The Behringer MS-1 RD is a clone of the famous Roland SH-101, which shines against the original with a few sophisticated extras. They have remained faithful to the monophonic original from 1983 and have even reissued the well-known Curtis IC CEM3340 to reproduce the distinctive VCO sound exactly. The audio mixer with six inputs including Ext Audio, the massive 24dB lowpass filter with 24dB, the switchable VCA and the snap ADSR with its unmistakable taste; everything is as you know and love it!
The extensions can be found in details that even purists will find inspiring: The tempo for the arpeggiator and sequencer now has its own control and is therefore no longer dependent on the LFO tempo; of course, the two playing aids can also be synchronized to MIDI. The Arpeggiator and Sequencer controls have also been expanded, simplifying operation and giving access to 64 patterns. The filter also benefits from a special extension: six oscillator taps including noise are available for infinitely variable modulation of the cutoff.
Of course, the Behringer MS-1 RD offers modern interfaces such as MIDI and USB input and output. The CV/Gate inputs and outputs have been retained, so the new retro classic remains open for connection to a modular system.
The Behringer MS-1 RD is a real live instrument, not only due to the numerous analog controls and the arpeggiator, but also to the shoulder strap with mountable handle; with this combination you can position yourself next to the singer and guitarist in the band or lay down an impressive solo in your keyboard castle.
This is the classic Roland should have issued instead of making toys...
It looks as it should, it feels as it should, and it most importantly it sounds as it should!
I cannot sing enough praise for this machine, the build quality is great and it does the job nicely.
As soon as mine arrived my first impression after spending an hour with it was 'I need another one of these'.
The improvements upon the original 101 sequencer and sound generation were also a suprise...
I found the FM to be the warmest and harmonically pleasing I have ever encounteres, I have always avoided FM like the plague but I use it all the time on this synth as it brightens up the character of the sound rather than render the sound unsuable. The ability to drop notes out of a sequence and punch them back in is also a nice addition to the sequencer and comes in handy when jamming or fleshing out ideas.
Behringer really delivered an excellent product with this one, I cant imagine anyone being dissapointed.
Well built, Sounds all but identical to the Classic sh101, easily the best clone of the original and with some welcome new additions at an amazing price (roughly what I paid for an original back in 1986) .No more looking at exorbitantly priced used 101's .thank you behringer.
I have used this twice since it arrived Friday and I'm getting the hang of it and enjoy it. I will start producing some samples to create sample packs next. Very happy.
Paying <€300 for a synthesizer that functions and sounds identical to the original SH-101 is borderline criminal. Buy this synth!