Synth Manufacturer: | Roland |
Synth Name: | SH-3A |
Synthesis Type: | Analog Subtractive |
Timbrality: | Monotimbral |
Oscillator: | 1 VCO, 1 White/Pink Noise Generator |
Filter: | Resonant self-oscillating low-pass filter w/ frequency and resonance controls |
Attenuator: | 1 ADSR |
Lfo: | LFO1 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. |
Memory: | None |
Dates: | 1975–1976 |
Price: | UK£400 |
Fx: | None |
Keyboard: | 44 keys (F–C) |
Velocity: | No |
Aftertouch: | No |
Split: | No |
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.