Roland SH-3A

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.

SH-3A
SH-3A with case
Manufacturer	Roland
Dates	1975–1976
Price	UK£400
Technical specifications
Polyphony	Monophonic
Timbrality	Monotimbral
Oscillator	1 VCO, 1 White/Pink Noise Generator
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.
Synthesis type	Analog Subtractive
Filter	Resonant self-oscillating low-pass filter w/ frequency and resonance controls
Attenuator	1 ADSR
Aftertouch expression	No
Velocity expression	No
Storage memory	None
Effects	None
Input/output
Keyboard	44 keys (F–C)

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.

Notable SH-3A users

• Blondie
• Chris Carter
• Covenant
• The Human League^[2]
• Radio Massacre International
• Vangelis
• Yello

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  Close-up of SH-3A controls