ACHIEVE MASTERY! ENJOY CREATING SOUNDS WITH YOUR SYNTHESIZER Sound synthesis made easy! Learn the basics of sound creation on Roland’s new GAIA SH-01 synthesizer!
INTRO Introducing the Controls D Beam LFO Oscillator (OSC) By moving your hand above the D Beam controller you can change the sound’s pitch, volume, or brightness. This modulates the sound. This determines the sound’s pitch. The oscillator is the heart of a synthesizer, and is where you select the waveform that forms the basis of the sound. USB Memory You can save your patches to USB memory. Tone You can layer three tones to be played simultaneously.
Filter Amp Effects This determines the sound’s brightness. This determines the sound’s volume. This is also where the sound’s attack and decay are adjusted. Here you can apply reverb to give the sound more depth, or add other effects. EXT IN You can connect a portable audio player here. Volume This adjusts the overall volume. Patch Here you can call up patches.
STEP 1 Play a Sound! The GAIA SH-01 lets you start playing as soon as you turn on the power. 1. Turn on the power. 2. Press the NUMBER [1] button. In this example we’ve selected sound (patch) number 1. On the following page we’ll explain more about how to select “patches.” 3. Use the [VOLUME] knob to adjust the volume. 4. Play the keyboard. Did you hear sound? Now read the next page, and select and play other sounds (patches).
What is a “Patch”? The GAIA SH-01 lets you save the sounds you create. Each sound you save is called a “patch.” You can think of the locations that store the patches as being like shelves. You’ll select the desired patch by GROUP, BANK, and NUMBER. Internal Memory PRESET GROUP USB Memory (sold separately) USER GROUP Non-rewritable 64 patches USB MEMORY Rewritable 64 patches Rewritable 64 patches You can use these patches to store the original sounds you’ve created.
STEP 2 Create a Sound! Create a Bass Sound 1. Call up the “PRESET B-1” patch. Press the [BANK] button and then press the [2] (B) button Press the [PRESET PATCH] button Press the [1] button 2. Press the [KEY HOLD] button so it’s blinking. 3. Press the second C key from the bottom. You’ll hear an arpeggiated techno bass. 4. Turn the FILTER [RESONANCE] knob to the maximum position. 5. Slowly turn the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob from the maximum position down to the minimum.
Let’s try playing an arpeggiated synth bass sound. Turn the filter knob to make the sound change. How Do I Stop the Sound? Press the [KEY HOLD] button to stop the sound. Add More Low End! Turn on the [TONE 3] button, and play the keyboard. Layering three tones produces an even fatter sound. Save The Patch You’ve Created The GAIA SH-01 has internal memory in which you can store 64 patches that you’ve created. By using USB memory (sold separately), you’ll be able to store 64 more patches.
STEP 3 Create a Pad Sound 1. Call up the “PRESET A-3” patch. Press the [PRESET PATCH] button Press the [BANK] button and then press the [1] (A) button 2. Press the [KEY HOLD] button so it’s blinking. 3. Simultaneously press the TONE 1 and TONE 2 [SELECT] buttons so they’re lit. You can use the [SELECT] buttons to select the tone that you want to edit. 4. Play a chord. 5. While playing a chord, set the AMP [ATTACK] slider in the range of about 2–5. The attack sound will become more gentle.
Here we’ll try playing a polyphonic pad sound. This is a synth pad that combines an attack sound with a softer sound. 9. Lower the FILTER [ENV DEPTH] slider downward from the center. The sound of TONE 3 will disappear. For additional expressive possibilities, you can move the FILTER [ENV DEPTH] slider while you play. Turn off the [KEY HOLD] button, and raise the TONE 3 AMP [R] (RELEASE) slider to the maximum position. The time over which the sound of TONE 3 disappears will lengthen.
STEP 4 Create a Wind Sound Let’s try playing a wind sound that was created using noise. Noise allows you to produce this type of sound. We’ll try controlling the character of the wind while listening to it. 1. Turn the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob all the way to the left. 2. Call up the “PRESET A-8” patch. Press the [PRESET PATCH] button Press the [BANK] button and then press the [1] (A) button Press the [8] button 3. Press the [KEY HOLD] button so it’s blinking. 4. Press and hold any key.
STEP 5 Create A Distorted Guitar Sound The GAIA SH-01 contains a powerful effects section that lets you use five effects simultaneously. Let’s try creating the sound of a distorted guitar. 1. Call up the “PRESET A-6” patch. Press the [PRESET PATCH] button Press the [BANK] button and then press the [1] (A) button Press the [6] button 2. Press the [KEY HOLD] button to turn off its illumination. 3. First, let’s listen to the undistorted sound.
APPENDIX Examples of Creating Sounds Synth Bass (PRESET PATCH: H-1) 2 6 1 3 5 7 4 4 8 9 1 Press the [CANCEL/SHIFT] button and [WRITE] button to recall the initialized sound. The sawtooth wave is selected. Press the [VARIATION] button to light the [WAVE] button into red. 2 Since the bass usually sounds in the lower registers, turn the [PITCH] knob to the left so the sound is lowered by an octave. 3 Set the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob between 8 and 9 o’clock. The sound will diminish.
Synth Lead (PRESET PATCH: H-7) 2 9 1 7 3 5 4 11 8 6 10 1 Press the [CANCEL/SHIFT] button and [WRITE] button to recall the initialized sound. The sawtooth wave is selected. Press the [VARIATION] button to light the [WAVE] button into red. 2 Turn the [PITCH] knob to the right so the sound is raised by an octave. 3 Set the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob to the 2 o’clock position. 4 Set the FILTER [RESONANCE] knob to the 8 o’clock position. 5 Now you’re ready to create the attack.
APPENDIX Examples of Creating Sounds Synth Pad (PRESET PATCH: H-2) 2 3 1 4 10 12 6 5 7 8 9 11 1 Press the [CANCEL/SHIFT] button and [WRITE] button to recall the initialized sound. The sawtooth wave is selected. 2 Press the OSC [WAVE] button to select SUPER SAW. Press the [VARIATION] button to light the [WAVE] button into red. 3 Set the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob to the 1 o’clock position. The sound will become a bit darker. 4 Now you’re ready to specify the overall character of the sound.
Sound Effect (PRESET PATCH: H-5) 2 3 1 5 9 4 6 7 8 11 10 Here’s how to create a sound effect that might be appropriate for a spaceship taking off. * These settings may produce a sudden, loud sound. Turn the knobs slowly to avoid damaging your hearing or your speakers. 1 Press the [CANCEL/SHIFT] button and [WRITE] button to recall the initialized sound. The sawtooth wave is selected. 2 Press the OSC [WAVE] button to select NOISE. 3 Turn the FILTER [CUTOFF] knob all the way to the left (MIN).
Experience the magic of creating your own sounds. For more than a quarter century, Roland has defined and redefined the state of the art in synthesizers. Today, the fundamentals for sound creation remain the same for most synthesizers. By understanding the fundamentals, anyone can enjoy creating sound for virtually any type of synthesizer.
