d16 Group LUSH-2 is the successor of the popular Roland SH-101 emulation LuSH-101 with an expanded feature set, release end of June 2023
Great news: the d16 Group LUSH-2 Synthesizer plugin is out now. It’s now available for an intro price of 89€ from Plugin Boutique + free Softube Dirt Tape plugin. If you have other d16 Group plugins, log in to your account and check for better discounts.
Article From June 7th, 2023
The Roland SH-101 is a legendary monophonic analog synthesizer. Besides the Roland TB-303, TR-808/909, it was an instrument that influenced electronic music. The interest in this classic synth is unbroken to this day. This is because many companies offer this classic analog synth as a hardware clone/replica or software emulation to the big public.
For example, Roland has replicated the SH-101 several times in digital, most recently with AIRA Compact S-1 in a synth for the on-the-go. Also as a plugin in the Roland Cloud. But not just Roland. Also the Polish company d16 Group with the LuSH-101. But in a multi-layer polyphonic version. With LUSH-2, the successor is now on the horizon.
d16 Group LUSH-2
With the LUSH-2, the popular LUSH-101 Synthesizer plugin enters the second round. The release is long overdue, according to the music producer communities. One reads in many forums that the plugin has not been updated. This is one of the reasons why the developers were so quiet about the LUSH-101 plugin.
The concept remains unchanged. LUSH-2 is again an authentic emulation of the legendary Roland SH-101 analog Synthesizer but on steroids. That means you get eight SH-101-flavored, independent polyphonic synth layers with a modular workflow again. This includes an arpeggiator, and two insert FX with various algorithms.
Each layer has a freely-mappable MIID channel. Alternatively, you can play all layers with a single MIDI channel and thus creates a massive stacked sound. Keyboard splits are also onboard, allowing you to create layer zones.
New Oscillators & Filter
According to the developers, the new LUSH-2 features new oscillator and filter algorithms promising better quality and greater detail in the emulation. For example, the oscillators will work without aliasing and even vibrato or pitch bend data will not affect their quality.
Then, the filter relies on a constant resonance across the entire frequency spectrum, ensuring an authentic sound, even in self-oscillation, says d16 Group. Thus, you can play the filter with keyboard tracking on like a traditional oscillator.
Further, the developers also added an advanced modulation matrix. According to the devs, you can even use the arpeggiator as a MIDI output source. In a mixer section, you can then easily mix all layers together. Just like you know from a channel strip/mixer. It offers its own EQ and compressor for each layer. There are also settings for the volume on fader, panorama, and three send effects, including reverb, delay, and chorus.
LUSH-2 will ship with over 1600 presets, including a new, easy-to-use browser. d16 Group also says that the plugin now has multi-core support. I hope this helps with CPU usage. When I tested Lush-101 several years ago, the main negative thing I noticed was the high CPU consumption. I hope they fixed that in LUSH-2. Lastly, you can work with different colored UIs. For example, you get the classic silver or also a version in red.
First Impression
I’m curious how the new d16 Group LUSH-2 plugin sounds. The Lush-101 was already very convincing with its sound and authenticity. However, the high CPU peaks were one of the problems.
d16 Group LUSH-2 is available now for a special introductory price of 89€ instead of 169€. If you have other d16 Group plugins, log in to your account for a better deal. It runs as a VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon support + Intel) and Windows.
More information will follow here: d16 Group
Available at my partner
Sucks if it doesn’t have linux compatibility. Lush 101 used to be my favorite synth back when I used windows.
Why would you chose Linux for music production? Isn’t it the least supported OS?
Bitwig works fine in Linux. Reaper too.
The open source approach is worth a try in my opinion. A version of Linux will be running my next system.
Lush 1 sounded phenomenal as a poly synth. Very very heavy on the cpu though. Interested to see and hear the update.
This was one of the VSTs I always kept on the wish list waiting for a sale but it seldomly happened and it was when I was dead broke. For sure this v2 go to the top vst I want to use. So far the sh101 I have is the hardware boutique but using daw arp and its super fun but Im feeling a vst will be less clumsy with way less tech limits.
Where is the section parametric Eq and compressor ? Version 1 in mixer it was well detailed…
I bought a Beh MS1 for 10€ less than the listed price. That means limitations on poly, instances & automation, but hey, the hardware is always a direct door to creativity.
For sure, it’s not an original SH by Roland, but on the other hand, there are some other SH emulators in the market like TAL’s Bassline 101, or even the original freeware Bassline plug-in.
What is a ‘Beh’? I’ve never heard of that company. You managaed to write all the other words in full, why couldn’t you be bothered to write “Behringer”? Do you think everybody in the world knows everything you know?