an external midi keyboard. Original limited to 3 octaves with pitch raise/lower by 1 octave.
15. Like Original has hold note tab which holds note until next note played.
16. See Fractal Sequencer on my website for advanced sequencer/generative music features which can be used with SH-1000. To connect use midi yoke freeware or LoopBe1 on windows or IAC driver on a Mac. Original had simple Random Note generator.
17.Program/bank load and save. There are 128 available program slots in Reaktor for a Bank. Original had no option to save or load settings.
18.Midi enabled – Original no midi.
19. Version 2.4 - has updated sound presets which are closer to the original. Fixed bug when changing presets. Added tool tips (info) for all controls. Version 2.5 added a couple of presets and bug fixes.
20. Can be used as a plugin in via Reaktor in a host - Logic, Bitwig, Sonar, Cubase, Cantibile, Ambleton etc. Host DAW controls the audio and Midi parameters.
21. Multiple instances of synth can be run if Reaktor is used as a plugin.
23.For plugin place Reaktor.xxx in your normal virtual instrument folder.
24.For more information email me at stuartpryer@gmail.com
25. My website with more synths is at www.stuartpryer.co.uk
Copyright Stuart Pryer – 25th November 2016 SH1000
This text updated 11th November 2023
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