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Roland Gaia SH-01 Synthesizer  

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Roland

High-performance value with old-school charm.

The Roland GAIA SH-01 synth offers high-performance value with old-school charm. The Roland SH-01 delivers massive sound, hands-on ease, and an affordable price. The synth's triple-stacked engine puts potent virtual analog synthesis under your fingertips, yet the control panel is so fun, friendly, and inviting, even first-timers can create great sounds.

The Roland synth's signal flow is simple to grasp, with logically arranged knobs, sliders, and buttons. Hands-on control and fat sound make the little Gaia SH-01 a powerhouse and a joy for music students, songwriters, session players, and live performers of all styles and skill levels.

Triple-Fat Virtual Analog
Sink your teeth into the new triple-stacked virtual analog engine, comprising 3 complete synths for incredibly thick, powerful sound. Unleash the beef of 3 oscillators that drive a trio of multimode, resonant filters, multi-shape LFOs, and amplifiers, plus 9 envelope generators. The Roland Gaia SH-01 is like having 3 synthesizers in 1! With 64 polyphonic voices onboard, the GAIA SH-01 makes it possible to play massive sounds without experiencing note drop-out.

Stackable Effects
From the silkiest reverb to the grittiest growl, the Roland SH-01's instantly selectable multi-effects catapult your sounds into another spatial dimension. You can layer up to 5 simultaneous effects for dozens of variations. Onboard Roland effects include reverb, distortion, fuzz, bit crash, flanger, phaser, pitch shifter, low boost, and delay with panning and tempo sync. Roland eqips the Gaia SH-01 with cdedicated control knobs for tweaking the effects in real time.

Portable Power
At less than 10 pounds, the Roland GAIA SH-01 is lightweight, compact, and great for musicians on the go. The 37-note keyboard is full-size, however, so performers can play naturally and comfortably. The synth can be powered via AC or batteries* for the ultimate in portable convenience. A battery-life indicator on the front panel ensures that you won't lose power unexpectedly. When used in conjunction with a battery-powered amp such as Roland's CUBE Street, MOBILE CUBE, BA-330 or KC-110, the GAIA SH-01 can be played and heard anywhere!

Instant Control
The front panel puts every control directly under your fingertips. There are no hidden menus, no nonsense. Just play and move the knobs and sliders, or wave your hands over the invisible D Beam for dramatic effects. The logically designed front panel shows the signal path from left to right. It helps beginners understand synthesis, while experienced players will love the instant gratification of hands-on control during performance.

Phrase Recorder and Arpeggiator
Hold a note or chord and let the arpeggiator create musical magic automatically for you. The tempo can be set via tap tempo. In addition, the onboard Phrase Recorder lets you record what you play on the keyboard as well as the movements of the knobs and sliders. The controller data can also be played back independently to complement the notes you play in real time.

USB and EXT IN
Connect directly to a computer (Mac or PC) with one simple USB cable, and stream audio directly to the software of your choice. The SH-01's USB ports can also be used to transmit and receive MIDI data, and to store your patches and phrases (recorded with the Phrase Recorder) to a USB memory stick. For integrating with external devices, the SH-01's EXT input lets you connect external audio sources such as an MP3-player and play along with your favorite songs or backing tracks—great for practice and live performance. Manipulate the incoming audio with three Center Cancel modes, which let you eliminate pre-recorded vocals, guitars, or bass.

*Can be powered by 8 rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries.

Features

  • Huge sound with 3 virtual analog engines onboard, each with a dedicated oscillator, filter, amplifier, envelope, and LF0
  • Layer up to 5 simultaneous effects, including distortion, flanger, delay, reverb, low boost, and more
  • 64-voice polyphony for massive sounds without note drop-out
  • Fun, hands-on control panel that's great for instant gratification, and for learning synthesis
  • Lightweight, compact body with 37 full-size keys
  • Runs on AC or battery power for portable convenience
  • D Beam, arpeggiator, and Phrase Recorder onboard
  • USB ports for saving user patches to USB flash drives, and for audio/MIDI connection to computers

Get massive sound at an affordable price! Order today.

Gaia SH-01 Synthesizer Specifications:

  • Keyboard: 37 Keys (with velocity)
  • Maximum Polyphony: 64 Voices
  • Sound Generation:
  • Virtual analog synthesizer sound generator (Number of part: 1)
  • (Oscillator + Filter + Amp + Envelopes + LFO) x 3
  • PCM sound generation (Number of parts: 15)
  • Patch memory
  • Preset: 64
  • User: 64
  • OSC Section
  • Oscillator waveform: Saw, Square, Pulse/PWM, Triangle, Sine, Noise, Super Saw
  • Knobs/Sliders: Pitch, Detune, Pulse Width, Pulse Width Modulation
  • Envelope: Attack, Decay, Envelope Depth
  • Modulation
  • Oscillator Sync, Ring Modulation
  • (Tone 2's OSC 2 is applied as modulation to Tone 1's OSC 1.)
  • FILTER Section
  • Filter Type: LPF, HPF, BPF, PKG (-12 dB/-24 dB)
  • Knobs: Cutoff, Resonance, Key Follow
  • Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, Envelope Depth
  • AMP Section
  • Knobs: Level
  • Envelope: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
  • LFO Section
  • LFO Shape: Triangle, Sine, Saw, Square, Sample
  • Knobs/Sliders: Rate, Fade Time, Pitch Depth, Filter Depth, Amp Depth
  • Tempo Sync: On/Off
  • Effects
  • DIST: Distortion, Fuzz, Bit Crash
  • FLANGER: Flanger, Phaser, Pitch Shifter
  • DELAY: Delay, Panning Delay (with tempo sync function)
  • REVERB: Reverb
  • LOW BOOST: Low Boost
  • Knobs: Control 1, Level
  • Controllers
  • Pitch Bend/Modulation lever
  • D BEAM Controller
  • Arpeggiator: Preset pattern: 64
  • Phrase Recorder
  • User: 8
  • Number of Track: 1
  • Jacks/Connectors
  • OUTPUT jacks (L/MONO, R) (1/4 inch phone type)
  • Headphone jack (Stereo 1/4 inch phone type)
  • PEDAL jack (TRS phone type)
  • MIDI Connectors (IN, OUT)
  • USB COMPUTER (supports USB Hi-Speed Audio/MIDI)
  • USB MEMORY (supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed flash memory)
  • EXT IN jack (Stereo miniature phone type)
  • DC IN jack
  • Power Supply: DC 9 V (AC Adaptor or rechargeable nickel-metal hydride AA batteries x 8 ) Batteries sold separately – Note: Zinc-carbon batteries or alkaline batteries cannot be used.
  • Current Draw: 600 mA
  • Battery life for continuous use: Approximately 5 hours
  • Using rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries
  • Approximately 4 hours if USB memory is connected
  • Differs depending on the conditions of use/dd>
  • Accessories: Owner's Manual, Guide Book, CD-ROM (USB DRIVER), DVD Video, AC Adaptor (PSB-1U), Power Cord
  • Options (sold separately): Keyboard Stand: KS-18Z(*), Pedal Switch: DP series, Expression Pedal: EV-5, USB Memory: M-UF2G * Make sure that this instrument is mounted at a height that is no higher than 1 meter.
  • Size and Weight
  • Width: 27-3/16" (689 mm)
  • Height: 3-15/16" (100 mm)
  • Depth: 12-1/2" (317 mm)
  • Weight: 9 lb. 5 oz. (4.2 kg)
Write a Review Overall Rating Customer Reviews 4 See all 4 customer reviews...

GREAT First Synthesizer!

| Review By: Jarret Grathwol | 8 months, 1 week ago

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

Features:

Could have been multi-timbrle, but thats why we multi-track.  Not happy about having to pay for a Software Editor when the SH-201s was free.  Arpeggio (Roland Gaia Too) editor FREE online as the "Gaia Tool," also lets you name presets and other features NOT in the Roland Editor.

Quality:

Just bought it, but other Rolands seem to have held up fine. No better or worse than Korgs and others in this price range. Have not heard complaints.

Value:

Considering all it does, its a great value, but again the lack of software editor takes points away.

Overall:

The right choice for my first synth. The user interface is the best in the business by far. Roland always was good in this department. This is why many pros also like this synth: Lady Gaga, Dream Theatre, Gary Neuman to name a few. No menu-diving or complex parameter matrixes. You may never hear the same sound twice! The beauty of sound design.

BUYERS READ: Roland dropped the ball with marketing this synth. Don't get fooled by the presets, this does not show what Gaia does See on youtube: 'Luftrum Gaia Patches' and 'Gaia Patches by Alba Ecstacy' they are pro sound designers.

Sound is better than expected, don't go by videos, hear for yourself. It does not sound like a Virus or Nord. The sound is as good or better than the Korg R3 or MicroKorg and the UI is not even dabatable. Korgs are not for beginners

Overall the Gaia to me is the best combination of sound, interface, and features in this price range and covers all the classic synth sounds like those of: Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, and all decades inbetween.

Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
Yes
Musical Experience:
Semi- Pro
Style of music you play:
Ambient, "Indie" Rock, Jazz
Where you live:
Philadelphia, PA USA

Did you find this review helpful? yes no1095599

My Dream Synth

| Review By: Luke Robinett | 1 year, 2 months ago

6 people out of 7 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
After spending several years relying on software synths for keyboard sounds in my songs, I finally decided I wanted a hands-on, dedicated hardware synth instead.  I'm a big fan of that '80s synth-pop sound, so I knew I wanted either a vintage analog synth or a good analog modeling synth.  After some careful research, I decided that an analog synth would require too much maintenance and repair, and since MIDI support is a must, few of the old machines have a very solid MIDI implementation.  It turns out the Gaia was the perfect choice for me.  It gives me that hands-on control I desired, with all its lighted buttons, sliders and knobs, it has a warm, realistic analog sound, and it's incredibly easy to program.  I didn't find many of the presets to be very inspiring, and unfortunately, none of them show off the sound quality of the unit.  The Gaia is for people who are into making their own patches, not relying on presets.  I feel it's a better machine than others in its class (such as the MicroKorg XL, Alesis Micron and Korg R3) because of the excellent interface.  I'm excited to use this new keyboard in my recordings and eventually on stage.  I'd like to have seen the synth priced more comparably to its competitors, but whatever price you find it for, it's well worth it overall.  Lastly, this keyboard looks really sweet!  It has that stylish '80s analog look to it, and the build feels very solid and reliable.  Great keyboard!
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Musician, home studio operator
Style of music you play:
Rock, indie, new-wave, synth-pop
Where you live:
Portland, Oregon

Did you find this review helpful? yes no948384

Good synth, but don't lose the manual!

| Review By: Bully J. Pulpit | 1 year, 4 months ago

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
Let me start by saying I been a fan of roland for years. I bought the Gaia after much debate over whether to get Gaia or A Korg R3...I decided on the Korg, but when I finally played the Gaia I liked the sounds and controls so much I bought it too. I've had it a couple of months and I love it. However, I do have a few complaints. First of all while the basic controls are all right up front, to edit any more advanced settings you will definitely need to read the manual (every time).If your not familiar with Roland's particular system this might seem like a strange complaint. All the buttons have alternate settings when you hold down shift (then hold down the V-link then...) and none of them are printed on the board. It sometimes seems to me that whoever designs their controls intends to make them as complicated as possible. If anyone is curious what the difference between Roland and Korg is, Roland has better sounds, Korgs are easier to program. I have a Korg Electribe MX that I use as my sequencer and was surprised when I plugged it in to find that Gaia has GM drums! This might be a cool feature if I could figure how to change the kit or channel there on, and I can't mute them without muting my sequencers drums, no matter what midi channel Gaia's set to, and the manual's midi section doesn't mention anything about it or even have a list of default instruments assigned to midi tracks. I just needed a lead synth sound. If you need a synth that you can walk up and play and has punchy classic sounds like depeche mode or many of the classic synth-pop bands this is a great board. If you are using this as a live midi module however, know that it might difficult (at least if you have several Tracks going at once).  
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Producer/songwrier
Style of music you play:
EBM, Electro Industrial
Where you live:
Bloomington, IN

Did you find this review helpful? yes no835511

Out of Sync

| Review By: Human56 | 1 year, 6 months ago

6 people out of 8 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
I?ve owned the Roland Gaia for about two months now.  I learned to program synth on a Korg MS2000 first and later on the micro-korg using the midi based sound editor, which I find quite straight forward.  I?m throwing this in there because most of this review is going to be a direct comparison of the Gaia to the MS2000/microkorg. The first thing I did when I got the Gaia was to try and recreate all my favorite patches from the microkorg/MS2000 on the Gaia.  So, here the Gaia has one really big problem: when you use the sync mode it puts the filter into bypass mode!!  This really bugged me, I have this cheesy patch on my microkorg that I just can?t duplicate without the oscillator sync.  So practically speaking the Gaia doesn?t ?really? have the sync feature because you can?t shape the sound you get from the oscillator.  It?s kind of like advertising a new car that has a great stereo, only when you take it off the lot you realize that the stereo only works when the car is in neutral; not very useful!  The ring modulator doesn?t have this problem and works as expected. The next difference (advantage or disadvantage depending on taste) are the options you have with routing the envelopes and LFOs.  I happen to respect how the Gaia was designed with simplicity in mind, however there are a quite a few patches on the MS2000 that you won?t be able to get on the Gaia because you can?t route the envelops (e.g. the ?GoldenSynth? patch on the MS2000).  I do like a few things about the Gaia and it would be unfair not to mention them.  First off, I love the 80s look of the Gaia, which goes along with the great layout (easy to use sliders and knobs, OSC->Filter->FX).  I like the feel of the Gaia, both the microkorg and the MS2000 have these really spongy keys that just don?t satisfy, the Gaia has some snap which I appreciate.  Like the microkorg, the battery use feature is great; a real life saver if you?re touring.  Also, I haven?t really experimented yet with the capabilities of having three oscillators with three independent filters and envelopes.  The microkorg has two oscillators that route into the same filter and envelope.  So, it?s fair to assume that there are some patches on the Gaia that are going to be impossible to make on the microkorg.  Overall, I would be satisfied with the Gaia if it didn?t have the problem with the oscillator sync; that kills it for me.  If you own ?Welsh?s synthesizer cookbook?, check out how many of the patches use the oscillator sync?.lots.  I feel cheated in general by my purchase of the Gaia; its borderline false advertizing in regards to the sync function.  If you?re deciding between the Gaia and a Korg, get the Korg, it is much more versatile and a better value.  Finally, I don?t buy the sales guys rebuttal that at this price point you can?t expect the chips to handle too many features.  A few months back I bought a laptop computer for less than I paid for the Gaia!  At this price point they could use Intel chips and my Gaia could run Windows 7!
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Active Musician
Style of music you play:
New Wave, Dark Wave, Post-Punk
Where you live:
L.A.

Did you find this review helpful? yes no903391

See all 4 customer reviews...
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