Roland SH-2 compared to Roland 100m

[mono-poly]

Are you sure you don't mean the system 100 keyboard?
The 100m keyboard makes no sound at all.

100m and system 100 sound quite different.
And the SH2 got nothing to do with the 100m or 100 stuff.

However the SH1 is basicly a small system 700 prepatched.

[Audi Uh Oh]

Originally Posted by mono-poly

Are you sure you don't mean the system 100 keyboard?
The 100m keyboard makes no sound at all.

100m and system 100 sound quite different.
And the SH2 got nothing to do with the 100m or 100 stuff.

However the SH1 is basicly a small system 700 prepatched.

Yes, I stand corrected. I mean the system 100 (Model 101 synth) and I do mean the SH-2, they are two different beasts, just trying to get a sense of how they compare.

Thanks

[clusterchord]

i have here all three, the 100m basic 5 module system, the original System100 (the 101 keyboard) and the SH2.


first, to make a broad aproximation, sys100m and SH2 are much closer to one another sonically than sys100(101). their sound is more agressive, focused. sys100 sounds big, in a way typically described as "70s", "discrete", "organic" etc. take your pick. its a single oscillator, yet its so rich and powerful, that when playing a bass drone notes (i used it live on a big PA) it reminded me of similar single osc deep notes from taurusI, or moog modular from tomita albums or even carpenter scores.

filter is a variant on moog's transistor ladder design, but doesnt use transistors but diodes iirc. sometimes it behaves very similar, sometimes not.. it has a quality of its own. silkiness/liquid resonance, that has a beautiful self oscillating tone. minimoogs is more a brute comparably.


overall this synth has something in its highs/harmonics, some kind of fine silky saturation, regardless if you play a bass or hi note, that makes its portamento (or trancey if you prefer) leads the sweetest i ever heard. the high end is to die for. i find it livelier than my minimoog in that peticular area.




to describe the difference between 100m and SH2, i always have a problem putting these differences in character in words. so don't take the following literaly, more like my personal interpretation:

both sound unmistakeably late 70s "roland" to me. focused, not lively like early arp/moog/etc. oscillators on both machines have similar sound. SH2 is kinda saturated comparably, whether this comes from vco to vcf gain stage, or on the vca itself i dunno. but its one thick mother. almost compressed. resonance is drier on SH2, tad more liquid on 100m. equally fast, but i slightly prefer the envelope punch on SH2.



so, i would say, for some ppl a 100m will leave an impression of a "modular" SH2, with additional flexibility, two filters, two envelopes, but no (powerful) sub oscillator. for some other, there will be subtle nuances that make them different. ymmv.

love the S/H with lag on 100m.. route this to filter and.. its heaven..

[golden beers]

system100 (101) is super silky smooth. i have a (system100)101 and sh09 here. always go to my 101 first, unless i'm building a kick drum. the sh09 is way more gritty and simple. the 101 is deep and rich. 101 wins hands down for me.

[rids]

The SH-2 has a faster envelope response than the 100 or 100m, correct?

[Audi Uh Oh]

Thanks guys, you're the best

Very very helpful!