Roland Lifetime Key SH-2 (eLicense)

Roland's legendary SH-2 synthesizer from 1979 returns as an authentic software recreation that captures the raw, vintage character that made the original a studio staple. This faithful reproduction maintains every circuit interaction and sonic detail of the classic monophonic synth, including its distinctive dual VCO plus sub-oscillator configuration that essentially provides three oscillators for exceptionally fat and warm analogue tones. The software version preserves the original's self-oscillating VCF, steep envelope characteristics, and unique harmonic makeup, whilst adding new features not available on the vintage hardware.

When synthesizers were rapidly advancing with polyphony and patch memory in the late 1970s, Roland took a different approach with the seemingly basic SH-2. Released alongside the pioneering JUPITER-4, this monophonic synthesizer proved that simplicity could be powerful. Many synth enthusiasts still regard the SH-2 as producing some of the most earth-shaking bass sounds ever created, with its three-oscillator setup generating devastatingly fat basses, edgy leads, and wild effects that defined an era.

The SH-2 software supports Roland's PLUG-OUT format, allowing seamless integration with hardware synths like the SYSTEM-8 and SYSTEM-1. You can transfer sounds between hardware and software, or PLUG-OUT directly to create a standalone SH-2 that operates independently without a computer. This flexibility extends to hands-on control using your hardware's knobs and sliders when the plug-in runs in your DAW, bridging the gap between vintage analogue warmth and modern production workflows.