Roland D50

[MoggieMinor]

Finally got hold of one of the most awesome synths ever made.

It still sounds incredible.

That is all!

[anonymous-user]

Yep, I've got two, bought them about 6 or 7 years ago. One came with the full set of Roland factory cards as well.

Got in just before the prices went up! Managed to download a load of Jean Michel Jarre patches (the ones he used on his Revolutions album) for it as well.

[anonymous-user]

They are lovely. The only synth I've bought twice. Both now sold as I no longer have the time or room. Or talent.

I had the PG-1000 programmer for it too but they are a nightmare edit even with the sliders. There's a very good and cheap iPad D50 editor that's just been released which I would recommend if you feel like getting into editing. Considering the source samples to work with I was amazed at how they got some of the patches that they did; Star Trek Voices is amazing and worth the purchase price alone.

PM me if you're interested in getting some more sound banks, I've got tons you can have in sysex format.

[GCH]

They are great.....but a pig to program, especially back in the day with an Atari, although synth works (by Steinberg IIRC) made it MUCH easier, without the expense of the PG programmer.

Easier than a DX though

[Escapegoat]

Great synth - all over so many records.

Still relevant, too. These guys (both pros and ex-Roland) are doing a great set of videos about old gear, and they did one on the D50: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1HadTd10II

[MoggieMinor]

Great posts folks, that youtube video is interesting.

What a fantastic instrument even thirty years on.

[DanoS4]

Yup - great bit of kit still today.

Not got mine anymore, but I've got a V-Synth XT with the D50 card

[MitchT]

Got mine off ebay a few years ago. Turned out that guy was a couple of miles away so I went to pick it up and he recognised my car from when he was working in the dealership that I bought it from. Small world!

Some time later I bought the ROM card with the factory presets on. The seller of that gave me a CD with a ton of extra sounds banks too, including all the Jarre ones.

[MitchT]

Amazing piece performed on a D-550 (D-50 in module form) using just one patch. Sounds like something from Bladerunner!

https://youtu.be/k4b1XiLOfAE

[Escapegoat]

Just to bump the thread to say that anyone wanting the D-50 sounds (and every extra card/sound bank Roland did) but not wanting the fun/risks of 30-year-old hardware has a new option. Roland boutiqueified it, and it's now the size of a paperback book: