Somebody I went to school with (who now performs under the name μ-Ziq) ,got a brand new D-50 in 1987 and brought it into the music department. We were all blown away and he had some of the expansion cards. One of them had the best , polished version of the Fairlgiht Orch Hit I've heard ever. I remember it clearly.
Hi, I had a boutique D 05 a while back, great little unit, I downloaded all the JM Jarre Revolutions album presets, I think the whole album was created on the D 50. I wish Roland would re release the older boutiques with the pitch & mod ribbons like they did with the JP 08A.
I think JMJ’s “Revolutions” album was one of the best uses of the D50 as it never used any of the over used presets. The opening track “Overture” was literally covered in D50 including the brilliant “Machine Run” patch for the mechanical looping sound. It’s literally why I got into the D50, D550 and D05. My personal favourite patch that I have found in all of the patches I have is one called “Aurorae” which is a wonderful ethereal pad sound.
Yeah, that's why I got the D 05 too, I also recently got the JD 08 for the Chronology patches, Francis Rimbert made his JD 800 Jarre patches available, great to have the Chronology 2 organ plus many others.
Just glad I bought one of these right before they were discontinued. I remember when the D50 came out, but since I just graduated college and was making a little over $20K per year I couldn't afford it. I bought a Yamaha PSR6500 instead. Then, in 1992 I bought my first Roland synth-a Roland JX-1 for about $300 new. Through the years I had owned some really good gear, but sold it. I remember having the Yamaha SY-35 the had the joystick 4 pole vector synth engine and it was pretty good too-I think I got it for less than $500 new. Back in the day Guitar Centers by me always had unadvertised special blowouts and I was always able to pick up something interesting for usually under $500..
The intro information isn't quite correct. "Partials" is Roland lingo for one of the up to four building blocks that make a complete patch; A partial can be driven either by the synth or PCM section. PCM samples were hard-wired in the D-50, ROM cards didn't contain any extra samples (they offered exactly the same functionality as user-writable RAM cards). There were some third-party products that could hack and extend the sample ROM (e.g. Musitronics M.EX added more loop variations, and apparently there is also a Musitronics PCM.EX which added more samples but that appears to be even rarer) but an unmodified D-50 can only play the samples it came with. But the ROM cards add more reverb configurations in addition to those that are already found in the synth (reverb configurations were not editable on the D-50).
Yes, exactly what I was going to point out. All the Roland memory card contents are available as MIDI SysEx files these days and they definitely do not have any samples, as the data is very well documented. I have recently made my own D-50 editor and patch librarian, so I know every detail. I might post a demo video about it on my channel when I find time.
To get some data: the PCM bits (mostly attack sounds only) total for 512kB of ROM. In comparison, the M1 has 4MB of PCM partials, and the 16 Korg patch cards contain another 16x512kB=8MB of samples, and then there is the M1Rex ROM, with another 4MB. To top it all, the T1/T2ex/T3ex (expanded M1 board) contains 1MB of sample RAM, which can be filled over Sysex or via HD floppies. So things improved very fast from 1987 (D-50) to 1988 (M1) to 1989 (T3ex)
Epic Synth! I used to own a pair of D-550s. Wish I still had them. I obtained a couple cards by a company called Voice Crystals that were incredible with the D-550s. Love hearing the magnificent sounds this synth can generate. Thanks for the demo!
Funnily enough a few of the ones you showed are on the MC-707 as for what ever reason some of them limped into it's massive factory sound set. Not complaining though as it's not like the box is limited when it comes to presets at literal thousands just in the firmware and I also was for what ever reason handed a bunch of the Zen core sound packs when I registered it to my account. Yet I still mostly do my own sound design.
The limited palette makes a huge contribution to the signature sound of the Roland D-50. Over the years there were released literally thousands of expansion cards with presets, utilizing only factory waveforms. This synth is unable to load additional waveform data, it can only use PCMs which are already on board.
I love the preset numbered P4 75 "GamelanBells 2" in the D-05 Parameter Guide. I had that on my original D-50, think I must have borrowed a card and copied it across. Really rich gamelan sound, huge improvement on the original.
Woody. These are quality sounds and really hit the spot for me. Incredibly warm, yet articulated. Very useful for today’s composition - this is a pivotal video. Thanks!
If you look beyond the "samples" of the D50, it has a very nice digital synthesizer. I mean it has 3 LFO's, Then we have the envelopes that is way beyond most synthesizer. It has lots of great sounds (as we can hear in this video) I have a sound that reminds me of the warm strings pad on my D50.. such a lovely sound!.
Agree that 3 lfo's us impressive but what can these be assigned to? Multi an single triggering of the envelope is also very nice, even my KingKorg can do so.
@@Michel-r6m I do not remember the details, but pitch, filter, amp, pulse width. You can also have a delay for the lfo and also control it by after touch. My D50 needs a recap so I do not want to turn it on right now :)
My fifth boutique that brings the 80s in my studio 😅🌟😅🌟 8 user banks... 6 preset banks..including the factory preset and the 5 cards. What do you want more from a real replica of D50..?!? The bad choose has do with JD-08... no SysEx...no compatibility..no cards.. but despite a fantastic sound..! Two separate sequencer...and more✌🏻
I bought my D50 in 1987/88 in Australia for $2,995 AUD. You could buy a nice used car for that sort of coin. I just had a few keys repaired on the D50, which stopped working. It’s one bit of gear I cant let go of. That and my Telecaster. Also bought a Roland drum machine at the same time (TR626) and still have that unit. I recall the week when the main music store got the D50 in and put it on display. You needed to go into the store on a Wednesday morning to get a chance to play it. Forget about Friday evenings or the weekends. It really was a game changer at the time. I still hear the D50 in movie sound scores and in sings from that era. I do remember the ROM sound cards. I think they were around $200 each. And you could also buy a RAM card for about $300. That was my only gripe with Roland. The company could have installed a floppy disk drive and made memory storage a lot bigger and cheaper. They locked us in with their proprietary sound cards. I only have the first sound card and had to create my own sounds and save them in the internal memory. Today I have a D50 editing program (free online) and all the soundcard patches released by Roland (also free online downloads). D50 owners have also uploaded their own sounds. I think i have about 1,500 in my D50 sound library plus my own sounds. A MIDI interface is a must if you want to connect your D50 to a PC. That little D50 modules looks good 😁 Cheers
Some awesome sounds there! I loved my D-10 and created quite a few sounds of my own with it, and in some ways, there’s still nothing quite like these amazing synths.
You can get about 30k more patches via sysex in that "CultOfD50" zip file you can find online. But since that's probably impractical I'd check out those Carl Johnson* "Voltage Drift" and "Descent Into Madness" patches * - I assume these patches were made by the protagonist of GTA: San Andreas 😅
One of the memory cards that isn't built into the D-05, is the roland best choice or special selected card that was released in japan. And that is an official roland D-50 rom card. Saying that most patches were new and not featured in the other cards but there are a small few patches it did feature spread out in the built in cards on the d-05
Woody, thanks to you and watching your D-05 videos, I had to get one for myself, even though I already have a D-50. It is by far the most expensive of all the Roland Boutiques I own for some reason.. I realized this unit really expands the possibilities of the D-50.. Can you please tell me what is the riff you played on the Serernghetti patch? It sure sounds very familiar. Thank you.
The D50 ram and rom cards are only 32Kbyte .There is no PCM/sample data on the D50 cards just patch data for 64 sounds and 32 effect/reverb programs. The effect programs are just there to make life harder for the user. You can copy the effect/reverb programs to internal memory, but only all of them at once. As a result: - If you copy both patch and effect data to the internal memory of the D50, then the patches sound exactly as they do on the card. - If you copy a individual patch AND that patch uses one of the "new" effect/reverb then the patch in internal memory sounds different because it now uses the effect data from the internal memory. - If you copy the effects and a individual patch, the copied patch sound the same but now all other patches in internal memory have a different reverb. Fun isn't it? Not all patches on Roland cards use "new" effect/reverb and most 3rd party cards use the standard factory effect/reverb to avoid the problem.
One thing I've noticed that the D50 did really well was find that perfect balance between an analog & digital sound. The analog side of the synth sounds fat & warm like you'd expect an analog synth to be & the PCM sound waves give it a really nice unique digital character. The synth sounds very hybrid at times combining the two technologies in a way you couldn't really find anywhere else. I'm a big fan of the Wavestation but even after all these years there's just certain sounds that only the D50 can make.
There are 5 cards, one of which has the factory set. I have the real D50 with all 5 cards. But they are pretty standard mostly. For example the resonant filter and ring modulation were only used on very few patches. If you want to be blown away, load the Legowelt set he created for the launch of the D-05. Danny Wolfers really manages to get the D50 into deep space territory! Amazing (free) patch library!
Interesting sounds indeed! But nothing beats Living Caliope, the most thrilling flute sound, to me and many other mid lifers, famous from the soundtrack of Ebba & Didrik (the track I Love You 30 seconds in).
Nice video, just wish you would have put the name of the Roland model in the description. I already forgot the model name of it that you mentioned it was. Thanks !
I think these additional patch cards are often overlooked. Some provide a vast amount of new sounds including samples. I think the problem was the price. A bit like a retro computer where almost no one bought RAM expansions etc. I got around 11 expansion cards with my Korg M1. Each patch card consists of two cards, one with presets and one with the actual samples (if I remember correctly). Thanks for the video! Now I ned to Explorer my D-05 much More 😀
Yeah! There are always more of the never heard before D-50 awesomeness to explore. BTW there are no samples on the expansion cards, only the patches that you could also send over MIDI SysEx. I'm planning to soon make a D-50 video myself, demoing my newly made D-50/D-05 librarian/editor with unlimited number of patches available with a mouse click and live editing of all the patch parameters. I already made a short introduction: ua-cam.com/users/shortscr63r8zh5QI
Not stupid, just greedy. They want you to buy a new synth and all the add-ons. Then rinse and repeat. Never owned a D-50 but I still have the D-110. A rack unit that is a cut down D-50.
In only three years Roland probably will celebrate 40 years of D-50 with another limited mk II version of the D-05. At least it wouldn't surprise me since Roland likes to sell gear replicas from the 80s over and over again. 😂
Roland’s first PCM cards came later: the SN-U110 series for the RS-PCM synths/racks. Yes, the nomenclature understanding is wrong. Roland has varied it over the years and has since reverted back to the D-50’s “partial” nomenclature for the ZenCore engine.
Yes that sound in Live To Tell sounds like a D-50 but that album came out in 1986 and the D-50 was released in 1987. So maybe it was a PPG Wave or Emulator on the Madonna track?
@@diamondfieldmusic I listened to the original track again and man, memory can be deceiving. The original sound is much more percussive and brighter and I bet it's a DX7 patch. There's not much info to be found on the net about which synths were used, but DX7 seems to be confirmed, as well as some analog polysynths for the bass line. We remember that track for it's overall aura of mystery ;-) but the patches used didn't sound like that. It was the overall composition and Madonnas delivery that created that athmosphere.
The things the D-50/550 is good it, it is REALLY good at. None of that is "sounding like acoustic instruments." Currently I think the D-50 (in one of its versions, 550, D-05 etc.) is on the top my synthesizer wish list. Well, of the "achievable" wish list that is. I mean, price and availability no object, the top would be Yamaha CS-80 and DX1, but you know, neither are very affordable OR practical with regards to needing maintenance etc.
What is really annoying with the D05 is every time you turn it off it resets to the first bank and you have to trawl through and find the one you want.
A couple of years ago I bought the expansion card containing the original presets that allows me to then sys dump different sounds to the internal memory. I'd previously bought a CD-ROM full of all the available third party libraries and Roland's own expansion cards. Yes, after a while you hear the same sounds with a different name. Here's a challenge Woody. Compose a piece of music, using only the D50 boutique thingy, only 8 synth tracks plus one rhythm track, as if it were a multimbral D50 connected to an 80's Roland MC sequencer 😅
The substractive part of the D50 sounds like a weird mix between substractive and FM. The filters significantly change the waveforms and don't have consistent slopes. There's no other synth that has these weird filters. In practice, there are 2 synthesis options (substractive, FM or ring mod) and a rompler section (the PCM part). I learned how to make a DX7 e piano patch using the lower tone as the high pitch bell sound and the higher as the body. Very convincing. There's nothing samey about the D50, you have to learn how to program it (like a DX7).
Very nice extra sounds there Woody. Great to hear them. There is a wonderful trend right now with very smart programmers coming out with new fresh amazing banks for many vintage synths. D50 included. The sounds are very out there and modern in many cases. Proving that many of these synths are actually timeless really. A lot of the modern sounds are actually pushing the boundaries of the synths operating system. Taking them into amazing unchartered territory. You will find them when you start looking. Roland have some too. For the original hardware as well as software emulations. ua-cam.com/video/B7FeTGh5AK8/v-deo.html
The slap from Roland synths always sounds like "yeah its the Sound Canvas slap again" 😂 good sounding but overused to be actually reused in a new song, unless you're composing a PlayStation 1 sounding first generation 3D indie video game :)
The 707 does not sound the same. Nothing sounds like a D-50 except Roland's VST and the D-05. Because the D-50 has gritty and sharp as blade digital 8-bit oscillators with lots of artifacts and aliasing, along with early-digital dull FXs which make it sound very unique.
@@Acrimonious_Snake you see therein lies the problem : put the nostalgia up on the shelve and move on : are you going to D-50, Moog Mini and CS-80 for the rest of you life? In 2024 there is no single excuse not up the polyphony in every synth and making them all multi part : no f****g excuse ! Cheers 🥂
@@EBMZEQUENZER Sure, that is why I have my Juno DS and JD-Xi and you have your 707. But I also love how my System-1 and D-05 compliment them with their unique character and different sound palettes. The thing is - each Roland, even digital, has unique sound, compliments other Rolands and cannot replace them entirely. Also don't forget that it is very easy to demand something, but not as easy to implement and sell. People wouldn't buy a multitimbral D-05 if it would cost like FA series.
@@Acrimonious_Snake My main question is : do wee need to chaise accuracy or authentic replications? My all time favorite is TAL-U-NO-LX with a bunch of presets I've collected over time : But I cannot confirm accuracy because I've never even been near a real Juno 60 : so to me it is what is , as is 707 and 707 is 8 instruments in one Cheers 🥂
@@EBMZEQUENZER The reason to search for accuracy is the unique texture of original sound. Whether you need it or not is for you to decide. I personally wanted the exact D-50 sounds for very long time. These presets inspire me and guide my music sketches. There is something magical in them. The same way I do need my JD-Xi because it also inspires me and makes me happy. We all need instruments that satisfy us. Guitarists have thousands of different pedals, each has its own character. But your demands can be different, I totally understand if you prefer another synth over D-50
8:15 A88 sounds like the background music from 80's cartoon TMNT whenever there was a technodrome scene.
Instantly brings back memories of all those late 80s/early 90s sci-fi TV shows, travel documentaries and schlocky action movies.
Pulse Pad takes me back to the late 90's/early 2000's, listening to Nuvola Neshua. Ahh, the nostalgia!
Somebody I went to school with (who now performs under the name μ-Ziq) ,got a brand new D-50 in 1987 and brought it into the music department. We were all blown away and he had some of the expansion cards. One of them had the best , polished version of the Fairlgiht Orch Hit I've heard ever. I remember it clearly.
Mike Paradinas
@@legitt6093 Correct. He was in the year above me. Don't think the family were poor.
Hi, I had a boutique D 05 a while back, great little unit, I downloaded all the JM Jarre Revolutions album presets, I think the whole album was created on the D 50. I wish Roland would re release the older boutiques with the pitch & mod ribbons like they did with the JP 08A.
I think JMJ’s “Revolutions” album was one of the best uses of the D50 as it never used any of the over used presets. The opening track “Overture” was literally covered in D50 including the brilliant “Machine Run” patch for the mechanical looping sound. It’s literally why I got into the D50, D550 and D05.
My personal favourite patch that I have found in all of the patches I have is one called “Aurorae” which is a wonderful ethereal pad sound.
Yeah, that's why I got the D 05 too, I also recently got the JD 08 for the Chronology patches, Francis Rimbert made his JD 800 Jarre patches available, great to have the Chronology 2 organ plus many others.
I love the Roland units. The JV-1080 will always be my favorite
Just glad I bought one of these right before they were discontinued. I remember when the D50 came out, but since I just graduated college and was making a little over $20K per year I couldn't afford it. I bought a Yamaha PSR6500 instead. Then, in 1992 I bought my first Roland synth-a Roland JX-1 for about $300 new. Through the years I had owned some really good gear, but sold it. I remember having the Yamaha SY-35 the had the joystick 4 pole vector synth engine and it was pretty good too-I think I got it for less than $500 new. Back in the day Guitar Centers by me always had unadvertised special blowouts and I was always able to pick up something interesting for usually under $500..
The intro information isn't quite correct. "Partials" is Roland lingo for one of the up to four building blocks that make a complete patch; A partial can be driven either by the synth or PCM section. PCM samples were hard-wired in the D-50, ROM cards didn't contain any extra samples (they offered exactly the same functionality as user-writable RAM cards). There were some third-party products that could hack and extend the sample ROM (e.g. Musitronics M.EX added more loop variations, and apparently there is also a Musitronics PCM.EX which added more samples but that appears to be even rarer) but an unmodified D-50 can only play the samples it came with. But the ROM cards add more reverb configurations in addition to those that are already found in the synth (reverb configurations were not editable on the D-50).
That’s what I was thinking.
Yes, exactly what I was going to point out. All the Roland memory card contents are available as MIDI SysEx files these days and they definitely do not have any samples, as the data is very well documented. I have recently made my own D-50 editor and patch librarian, so I know every detail. I might post a demo video about it on my channel when I find time.
To get some data: the PCM bits (mostly attack sounds only) total for 512kB of ROM. In comparison, the M1 has 4MB of PCM partials, and the 16 Korg patch cards contain another 16x512kB=8MB of samples, and then there is the M1Rex ROM, with another 4MB. To top it all, the T1/T2ex/T3ex (expanded M1 board) contains 1MB of sample RAM, which can be filled over Sysex or via HD floppies. So things improved very fast from 1987 (D-50) to 1988 (M1) to 1989 (T3ex)
Epic Synth! I used to own a pair of D-550s. Wish I still had them. I obtained a couple cards by a company called Voice Crystals that were incredible with the D-550s. Love hearing the magnificent sounds this synth can generate. Thanks for the demo!
Funnily enough a few of the ones you showed are on the MC-707 as for what ever reason some of them limped into it's massive factory sound set. Not complaining though as it's not like the box is limited when it comes to presets at literal thousands just in the firmware and I also was for what ever reason handed a bunch of the Zen core sound packs when I registered it to my account. Yet I still mostly do my own sound design.
The limited palette makes a huge contribution to the signature sound of the Roland D-50. Over the years there were released literally thousands of expansion cards with presets, utilizing only factory waveforms. This synth is unable to load additional waveform data, it can only use PCMs which are already on board.
I love the preset numbered P4 75 "GamelanBells 2" in the D-05 Parameter Guide. I had that on my original D-50, think I must have borrowed a card and copied it across. Really rich gamelan sound, huge improvement on the original.
The D-50... it just keeps on giving and giving. I can't believe there is a better synth that can make you feel as much as the D-50 can.
But this isn't the D-50 right? What model desktop module is he using here please ? It's not in the description...
Woody. These are quality sounds and really hit the spot for me. Incredibly warm, yet articulated. Very useful for today’s composition - this is a pivotal video. Thanks!
That 4th synth vox is pretty awesome. Nice sounds ;-)
If you look beyond the "samples" of the D50, it has a very nice digital synthesizer. I mean it has 3 LFO's, Then we have the envelopes that is way beyond most synthesizer. It has lots of great sounds (as we can hear in this video) I have a sound that reminds me of the warm strings pad on my D50.. such a lovely sound!.
Agree that 3 lfo's us impressive but what can these be assigned to?
Multi an single triggering of the envelope is also very nice, even my KingKorg can do so.
@@Michel-r6m I do not remember the details, but pitch, filter, amp, pulse width. You can also have a delay for the lfo and also control it by after touch. My D50 needs a recap so I do not want to turn it on right now :)
@@AndrewTSq Good luck with recapping and enjoy your classic D-50 (had a D-20 in the 90's).
i love those warm sounds!!! Great idea from Roland! Thanks for showing the new sounds!
Wow, you just pulled that 'Something about you' out of thin air. So impressive and perfect! xXx
Lovely D50 Sounds, im dreaming of never forgotten times
My fifth boutique that brings the 80s in my studio 😅🌟😅🌟
8 user banks...
6 preset banks..including the factory preset and the 5 cards.
What do you want more from a real replica of D50..?!?
The bad choose has do with JD-08...
no SysEx...no compatibility..no cards..
but despite a fantastic sound..!
Two separate sequencer...and more✌🏻
I really don’t get why Roland released this as a limited edition. It would still be selling well.
I know it’s annoying
I hate modern Roland... their subscription model for Vsts too.
Making it a limited edition makes absolutely zero sense.
@@lundswedenYou can buy them…
@@lundswedenYou know, that you can get lifetime keys since 2 or 3 years?
Narada 1987: We only have the budget for one synth.
Roland: I got you fam!
I bought my D50 in 1987/88 in Australia for $2,995 AUD.
You could buy a nice used car for that sort of coin.
I just had a few keys repaired on the D50, which stopped working. It’s one bit of gear I cant let go of. That and my Telecaster.
Also bought a Roland drum machine at the same time (TR626) and still have that unit.
I recall the week when the main music store got the D50 in and put it on display. You needed to go into the store on a Wednesday morning to get a chance to play it. Forget about Friday evenings or the weekends.
It really was a game changer at the time.
I still hear the D50 in movie sound scores and in sings from that era.
I do remember the ROM sound cards. I think they were around $200 each. And you could also buy a RAM card for about $300.
That was my only gripe with Roland. The company could have installed a floppy disk drive and made memory storage a lot bigger and cheaper.
They locked us in with their proprietary sound cards. I only have the first sound card and had to create my own sounds and save them in the internal memory.
Today I have a D50 editing program (free online) and all the soundcard patches released by Roland (also free online downloads).
D50 owners have also uploaded their own sounds. I think i have about 1,500 in my D50 sound library plus my own sounds.
A MIDI interface is a must if you want to connect your D50 to a PC.
That little D50 modules looks good 😁
Cheers
Great Video Woody! WONDERFUL Selections.
Some awesome sounds there! I loved my D-10 and created quite a few sounds of my own with it, and in some ways, there’s still nothing quite like these amazing synths.
Nice ending of the D50=/D-05 chapter Woody. Some might call this sad, but all things have to end one day. Looking forward to your future explorations!
Great job on your audio. Sounds absolutely fabulous.
You can get about 30k more patches via sysex in that "CultOfD50" zip file you can find online. But since that's probably impractical I'd check out those Carl Johnson* "Voltage Drift" and "Descent Into Madness" patches
* - I assume these patches were made by the protagonist of GTA: San Andreas 😅
are they safe to download, virus wise ???.
@@henrik3657 it's just "system exclusive" MIDI patch data to send to the D-50/D-550/D-05, there's nothing executable by your operating system
thanks, very interesting.
I visited comments to see if someone already mentioned these, very good. 🙂
(see also web with address containing "cultofd50" and "neocities")
One of the memory cards that isn't built into the D-05, is the roland best choice or special selected card that was released in japan. And that is an official roland D-50 rom card. Saying that most patches were new and not featured in the other cards but there are a small few patches it did feature spread out in the built in cards on the d-05
Woody, thanks to you and watching your D-05 videos, I had to get one for myself, even though I already have a D-50. It is by far the most expensive of all the Roland Boutiques I own for some reason.. I realized this unit really expands the possibilities of the D-50.. Can you please tell me what is the riff you played on the Serernghetti patch? It sure sounds very familiar. Thank you.
The D50 ram and rom cards are only 32Kbyte .There is no PCM/sample data on the D50 cards just patch data for 64 sounds and 32 effect/reverb programs. The effect programs are just there to make life harder for the user.
You can copy the effect/reverb programs to internal memory, but only all of them at once. As a result:
- If you copy both patch and effect data to the internal memory of the D50, then the patches sound exactly as they do on the card.
- If you copy a individual patch AND that patch uses one of the "new" effect/reverb then the patch in internal memory sounds different because it now uses the effect data from the internal memory.
- If you copy the effects and a individual patch, the copied patch sound the same but now all other patches in internal memory have a different reverb.
Fun isn't it?
Not all patches on Roland cards use "new" effect/reverb and most 3rd party cards use the standard factory effect/reverb to avoid the problem.
One thing I've noticed that the D50 did really well was find that perfect balance between an analog & digital sound. The analog side of the synth sounds fat & warm like you'd expect an analog synth to be & the PCM sound waves give it a really nice unique digital character. The synth sounds very hybrid at times combining the two technologies in a way you couldn't really find anywhere else. I'm a big fan of the Wavestation but even after all these years there's just certain sounds that only the D50 can make.
There are 5 cards, one of which has the factory set. I have the real D50 with all 5 cards. But they are pretty standard mostly. For example the resonant filter and ring modulation were only used on very few patches. If you want to be blown away, load the Legowelt set he created for the launch of the D-05. Danny Wolfers really manages to get the D50 into deep space territory! Amazing (free) patch library!
good shout, yes the roland presets get a bit same-ey, bean meaning to check out the bank you mention, thanks
8:16 I’m pretty sure that’s what they used for the “technodrome”/ dimension X theme in the TMNT cartoon from that same time.
Interesting sounds indeed! But nothing beats Living Caliope, the most thrilling flute sound, to me and many other mid lifers, famous from the soundtrack of Ebba & Didrik (the track I Love You 30 seconds in).
Just shows how much potential in the D50 to do other sounds than the preset patches by Eric Perrshing, yet keeping it's distinct identity
Nice video, just wish you would have put the name of the Roland model in the description. I already forgot the model name of it that you mentioned it was. Thanks !
You have made a fine selection of patches.
The Wierd organ preset sounds similar to the Organ2 sound on Rolands Jx1.. the feature organ used on Felix track "dont you want me"
I think these additional patch cards are often overlooked. Some provide a vast amount of new sounds including samples. I think the problem was the price. A bit like a retro computer where almost no one bought RAM expansions etc.
I got around 11 expansion cards with my Korg M1. Each patch card consists of two cards, one with presets and one with the actual samples (if I remember correctly).
Thanks for the video! Now I ned to Explorer my D-05 much More 😀
I hope Roland still manufactures this product.
Eighties galore!! Yes Woody, we want more, 👍🎶we want more cowbells 👀😂
nice video - I have a D-50 + PG1000 in my rack, still learning how to use it 😅
I was listening to the D50 in a Madonna song recently.
“Happy Whistler” reminds me of The Clangers TV show!
reminds of close encounters of the third kind
are these original expansion cards available as sysex files anywhere?
These SysExes can be found in the CultOfTheD50 archive along with thousands of other patches
the 4th Synth Vox and Serrengetti and Pulse Pad sound great :D (I only have the original real D-50 without cards)
Yeah! There are always more of the never heard before D-50 awesomeness to explore. BTW there are no samples on the expansion cards, only the patches that you could also send over MIDI SysEx. I'm planning to soon make a D-50 video myself, demoing my newly made D-50/D-05 librarian/editor with unlimited number of patches available with a mouse click and live editing of all the patch parameters. I already made a short introduction: ua-cam.com/users/shortscr63r8zh5QI
still want one of these boutique D-05's , can't believe they've discontinued it , what a stupid business model ..
Not stupid, just greedy. They want you to buy a new synth and all the add-ons. Then rinse and repeat.
Never owned a D-50 but I still have the D-110. A rack unit that is a cut down D-50.
In only three years Roland probably will celebrate 40 years of D-50 with another limited mk II version of the D-05. At least it wouldn't surprise me since Roland likes to sell gear replicas from the 80s over and over again. 😂
Roland’s first PCM cards came later: the SN-U110 series for the RS-PCM synths/racks. Yes, the nomenclature understanding is wrong. Roland has varied it over the years and has since reverted back to the D-50’s “partial” nomenclature for the ZenCore engine.
9:19 Madonna mia! :)
"Live to tell" :-)
Yes that sound in Live To Tell sounds like a D-50 but that album came out in 1986 and the D-50 was released in 1987. So maybe it was a PPG Wave or Emulator on the Madonna track?
@@diamondfieldmusic I listened to the original track again and man, memory can be deceiving. The original sound is much more percussive and brighter and I bet it's a DX7 patch. There's not much info to be found on the net about which synths were used, but DX7 seems to be confirmed, as well as some analog polysynths for the bass line.
We remember that track for it's overall aura of mystery ;-) but the patches used didn't sound like that. It was the overall composition and Madonnas delivery that created that athmosphere.
@@mr_floydst no doubt lots of DX7 and they used Moog bass a lot. Would love to know that resound was made out of. I guess Pat Leonard would know?
I'ver forgot much of these sounds .... Great :)
Even better, they've included the joystick.
Jean Michel Woody, thank you!
You can get the Synth not more only 2 e hand. I have the JP 08 JU 06 JX 03
The things the D-50/550 is good it, it is REALLY good at. None of that is "sounding like acoustic instruments." Currently I think the D-50 (in one of its versions, 550, D-05 etc.) is on the top my synthesizer wish list. Well, of the "achievable" wish list that is. I mean, price and availability no object, the top would be Yamaha CS-80 and DX1, but you know, neither are very affordable OR practical with regards to needing maintenance etc.
What is really annoying with the D05 is every time you turn it off it resets to the first bank and you have to trawl through and find the one you want.
Great Level 42 call out!
Memory cards only contained patch data, the only PCM sample data would have been what the the D-50 had within it.
very interesting, thanks for clearing that up
07:52 Mark & Mike 😀
Pyano Shuck with meee Woodieeeee! :)
You should have played "Don't Worry, Be Happy" for the Happy Whistler patch.
Either that or "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"
A couple of years ago I bought the expansion card containing the original presets that allows me to then sys dump different sounds to the internal memory. I'd previously bought a CD-ROM full of all the available third party libraries and Roland's own expansion cards. Yes, after a while you hear the same sounds with a different name. Here's a challenge Woody. Compose a piece of music, using only the D50 boutique thingy, only 8 synth tracks plus one rhythm track, as if it were a multimbral D50 connected to an 80's Roland MC sequencer 😅
This sounds like MT-32 on steroids, lol
The substractive part of the D50 sounds like a weird mix between substractive and FM. The filters significantly change the waveforms and don't have consistent slopes. There's no other synth that has these weird filters.
In practice, there are 2 synthesis options (substractive, FM or ring mod) and a rompler section (the PCM part).
I learned how to make a DX7 e piano patch using the lower tone as the high pitch bell sound and the higher as the body. Very convincing.
There's nothing samey about the D50, you have to learn how to program it (like a DX7).
10:12 amazing
I used to own a D50 for about 25 years. Now I regret I sold it
I didn’t know James Blunt was a Techy🎵🔥
The problem with the sounds of the D50 (and also the SY77 and synths of the same era) is that today they sound "old" but not "classic".
huh? it either sounds good or it doesn't. it doesn't matter if it's a new keyboard you bought last week or a Hammond organ from 1965.
Just pop in 47 Spacious Sweep. It is an unmatched digital early anloguesque marvel.
I have all 5 factory cards.
Hi Woody, a great synth if you don't want to spend too much money on the original.
Thanks for the great test.
Greetings George
很棒的分享❤
陪伴我的午餐❤
ua-cam.com/video/hzRTwOETt7A/v-deo.html was that Something About You by Level 42?
Either way, thanks for the video!
A-28 ...Live To Tell By Madonna
For those who want to minimise the waffle, head straight to 2 min 15 secs!
Very nice extra sounds there Woody. Great to hear them. There is a wonderful trend right now with very smart programmers coming out with new fresh amazing banks for many vintage synths. D50 included. The sounds are very out there and modern in many cases. Proving that many of these synths are actually timeless really. A lot of the modern sounds are actually pushing the boundaries of the synths operating system. Taking them into amazing unchartered territory. You will find them when you start looking. Roland have some too. For the original hardware as well as software emulations.
ua-cam.com/video/B7FeTGh5AK8/v-deo.html
The slap from Roland synths always sounds like "yeah its the Sound Canvas slap again" 😂 good sounding but overused to be actually reused in a new song, unless you're composing a PlayStation 1 sounding first generation 3D indie video game :)
I would like long a video of you just playing, no talking
One minor criticism on an otherwise great video. Never heard before is misleading since I have owned a D-05 for a few years.
you have a point
why aren't of these boys multitimbral : at the very least 4 pats per module
Probably less headache just to get a 707 ...... 🤔
Cheers 🥂
The 707 does not sound the same. Nothing sounds like a D-50 except Roland's VST and the D-05. Because the D-50 has gritty and sharp as blade digital 8-bit oscillators with lots of artifacts and aliasing, along with early-digital dull FXs which make it sound very unique.
@@Acrimonious_Snake you see therein lies the problem : put the nostalgia up on the shelve and move on : are you going to D-50, Moog Mini and CS-80 for the rest of you life? In 2024 there is no single excuse not up the polyphony in every synth and making them all multi part : no f****g excuse !
Cheers 🥂
@@EBMZEQUENZER Sure, that is why I have my Juno DS and JD-Xi and you have your 707. But I also love how my System-1 and D-05 compliment them with their unique character and different sound palettes. The thing is - each Roland, even digital, has unique sound, compliments other Rolands and cannot replace them entirely. Also don't forget that it is very easy to demand something, but not as easy to implement and sell. People wouldn't buy a multitimbral D-05 if it would cost like FA series.
@@Acrimonious_Snake My main question is : do wee need to chaise accuracy or authentic replications? My all time favorite is TAL-U-NO-LX with a bunch of presets I've collected over time : But I cannot confirm accuracy because I've never even been near a real Juno 60 :
so to me it is what is , as is 707 and 707 is 8 instruments in one
Cheers 🥂
@@EBMZEQUENZER The reason to search for accuracy is the unique texture of original sound. Whether you need it or not is for you to decide. I personally wanted the exact D-50 sounds for very long time. These presets inspire me and guide my music sketches. There is something magical in them. The same way I do need my JD-Xi because it also inspires me and makes me happy. We all need instruments that satisfy us. Guitarists have thousands of different pedals, each has its own character. But your demands can be different, I totally understand if you prefer another synth over D-50
Weird Organ and Android were standouts for me.
This video is way too short!!! ... [facepalm]
Worst synth ever made. I would take Korg poly 800 over it any day.
Poly800, lol, are you kidding?!
@@lundsweden I think he's kidding 😀😀😀