Synths ⇝ Roland ⇝ Roland D-50

The D-50 introduced LA Synthesis (linear arithmetic), which is a method of synthesis that combines ROM samples of attack and sustain waveforms in order to build instrument sounds. Sounds are built using four tones, two "upper tones" and two "lower tones".

The PG-1000 editor can be used to make patch editing easier. Patches can be saved to an M-256D or M-256E RAM card and its patch memories are maintained with a standard CR2032 lithium battery.

The D-50 is monotimbral but can be expanded to 8-part multitimbral with the M.EX multimode expansion (which also adds 192 patch memories). Roland also released a series of 4 memory cards (PN-D50-01 through PN-D50-04) containing patches but no additional sound waveforms. Eye and I Productions has also produced six Voice Crystal expansion cards for the Roland D-50.

The rackmount version of the Roland D-50 is the Roland D-550. It was followed by the Roland D-5, D-10, D-20, and D-110.

The D-50 was also implemented as a plugin card for the Roland VariOS.

Specifications

Year Released: 1987

MSRP: 1995.00 USD

Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch

Polyphony: 16 notes

Multitimbral: 1 parts

User Patches: 64

ROM: 128 kb (100 waveforms)

Effects: reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, and 2-band EQ

Screen: 40 x 2 character backlit LCD

Dimensions: 974 mm x 332.5 mm x 94 mm

Weight: 10.7 kg

User Demo Videos

Rating

File Downloads

Roland D-50 Manual

Roland D-50 Service Notes

Roland PN-D50-00 SysEx Patch Data

Roland PN-D50-01 SysEx Patch Data

Roland PN-D50-02 SysEx Patch Data

Roland PN-D50-03 SysEx Patch Data

Roland PN-D50-04 SysEx Patch Data

Items for Sale on Reverb

Roland D-50 JX-10 Juno-2 12-Note Rubber Keyboard Contact Strip. Made in Japan. Works Great ! ($9.99)

Custom padded cover for Roland D-50 Synthesizer D50 D 50 ($49)

Roland D50 D-50 Linear synth état proche neuf Live ORGAN EP Pianos STRINGS PADS ($1,068.58)

Roland D-50 / D-70 Memory ROM Sound Cards ($370.51)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer ($966.55)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($586.53)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black (Serviced / Warranty) ($1,014.88)

Roland D-50 Card ($99)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($937.96)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($733.95)

Roland D-50 ROM card // PN-D50-00 Factory Presets ($128.87)

Roland D-50 61 Key Linear Synthesizer Keyboard Synth *Fresh Battery* ($899.99)

Roland D-50 1987 ($86.79)

Roland D-50 + PG-1000 Controller ($1,089.53)

Roland D-50 Vintage Synthesizer ($799)

Roland D-50 + PG 1000 + 4 original cards PN Memory ($1,879.41)

Roland D-50 ($663.10)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 ($750.69)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black (Serviced / Warranty) ($858.08)

Roland D-50 + PG1000 Programmer Jethro Tull / Andrew Giddings ($2,094.20)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($650)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black (Serviced / Warranty) ($1,068.58)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer With SKB Case ($950)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($750)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($767.87)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($1,073.95)

Roland D-50 Synthesizer LA-Synthese Bj. ca. 1989 - inkl. roadtauglichem Case ($751.76)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($804.39)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($590.67)

Roland D-50 61-Key Linear Synthesizer 1987 - 1992 - Black ($858.08)

Greytsounds Roland D-50/D550 Synth Patches • 8 Bank Set • Digital Download ($30)

Roland V-Synth - (with ultra rare) D-50 Card - 2003-2007 - Black ($2,300)

Roland D-50 D-10 D-20 S-50 S-10 Rubber Key Contact Strip 12 ($11.76)

Roland Memory Card PN-D50-00 Patch Data ROM for D-50 1990's ($96.66)

Replacement Backup Battery for Roland D-10 D-20 D-50 D-550 [ Button Coin Cell ] ($9.49)

Roland D-50 right end cap (repaired) ($50)

Roland D-50 left top end cap (repaired) ($50)

Maartists Music Pack RAM Card for Roland D-50 with 64 Super R&B sounds ($199)

Roland D-50 Left End Cap (repaired) ($50)

Roland - D-50 - Contact strip 8-note ($7.99)

ROLAND D-50 Full set of 54 Pushbuttons Tact Switches New D50 Micro Switch ($14.18)

ROLAND D-50 OWNERS MANUAL 80s synthesizer keyboard book VINTAGE SYNTH DEALER ($59.99)

ROLAND D-50 JX-10 JX-8P Alpha JUNO-2 Synthesizer Original Keyboard Key ($7.95)

Roland VariOs with D-50 card ($875)

Roland - D-50 - Contact strip 4-note ($5.99)

Roland D-550 Rack synth version of the D-50 - 1987 ($531.60)

LED Display Upgrade - Roland D-50 D-550 (Super Enhanced Black) LUX PMVA LED Display ! ($121.26)

Sound Source Unlimited D507R Roland D-50 Artist Series Soundscapes ($59.99)

DUST COVER for ROLAND D-50 ($29.53)

Complete Set of Rubber Keyboard Contacts - Roland D-50 / D-20 / D-10 ($80.55)