Roland D-50
| Roland D-50 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Roland Corporation |
| Dates | April 1987- 1991 |
| Price | $1,895 - 2,095 US £1,445 GBP (Later £1,350) ¥238,000 JPY |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 16 voices, 8 voices (Dual or Split mode) |
| Timbrality | 2-part (2 Partials per part) |
| Oscillator | 32 partials with 2 per voice; 4 per voice in Dual or Split mode |
| LFO | 3 per voice |
| Synthesis type | Digital Sample-based Subtractive (Linear Arithmetic) |
| Filter | Low-pass resonant filter Time Variant Filter (TVF) for square wave (non-PCM) Partials |
| Attenuator | ADSR envelope referred to as Time Variant Amplifier (TVA) |
| Aftertouch expression | Yes |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage memory | 64 patches |
| Effects | reverb, chorus, EQ |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 61 keys |
| Left-hand control | Pitchbend / modulation lever |
| External control | MIDI 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.
The D-50 has been used by musicians including Prince, Sting, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Rick Wakeman, 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.