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Section 1 What is the SH-32?
Welcome to the SH-32 Guide Book. With this booklet and CD, you can gain a better
understanding of this powerful desktop synthesizer, complete with audio examples.
This first section describes the SH-32 in general terms for those new to synthesizers.
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Overview
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The SH-32's front panel is designed for easy editing. There are 17
sliders that control envelopes, etc.; four large knobs that control filter,
etc.; four smaller knobs for selecting effects, etc.; 49 self-illuminating
buttons; six buttons and a 3-digit LED display. The rear panel
contains all the basic connections: stereo outputs, MIDI In and Out,
a headphone output, footswitch jack and power switch. The SH-32's
compact, portable design makes it perfect for desktop use or for use
in a DJ booth, while its retro-styled interface lets you tweak and
program sounds with ease.
The SH-32 contains the following:
2 oscillators, a filter, amp and two LFOs per sound.
While being fully digital on the inside, you have the
ability, using knobs and sliders, to create sounds
using an analog-style interface.
67 oscillator waveforms and 4 rhythm sets. Handles
layering and multitimbral sound creation with 32-voice
polyphony and 4-part multitimbral operation.
2 independent effects processors: 10 types of reverb/delay
and 35 insertion effects.
Built-in programmable arpeggiator with chord memory
function.
Figure 1: SH-32 Block Diagram
ARPEGGIATOR
(PROGRAMMABLE)
BPM SYNC
LFO2
LFO1
OSC 1
SUB OSC
MIX/
2 x EFFECTS
FILTER
AMP
RING/
SYNC
OSC 2
INS-FX
SUB OSC
REV/DELAY
ENV
ENV
ENV
PART 1
PART 2
TO ARPEGGIATOR
PART 3
PART 4 / RHYTHM
PREVIEW
/CHORD MEMORY
The self-illuminating buttons, mentioned above, are what make it
possible to fit so many features in such a functional, compact box.
These buttons include those for sound editing with which the
current status is shown using three types, or "stages", of indication:
off, illuminating, and flashing. This allows you to edit intuitively
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from the front panel without having to navigate back and forth
through a hierarchical interface. Thirteen buttons at the bottom of
the front panel function as a virtual single-octave keyboard when
the Preview button is pressed. This feature allows you to verify
sounds and play performances without having to connect a MIDI
keyboard.
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Wave Acceleration Synthesis
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Let's explore some of the actual sounds while examining some
features. There are two basic ways that sounds can be saved on the
SH-32. One is called "Patch" mode and the other is "Performance"
mode, in which up to four patches (including rhythm sets) can be
overlapped and played at the same time. You can use either mode,
depending on your needs.
Let's explore Patch mode first. Listen to some of the preset sounds
using the virtual keyboard on the front panel. You will probably
notice how fat and powerful the notes sound. You might be
wondering how this is possible.
When designing the SH-32, Roland developed a proprietary
sound generating system called "Wave Acceleration Synthesis."
Wave Acceleration is a new way to generate sound that was
developed by studying famous vintage synthesizers and analog
modeling synths. The results were then quantified so that Roland
could put the best of these qualities into the SH-32. Words like
"fat", "distinct" and "cutting" all come to mind when playing the
presets. And these sounds are designed to fit in any mix—no need
for extensive EQ and outboard effects.
This punchy sound can also be found in the built-in rhythm sets.
The SH-32 contains four kits (two preset and two user) with
waveforms taken from Roland's classic TR-808 and -909 Rhythm
Composers. We're sure you'll notice how rich the bass presence is
in not only the kick drum, but even in the toms.
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Oscillator
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Let's take a closer look at Wave Acceleration Synthesis by investigating
the waveforms contained in the oscillator section. For those who
don't know, oscillators are what determine the basic characteristic
of a sound. The SH-32 includes seven basic waveforms: saw, square,
pulse, PWM, triangle/sine, Spectrum, and Noise. These also include
variations capable of producing a variety of sound characteristics
(Figure 2), translating into over 67 waveforms total! And each
waveform has that fat analog feel, so you'll never experience the
dull, lifeless sounds that result when sampling an analog synthesizer.
(You will notice this even with the PWM and Noise waveforms.)
But don't take our word for it, let your own ears be the judge!
The SH-32 User Interface
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1. Oscillator Section
The SH-32 includes two independent oscillators. The basic waveforms are
saw, square, pulse, PWM, triangle/sine, Spectrum, and Noise. Each
waveform also includes several variations (except for PWM), so be sure to
check them out when auditioning the SH-32.
Pitch can be varied in octaves (Octave button), in semitones over two octaves
with the Pitch Coarse slider, and over ±50 cents using the Pitch Fine slider.
Also, the sub oscillator (SUB OSC), which is used for adding a sub-octave
element, contains a Subsonic mode for adding a special frequency
component for ultra-thick bass sounds. There is also an Oscillator Sync
function, a ring modulator, and a pitch envelope, which changes the pitch of
a sound over time.
By pressing the OSC1 and OSC2 buttons at the same time, both become the
editing target, which makes it easy to apply the same settings to both.
2. Filter Section
The filter can be set to one of the following settings: low pass, band pass,
high pass, peaking, and OFF. You can switch between –24 dB/oct for a tight
sound and –12 dB/oct for a smooth sound. A Key Follow function is also
provided, which changes the cutoff frequency in accordance with the key
pressed on the keyboard.
3. Amp Section
The amp section contains an ADSR-type envelope generator. Using the Key
Follow function you can change the time that follows the decay time for each
pitch range. The On and Off buttons for the ten types of reverb and delay,
which can be used as loop effects, are located here. The Level button located
on the right side of the front panel can be used to control the volume of
patches, rhythm sets and performances.
4. LFO Section
There are two independent LFO sections and you can choose among seven
waveforms including random. Several parameters are available such as Fade
In, which allows you to set the time it takes to reach the maximum LFO
amplitude, and Key Sync, which causes the LFO phase to start each time a
key is struck. The LFO rate can be automatically synchronized to BPM; tap
input is also possible. As with the oscillators, simultaneous editing is possible
by pressing the LFO1 and LFO2 buttons together.
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5. INTENSITY/INS-FX
This area is used to turn on and off one of the SH-32's 35 insert effects, and
to make settings for the particular effect selected.
6. Output Level
Adjust the level of the main out and headphone out jacks here.
7. FX/SYSTEM
Adjust the insertion effect and reverb/delay parameters. When set to the
System position you can set the SH-32's overall system parameters (selected
from buttons at the bottom of the front panel).
8. MIDI Setting Knob
Select parameters to be set when controlling the SH-32 with information
transmitted from external MIDI devices.
9. Button Group 1 and Data Entry
In addition to "Analog Feel," which adds a slight wavering of pitch to produce an
analog synth-like sound, these buttons are for setting portamento, legato, level
and pan, and for switching between patch/performance and entering data.
The Exit and Level/Pan buttons, when pressed together, play a demo song.
10. Button Group 2
The buttons at the bottom of the front panel have a variety of functions. The
basic functions are patch number selection, part selection, calling up chord
memory and system parameters, setting the arpeggiator and programming.
Also, turning on the Preview button activates a "virtual" keyboard which
consists of self-illuminating buttons lit orange (octave shifting is possible).
You can use the virtual keyboard to perform and verify sounds without using
an external MIDI keyboard. You can also play sounds continuously by turning
on the Hold button.
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