Iona by AIR Music Technology SH-101 style synth plugin interface

Iona: Analog-Style Synth Plugin Based on the Roland SH-101

Rated 4.8/5 on Plugin Boutique (45 ratings)

Iona is a software synth plugin from AIR Music Technology that recreates the classic Roland SH-101 with a modeled synth engine, built-in effects and a pattern sequencer. It is available in VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Opens the store in a new tab

01Overview

Iona is built around the sound and sequencer of the Roland SH-101, a classic monophonic analog synth. AIR Music Technology modeled its Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub and Noise sources to recreate that character. The interface keeps the simple, hands-on layout of the original while adding modern conveniences such as preset storage, a tempo-synced LFO and an effects section. It runs as a plugin in common DAWs and as a standalone app.

Best for

Acid basslines
Classic analog leads
Retro synth pads
Step-sequenced patterns
Lo-fi sound design

Developer: AIR Music Technology
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Faithful recreation of the classic Roland SH-101 synth engine
Modeled Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub and Noise oscillator sources
Pulse-width modulation via LFO, envelope or slider
BPM-syncable LFO with nine waveform shapes
Filter with Cutoff and Resonance, modulated by envelope, LFO and keyboard tracking
ADSR filter envelope assignable to VCA with three-way trigger selector
Portamento and customizable bender controls
Arpeggiator and 128-step pattern sequencer with graphical editor
FX section with Lo-Fi, Delay, Reverb and 3-band EQ
Over 100 factory presets and five skins

03In depth

Sound Engine and Synthesis Controls

Iona's oscillator section offers Pulse, Sawtooth, Sub and Noise sources, with VCO pitch range and modulation controls. Pulse width can be modulated by the LFO, the envelope or a manual slider.

The filter provides Cutoff and Resonance, and both can be modulated by the envelope, the LFO and keyboard tracking. An ADSR envelope can be assigned to the VCA and uses a three-way trigger selector. Portamento and customizable bender controls are included for expressive lead and bass playing.

The LFO syncs to BPM and offers nine shapes.

Arpeggiator, Sequencer and Effects

The built-in arpeggiator and the Pattern Sequencer give Iona a self-contained performance workflow. The sequencer follows the classic 101 approach and extends it to 128 steps, with transpose and shift functions and a graphical editor.

The FX section includes Lo-Fi, Delay, Reverb and a 3-band EQ. Iona also ships with over 100 factory presets, and each preset stores one of five skins: grey, red, blue, white or yellow.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	AIR Music Technology
Type	Plugin
Category	Synth
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Iona support?

Iona is available in VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run Iona?

On Windows, Iona requires Windows 10 (21H2) or Windows 11 (25H2). On macOS, it requires macOS 13 or later. Both platforms need at least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended), a dual-core 2.5GHz CPU, and a VST 2/3, AAX or AU compatible host, or the Standalone app. Free disk space is roughly 232.5 MB on Windows and 369.6 MB on macOS.

Does Iona run on MPC hardware?

Yes. Iona is designed to run on MPC and Force standalone systems running firmware 3.6 or newer, including MPC One, MPC Live, MPC Live II, MPC Live III, MPC X, MPC Key 61, MPC One with MPC Key 37, and Force.