The Roland D-50 is a synthesizer made by Roland and released in 1987. It has features such as a special sound-making method called linear arithmetic synthesis, built-in effects, a joystick to control settings, and a design that looks like older analog synthesizers. A separate device called the Roland PG-1000 (also released in 1987) could be connected to the D-50 to create more complex sounds. The D-50 was also made in a version called the D-550, which can be placed in a rack and has nearly 450 settings that users can adjust.

Musicians such as Prince, Sting, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Rick Wakeman, Michael Jackson, and Enya have used the D-50. Other musicians, including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, and the Pet Shop Boys, have also used the synthesizer in different years after it was released in 1987.

History

The D-50 was the first affordable synthesizer that combined playing back recorded sounds with subtractive synthesis. Engineers at Roland found that the hardest part of an instrument's sound to copy accurately is the attack. To create more realistic sounds, the D-50 included 47 attack samples stored in ROM. The synthesizer played back an attack sample that was connected smoothly with subtractive synthesis to create the sustain of the sound. This method was needed in 1987 because RAM was very costly. Roland also added several texture samples that could be blended into the sustained part of a sound setting. These samples gave many D-50 sound settings a rich and open quality.

The Roland D-50 received a TEC Award for excellent technical work in music technology in 1988.

Technology

The D-50 was one of the first non-sampling synthesizers to create sounds that resembled real instruments using digital samples. Soon after, many other synthesizers began using similar methods. Roland later released less expensive keyboards and modules, such as the D-10 (1988), D-110 (1988), D-20 (1988), D-5 (1989), and MT-32. These models allowed musicians who could not afford the D-50 to use some of its sounds. While these lower-cost models did not include the full LA synth engine, each was 8-part multi-timbral and had twice as many PCM samples as the D-50. Roland also made the 76-key Super-LA D-70 (1989–1990), which removed the digital synthesis section and replaced it with longer, more realistic samples, such as an acoustic piano. The D-70 also had more advanced filters and effects and was 5-part multi-timbral. However, it did not become Roland’s next flagship synthesizer, as the Korg M1 remained the dominant workstation of the time.

The D-50 creates a hybrid sound by combining traditional analog waveforms (like square and sawtooth) with PCM samples of real instrument sounds. These samples are modified using tools like LFOs, filters, and effects. This method allowed the creation of entirely new sounds that had not been possible on purely analog or digital synthesizers before.

Each sound (patch) on the D-50 consists of two tones (upper and lower), and each tone is made up of two partials. A partial can be either a synthesized waveform (like a square or sawtooth) or a PCM sample (such as a short attack or sustained sound). The partials can be arranged in one of seven structures (algorithms), combining synthesized and PCM waveforms. The synthesized waveforms can be modulated and filtered, allowing for subtractive synthesis. The upper and lower tones can be played separately or together on the keyboard. In dual mode, two 8-voice tones (each with two partials) can be played from separate MIDI channels as a limited bi-timbral setup.

The D-50 was among the first synthesizers to include digital effects like reverb, chorus, and delay. Each effect had over 10 variations with adjustable settings, similar to those found in dedicated effects processors. It also changed how keyboard players appeared on stage, as musicians began using fewer instruments, often relying on one or two keyboards, such as the D-50, Yamaha DX7, or Korg M1.

The D-50 was fully compatible with MIDI, though it used only one MIDI channel. Its keyboard was sensitive to velocity and after-touch, and the keys had a weighted feel for better control. It had 64 built-in sounds and could store 64 more with optional RAM cards. A CR2032 lithium battery powered the memory.

The D-50 remains popular today due to its unique sound, build quality, and synthesis method. Its engine was later used in Roland’s JV and XP series synthesizers. In 2004, Roland released a VC-1 expansion card for the V-Synth and VariOS, which included an updated version of the D-50’s synthesis engine and original patches. The card also allowed users to simulate the D-50’s original, less refined sound using newer technology.

The D-550 is a rack-mounted version of the D-50 with fewer controls, no joystick, and no sliders. It uses the same internal circuitry as the D-50.

Third-party products, like the M-EX from Musitronics, expanded the D-50’s capabilities by making it multitimbral (previously bi-timbral), increasing patch memory, and improving its response to MIDI commands.

Legacy

The D-50 was released in 1987 as the Yamaha DX7 became less popular. This made the D-50 the most popular synthesizer until the Korg M1 was introduced the next year. The D-50 used a new method that combined synthesized sounds with sampled sounds and effects. This method influenced the Korg M1, which later became Korg's best-selling keyboard until the Korg Triton was released in 1999. This approach was widely used for over a decade until storage technology became advanced enough to hold full samples or multisamples.

The D-50's factory presets, created by Eric Persing and Adrian Scott, were widely praised by musicians. These presets appear on many commercial albums from the late 1980s. Some well-known presets include "Digital Native Dance," "Staccato Heaven," "Fantasia," "Pizzagogo," "Glass Voices," and "Living Calliope." These presets are also included in devices that follow the General MIDI standard, such as "Fantasia" (also called "New Age Pad"), "Soundtrack," "Atmosphere," and "Nylon Atmosphere."

The "Pizzagogo" preset creates the sound of lively plucked strings. This preset was famously used in Enya's song "Orinoco Flow," where the initial sound is emphasized.

The Roland V-Synth and V-Synth XT can use a card to copy the D-50's sound. In this mode, they closely match the D-50 but do not include the more advanced features of the V-Synth.

On September 8, 2017, Roland announced the Roland D-05, a smaller version of the D-50, as part of their Boutique series. This instrument includes the original D-50 presets and all the additional sounds Roland developed for the D-50. It was released in October 2017.

In 2017, Roland also released a VST plugin version of the D-50 through their Roland Cloud website.