Synths without MIDI

We recently dusted down and refurbished (we vacuum cleaned it)! an old and much loved Roland SH101. Every once in a while a genuine bargain drops in your lap and this SH101 was one of them.

Many years ago we got talking to a session trombone player who was working on a Jeb Nichols album we were recording, and he mentioned that he had bought a synth to help him work out brass harmony parts. Problem was the synth would only play one note at a time. No good to him, and did we want it?

He brought the synth to studio shortly after and it turned out to be a mint condition SH101, the batteries and manual still sealed in plastic. He wanted £50 for it, but not wishing to take advantage we suggested £50 plus a free recording session and we shook hands.

As you may know, the SH101 is one of the classic mono synths. The only things it lacks are a second envelope (rare on mono synths in those days) and MIDI connectivity. We solved the MIDI problem by buying a Kenton interface and used it happily in our sequencing setup for many a bass and lead line.

A few years later we acquired a Waldorf Pulse, and as this had a separate extra built-in CV to MIDI converter we sold the Kenton and hooked up the SH101.

Years passed, the SH101 was mothballed for reasons we forget, and the Pulse died. So now we have an SH101 without MIDI once again.

Perhaps because there are so many sequence-able plug-in alternatives, or our playing has improved, but we suddenly find that playing and recording the synth live, and without MIDI has bought a new dimension to the process. Well, Stevie Wonder didn’t use a sequencer did he? And if we capture a great take with a couple of bum notes, we can just pitch and time correct them in Logic.

In fact, we’ve started recording some of our other MIDI synths live, and it really does add an extra human and organic feel to the recordings. Now we come to think of it, many of our favourite albums were made like this.

Did MIDI make us lazy and did the music suffer? What do you think?

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