Roland D-50

Roland D-50
ManufacturerRoland Corporation
DatesApril 1987- 1991
Price$1,895 - 2,095 US
£1,445 GBP (Later £1,350)
¥238,000 JPY
Technical specifications
Polyphony16 voices, 8 voices (Dual or Split mode)
Timbrality2-part (2 Partials per part)
Oscillator32 partials with 2 per voice; 4 per voice in Dual or Split mode
LFO3 per voice
Synthesis typeDigital Sample-based Subtractive (Linear Arithmetic)
FilterLow-pass resonant filter Time Variant Filter (TVF) for square wave (non-PCM) Partials
AttenuatorADSR envelope referred to as Time Variant Amplifier (TVA)
Aftertouch expressionYes
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory64 patches
Effectsreverb, chorus, EQ
Input/output
Keyboard61 keys
Left-hand controlPitchbend / modulation lever
External controlMIDI in/out, pedal switch, pedal hold, EXT Control, EXT Pedal

The Roland D-50 is a synthesizer produced by Roland and released in April of 1987. Its features include digital sample-based subtractive synthesis, on-board effects, a joystick for data manipulation, and an analog synthesis-styled layout design. The external Roland PG-1000 (1987) programmer could also be attached to the D-50 for more complex manipulation of its sounds. It was also produced in a rack-mount variant design, the D-550, with almost 450 user-adjustable parameters.[1]

The D-50 has been used by musicians including Prince, Sting, Michael Jackson and Enya. The D-50 has also been used by Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream and the Pet Shop Boys in various years, since the synthesizer came out in 1987. [2]

  1. ^ "Roland D50". July 1997. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Roland reissues classic D-50 synth for its 'Boutique' line". September 9, 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-02.