KRM-101: Bringing the Legend of the 80s Back to Your DAW
Music history knows many instruments that have become cult classics, but few have such an instantly recognizable character as the Roland SH-101. This modest monophonic synthesizer, which appeared in 1982, quickly won the love of musicians thanks to its unique sound and ease of use. Its deep, fat bass lines and piercing leads have become an integral part of the soundtracks of an entire era, from early techno and house to synthwave and pop music.
Now, thanks to the developer Kriminal, this classic analog vibraphone is back in the convenient VST plugin format – KRM-101. This instrument is designed to recreate the heart and soul of the original SH-101, giving modern producers access to its legendary timbre without having to search for vintage equipment.
Analog Character in the Digital World
KRM-101 doesn’t strive to be a hyper-complex synthesizer with many functions. Its philosophy, like the original, is focused on the essence – creating powerful and expressive monophonic sounds. This makes it an ideal tool for:
- Fat Basses: The SH-101 is known for its unsurpassed bass. KRM-101 emulates this ability to create deep, warm, and rich bass lines that sit perfectly in the mix and add weight and groove to the tracks. From pulsating sub-basses to melodic bass parts – KRM-101 handles this perfectly.
- Piercing Leads: Despite its monophonic nature, the SH-101 was also capable of producing bright and piercing lead sounds. KRM-101 inherits this feature, allowing you to create melodies that easily stand out in an arrangement. Classic sounds for solos, hooks, or arpeggios – this is its element.
The plugin focuses on the key elements of the original: a simple but effective oscillator, a classic resonant filter with a unique character, and basic modulation capabilities. This simplicity is its advantage, allowing you to quickly adjust the sound and focus on the music, not on endless menus and parameters.
Why KRM-101?
In a world where there are many synthesizers, why choose KRM-101? The answer lies in its character and purpose:
- Classic Sound of the 80s: If you’re looking for the authentic timbre of a legendary synthesizer, KRM-101 offers it in a convenient format. It’s the perfect tool for genres based on the aesthetics of the 80s: synthwave, darkwave, retrowave, as well as techno, house, and other electronic music that appreciates vintage analog warmth.
- Simplicity and Intuition: The interface of KRM-101, like its predecessor, is extremely simple. You won’t need hours to figure out how it works. This allows you to quickly achieve the desired result and improvise with sound.
- Focus on the Basics: Instead of being a universal combain, KRM-101 does one thing, but does it very well – provides classic monophonic sounds for bass and leads with the character of the SH-101.
- Accessibility: Unlike vintage equipment, the VST plugin easily integrates into any modern DAW on Windows (32-bit).
Who Is This Plugin For?
KRM-101 will be a great addition to a producer’s arsenal if you:
- Create electronic music (techno, house, trance, drum and bass, etc.).
- Are passionate about retro genres (synthwave, retrowave).
- Are looking for a specific, warm, and “fat” bass.
- Need a piercing lead synthesizer for melodies.
- Appreciate simplicity and speed of workflow.
- Want to get vintage analog character without the cost and complexity of real equipment.
Technical Details
- Developer: Kriminal
- Format: VST
- Supported OS: Windows (32-bit)
- Base: Emulation of Roland SH-101
- Purpose: Monophonic synthesizer for bass and leads
KRM-101 is not just another virtual synthesizer. It’s a piece of music history, carefully transferred to the digital world. It offers producers the opportunity to use the legendary sound that shaped entire genres in a modern and convenient format. Add KRM-101 to your plugin collection, and discover the magic of the classic analog sound of the 80s!
