D-50 is one of the most popular digital synthesizers not only ever created by Roland but ever emerged on the market. The 61-note velocity sensitive keyboard with aftertouch was released in 1987. It features 16-voice polyphony which becomes an 8 one in a split or a dual mode. The architecture offers bitimbrality, 32 oscillators providing 2 per voice while in dual or split mode there are 4 per voice available. The synthesis is based on Roland’s Linear Arithmetic technology combined with 8-bit PCM samples onboard. The structure includes 3 LFOs. The filter section is represented with a low pass resonant filter TVF (Time Variant Filter) while the amp is also defined as TVA. Memory stores up to 64 patches.
Roland D-50 received a TEC Award in 1988 beating Yamah DX7 in popularity and waiting for the Korg M1 to come and take its laurels already the next year. D-50 was among the first synths to offer digital chorus and reverb as well as to include sample-based sounds not being a rompler.
D-50 was also unique back then owing to its digital wave generating while many other synths used to fill their structures with complete PCM wave samples. D-50 used PCM to sample acoustic instrument attack nuances as well as delivered samples of famous analog synthesizers processed through the analog path LFO, filter, amp stages.
The Roland D-5 is a synthesizer released by Roland Corporation in 1988. It was the first in the D-series of synthesizers and was designed to provide an affordable alternative to the more expensive and complex synthesizers of the time. It featured a wide...
D-10 has taken the synthesis core features from D-50. The synthesizer was priced quite reasonably. D-10 is capable of multitimbral operating and included a rhythm machine function. The instrument comprised several types of reverb. The engine was a bit...
D-20 is a 32-voice polyphonic synthesizer based on Roland’s digital Linear Arithmetic synthesis and ROM samples. The instrument is 9-part multitimbral. Memory provides with 128 preset patches, 64 user patches and 128 performances. The effects section...
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Roland D-550Rackmount Sound Module/ Tone Generator700.00U.S.Dollars
D-550 is a rackmount version of Roland’s popular D-50. The unit features fewer controls though the circuit is identical. D-550 is based on the capabilities of one of the most popular digital synthesizers not only ever created by Roland but ever emerged...
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Roland PG 1000D50/ D550 External Control Panel500.00U.S.Dollars
The Roland PG 1000 is a MIDI controller and programmer for the Roland JV/XP series of synthesizers. It allows users to control and program the synthesizers from a single device. It features a large LCD display, a variety of knobs and buttons, and a built-in sequencer.
Korg M1, released by Korg in 1988, is a synthesizer based on the algorithm of AI (Advanced Integrated) synthesis. As a pioneer of PCM timbres generation, M1 became famous due to impressive sound authenticity, as well as due to unique tone nuances and...
The Casio CZ-1 is a digital synthesizer released by Casio in 1984. It was one of the first synthesizers to feature phase distortion synthesis, which allowed for more complex and expressive sounds than traditional analog synthesis. The CZ-1 was popular...
The Ensoniq ESQ-1 is a digital synthesizer and sequencer released by Ensoniq in 1986. It is an 8-voice polyphonic synthesizer with a 61-note keyboard and a built-in sequencer. It features three digital oscillators per voice, two digital filters, two...
