MF#26 Roland SH-101 repair and Trigger it with AIRA TR-8 

50 bob? You're a nutter mate!! Thing is worth hundreds of dollars. Just bought the System-1 and waiting for it to be delivered 😐😐😐😐😐. Once it arrives, I'm buying the SH101 Plug-in. Boom shakalaka

Yea that's why detroit techno took off. Everyone was using "cheap" synths no one wanted like the SH-101, MC-202 and of course.. the TB 303!

@@danielbrown1724 You used to be able to find them in skips if you were lucky. Along with MS10s, SH5s, even a Juno if you were lucky. Hard to believe that these incredibly valuable synths were regarded as junk back in the early 90s.

@@harrymartin684 really? That’s quite amazing when you think about it innit!?? “Crap” synths no one wanted when they came out are now beyond legendary. Now we have the soft-synth emulators based on those same engines and original architecture. That also tells me that maybe they weren’t as popular back when they first came out because most of the famous keyboardists were playing other synths. But at the end of the day, there will always be posers and followers that buy a product because their “idols” endorse it 🙄🙄 They have no idea that what they’re using and what was considered crap back then have completely switched places. Wankers, am I right?!! The lot of ‘em 😬

​@@danielbrown1724 It even happens today believe or not - Markus recently uploaded a video where he restores a beautful old Roland polysynth someone had left in a skip. Some people just don't know what they have I suppose. I guess if you're not into synths and are clearing a house out or whatever, an SH-101 just looks like a kid's toy keyboard.

Yes I heard the roland system 1 will come with a voucher in the box to upload the sh-101 as an included instrument.

Stuart Williams Hi Stuart. I wish I could fix them all but theres never enough time. I hope you get yours fixed one day or at least have a look into it. theres lots of websites with good information about fixing electronics and its not as complicated as people think when you get into it. good luck.

@stuartwilliams7371 do you still have the SH-101? I'd love to bring it back to life!

@@freqseq Already done but thanks anyways 😀👍

@@stuartwilliams7371 that's great! I hated to think of it collecting dust in a dusty attic!

@@freqseq Yeah was done a while ago and been modded with Kenton midi and also reprinted in white with blue print.

Thankyou Walter

Same tastes here, winner combo.

Hi George. yes it was a pleasure to have a play on one of these again. I last owned one 25years ago and sold it really cheap.

+Geoff Smith You have a good point but I am not sure if you could replicate the 101 easily, there would be some differences in the way the circuit works even if it uses the same type of chips. But I am no expert on this as I have never thought about it until now. Hmm I wonder if someone with an answer could add to this comment and let Geoff know please.

Good tip for tempo sync, but you'll only be able to trigger 8th notes on an SH101 that way.

actually just realised you're doing jack to jack - could I use jack to midi (from the midi out on the TRS?)

Simon Cox Hi Simon it sounds like there is certainly a problem with the switch. if it did not contact i would say clean it with alcohol but as it is contacting all the time then the switch must be faulty. you have to get into it and check it out it may be dirt contacting if you are lucky.

@@markusfuller great thanks for the info 😎

My suggestion would be to carefully remove the pot with a Dremmel, and work from there. Like I said, I would be careful of spraying any solvents into the pots and sliders as this may just wash residual gunk into the contacts. Might be interesting to know if you can get replacement pots and sliders from CPC?

csselement Hi I just used the hi-hat direct out to one of the assignable outputs and there was enough signal to clock the 101

Hi Arne. you can send the Hi Hat or hand clap or whatever instruments gives the best voltage out and assign it to the Assignable Out A or B and send that to trigger the SH-101. then have all the other instruments out of the standard Mix Out sockets so you still have all the other instruments to use.

Ah very good to know. Thank you for the kind, informative and swift response. Really like the show :)

Ross P maybe the Jupiter 4's gate input requires a little more current to trigger it.

Hi Funkyfredfrog. Sorry but I do not do any repairs. I just repair a few rare repairs for friends and mostly only work on items I have bought myself. Sorry I just do not have time as I have other work that must do. my sincere apologies from Markus.

+Adamski Ajull Hi Adamski. to be honest I did not really notice . this unit was not mine and i was just repairing it for a friend. I really could not say if they were Cems or not ?.

+markusfuller Ok kool. Thanks for your reply i will look into it a bit further on net. 👍👍 Thou i know quite a few roland synths were using cem ic's around the time

+Adamski Ajull .Just found out apparently the Sh101 has Cem 3340 . Intresting to know but makes me think why roland didnt use their own vcos . Hmmmmmm 👾

davielove11 Hello I do not do repairs as I have retired from that work and only make youtube videos to share a bit of know-how. I really dont have a clue as to the cost that people charge for servicing or a full restoration but im sure there will be several people on the internet who services vintage synthesizers. have a look at matrixsynth.com as there is a forum there plus several facebook sites about synth repairs, there may be someone advertising among them who are closer to where you live. good luck.

Thank you for responding and the info...I really appreciate it.

+Thorsten Harms Same here. I wish I had kept so much of the gear I owned over the years but I had to sell something to buy something.

+Michael Knead Yes I always call them destruction manuals :-) thats why I try not to read them... best wishes from Markus

that makes you even more likeable as a person! ;) Cheers from Germany.

ThankYou Michael and Hello to Germany :-)

hi oele. im not too sure without trying it out.

most probably yes as i did a fix on 8 dead keys on my juno-2 , worth giving a go .

Adamski Ajull thnx!!

Hi I just chose the one instrument that gave the highest voltage output but Im sure with a bit of experimentation you could use any of the instruments as long as you can get a high enough signal out.

markusfuller Cool, thanks - the classic trick is using the rimshot out on the 707 or 909, wondering if the 909 rimshot would work as well on the TR-8.

dkonmusic I trigger my SH101 using my TR8 Rim shot, and it works perfectly well, also the sequencer syncs too... even better outputs with the new TR8 firmware upgrade as it has dB boosts per instrument.

Hi NO I'm not using Midi Out to the 101. Im using the actual audio of an instrument. Midi Out will not produce enough signal and it is continuously running a Midi active signal wether you play a drum pattern or not.

AH I see, so its the audio out on the AIRA not the midi out. Is that just the case with the AIRA, or with other drum machines too?

I guess you could use other drum machines as you just need a quick voltage peak from zero to about 5 volts or just under so the 101 thinks it is getting a clock signal.

Cool. Cheers!

hi there.. i have a osc, but how would I know from the Oscillloscope that there is actually 3V comming out... dont I need a multimeter for that ?`or is it only about seeing a pulse wave?

alltaken0 Hi you can use your oscilloscope for seeing voltages, if you have your Volts/Div setting on one volt input then your oscilloscope would show the waveform on your oscilloscope screen and if the oscillator waveform between its lowest point and its highest point is 3 squares high then that is a difference of 3 volts, each square would be equal to one volt in height as long as your input setting on the oscilloscope is one volt per division. 1v/d

WOW !!!! this cant be true,,,, I gotta try this... trying to sync the lfo on the SH101 from my AnalogRytm LT6 assignable output (and not sure if it outputs 5 Volts).... almost just like you did! ... you are pioneering the way for a lot of hobbyists , musicains, artists, tinkerers, electropaths ... and what not! ... reallly enjoy your vids and your channel! BIG THANKS for your reply !!!

Hi Eric, I did not know this even existed. looks interesting though I do not own the SH101 as that belonged to a friend of mine but I will let him know about this. many thanks

No problem. If you have someone that gets this add-on installed a follow-up would be insanely awesome.

Ludicrous statement!!! They are identical.

+TomZentra Yep they are the same keyboard no matter what colour.

+themichadj Interesting video. thanks for the link.