Roland D-50 Synthesizer

This synth was used on the song I Am Energy (bass and bouncy synth sounds)

I bought my Roland D-50 new in 1987. I was the first out of that music store with one. I may have also been first in town to get one because none of the other music stores had them in yet.

This has been my all time favourite synth to date. Once you get your brain wrapped around programming “Linear Arithmetic” Synthesis, the sky is the limit. This is also the main keyboard I use for synth sound MIDI programming. The action is really smooth, the bender and modulation has nice control and the aftertouch is very expressive.

Over the years this machine has held up really well. It’s been hammered on in the studio, been on many stages at a number of shows, packed around in the back of cars. The only wounds are a small cigarette burn in one key and another key that has a slight velocity issue (which I’m sure is fixable).

I’ve had my eyes open for the rack mount version (the D-550) and a PG-1000 programmer – still no luck. One day though.


Pretty specs…
Polyphony – 16 voices
Oscillators – Digital LA (Linear Arithmetic) & PCM, 32 osc.
LFO – YES (3 x 2tones = 6 LFOs)
VCF/VCA – FILTER: low-pass-resonant; AMP: ADSR envelopes
Effects – YES
Keyboard – 61 note keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
Memory – 64 patches


Acquired: 1987

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