Superbooth 2026: Paul Barker of Din Sync has announced the R-101, a Roland SH-101 Synthesizer clone/replica in rackmount format.
In recent years, the Roland SH-101 has been replicated by many companies. Inexpensive versions are made by companies like Behringer and Donner, while boutique versions are made by companies like Superlative and Din Sync.
The latter is Paul Barker’s company, which builds its clones/replicas using the original components. At Superbooth 2026, Din Sync will be showing the R-101, another SH-101 clone, but this time as a rack unit.
Din Sync R-101
The SH-101 is typically known for its keyboard and with its row of top-level parameters. Of course, there are other SH-101-inspired concepts, such as the Roland S-1 or the Intellijel Atlantix. Now, with the Din Sync R-101, the Roland SH-101 enters the rack.
The R-101 is a faithful replica of the original in 2HE rack format. It’s 150mm deep and features all the controls on the front panel.
Like the original, it comes with a single Curtis CEM 3340-based oscillator with mixable waveforms, sub-oscillator, and noise generator. Then, it has analog filter based on a replica of the IR 3109 chip made by Analog Renaissance,
It has classic controls, including cutoff frequency, resonance, and modulation amount over the envelope, LFO, and keyboard tracking.
On the modulation side, it has a single multi-mode envelope and a multi-wave LFO. The signal ends in a VCA based on a replica of the BA662 chip.
Sequencing & Connecting
Also onboard is remake of the SH-101 sequencer and arpeggiator plus legato functionality. There are large knobs to control volume, global tuning, and portamento. Transpositions are possible with a switch.
On the connection side, you have frontpanel CV/gate input and eight CV inputs. The latter are currently still labeled AUX. It also has MIDI in/out support and a main output. As with the original, there are no presets.
First Impression
Musicians now have a wide range of SH-101 clones available, from inexpensive to high-end. It’s great to have such a selection. Seeing the legendary SH-101 as a rack unit is rather unusual and funny.
I imagine there are certainly some musicians who prefer this format to save space in their setups.
Din Sync R-101 will be available later this year as an assembled unit. Price and availability TBA. You can explore the R-101 at Superbooth 2026 between May 7 and May 9, 2026.
More information will follow here: Din Sync
At this point I’m not really interested in 1:1 clones. The 101 is already pretty basic. I would appreciate a version with built in common mods or something to take it up a notch.
pointless to clone the 101 with so many cheap and good clones out there.
What is the point of this? Been there done that.
because they have fun doing it. Everyone should do what they enjoy. You can also use your Yamaha workstation or software.
pointless
The 8 CV inputs look interesting, – but I bet it will be quite pricey knowing Din-Sync, but in grey, and under £400, I may well bite. I still have an original but it’s seen better days, the Boutique is quite acceptable in my experience, and it’s 4-voice polyphonic…
pointless
At least some modern features like included patch memory would have been a nice touch.