Nerds of Roland D-50
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- I'm just scratching the surface on what seem to be a very deep well of retro-nerdiness, and I love it. Here are some of the stuff I talk about:
- www.thekyotoconnection.com/cul...
- bobbyblues.recup.ch/roland_d-5...
- / mark-rushbury
- www.d50librarian.co.uk/
#RolandD50 #D50 #vintagesynth - Hudba
![Almost in tears | Roland D50 demo | Factory sounds [01]](/img/n.gif)
What a nice surprise to see our website Cult of D-50 featured here! Thank you!
Thank you !! I love your website. I hope it will still be online after the end of mankind. And that, at some point in the future, some alien would find it and go "Jeez. I really need a Roland D-50!".
You guys rock!
Hey thanks for featuring my 'Soundtracks' soundbank. I'm planning to compile a new D-50 soundbank soon.
Niiiice!
Please keep me updated! Would love to check it out
@@soulchief1532 excellent work.
Expect to hear from me soon to order some Roland D50 sound banks from you
Thanks! Just finished a new Roland D-50 soundbank, will be released very soon@@ericascott9413
Gorgeous thing. Everything that comes out of it sounds like it's being played in some shimmering, icy cave on a distant planet.
And yet I'm here making sounds that are suited towards house music. Drums included. Not knocking the pads it can make, but there is more to it than pads imo.
@@autumnbrushtail I'd love to hear the drum sounds you've created.
@@jgh548 Working on something that uses all of the sounds I'm currently making. I am admittedly using the VST, but I do believe that there is a way to export the sysex data to be able to use them in an actual D-50, isn't there?
@@autumnbrushtail - well, you can definitely use original D-50 patches on the VST - I’ve got like a couple hundred banks that were available for free online. So I’d say it should work backwards too. I mean, it’s a component-level re-creation of the hardware; it’s essentially the same except for the DACs. (Can you tell I’m a happy owner of Cloud D-50?)
@@MatthewChristianMurray I don't think it's actually possible to save patches as sysex data from the VST, in part due to it having added samples added into it (which were supposedly going to be in the original unit, but were scrapped due to storage constraints.)
One of the greatest synthesizers! It was and it is one of the best pad machines on the planet. I grow up with this synth at the end of the 80s and it still works in my studio for certain duties. Last year I spent my old D-550 a new OLED Display (plug&play -no soldering) by synth-parts.
By the way, I love the way you've presented/filmed this. One gets a real sense of the instrument's feel, and your explanations are lucid.
Yes, I still have mine in my studio and use this to compose my music. I remember back in the 80s when I discovered the sounds, I was sold.
It is one of THE best synths for Space music. And the D-50 basically becomes your very own spacecraft to go on Sonic Journeys you never dared to imagine. There is still an insane sound potential in this synthesizer. And it rightfully deserves to be at the top of the list of the greatest Instruments ever built.
Picking one up today!
Nice! I remember watching Star Trek TNG and jumping out of my seat hearing Digital Native Dance used when Data first discovers his brother Lore.
@@JurassicTrance Yeah Season 1 and 2 (especially season 1) used the sounds of this Synthesizer Powerhouse a LOT. :) The smooth glassy "Fantasia" is also a preset you could often hear in the episodes.
You are not kidding! I wrote a song called SPACE! I have found my peeps! Be sure to watch my crazy video for Space!
I just bought one 🎹🙏❤️ I am very happy, I had wait for one in a good condition for a long time and mine is very good 🤩 Love it
In the 1990s I used a D50 as my main live synth for nearly 10 years, being the keyboard player in a rockband. Honestly? It's probably the best synth I've ever owned. It was an amazingly versatile tool, especially after I'd gained some experience with it.
People always found it difficult to program. I can't say it was, I used to program it while playing live. We did many Simple Minds type songs and it was wonderful how you could flow, for example, from a bright brassy sound into a choir on stage, just using the joystick, aftertouch or keyboard velocity.
I'd fill in the few sonic gaps by having a another, bright-sounding fully analog synth MIDI'd to the D50, as well as an inexpensive piano module (EMT-10 from Yamaha). It was all I ever needed. And the D50 was very rugged. The build quality was fabulous. Despite seeing heavy (ab)use every week, it only needed some cleaning every now and then, and the odd key replacement.
Sold it because I needed the money and space. Still regret it.
Why am I just seeing this now? I've had a D-50 since '92, still works fantastic, rugged and a great build quality to boot. I also have a Roland factory memory card, along with the Jonathan Cain and Keith Emerson sound cards. A few years ago, I considered selling it, but with Keith Emerson's passing, and the sheer love I've found for this thing online, I will never sell it!
Exactly! I too have a D20 and a D-550 rack mount unit with a few of the Valhala Studio series cards. I have always been curious about the Jonathan Cain and Emerson cards. Any chance of swapping some patches via sysex?
Fantasic video! Love your journey - and demos of different soundbanks.
This is a magic keyboard! How I dreamed about her in 1989!!!))
that first patch is sooo beautiful
A useful tip for all the D50 enjoyers out there, you can assign the filter to the aftertouch and then control aftertouch with the external control port. Plug a foot pedal into that port and now you have a filter that can sweep, you won't be able to set the full 0 - 100 range but you can get like 60 percent of the range. One downside is that the standard aftertouch won't work until you unassign the ext control setting or change it to another mode. I've even disassembled a foot controller and used just the circuit and the knobs as a filter, just like an analog synth. I didn't really miss the aftertouch anyways because mine is stupid heavy.
That is actually a very useful tip. Thanks!
Loved the D50. I spent so much time writing instrumentals with it. Nice video.
Great video! You set a mood and tone that is enveloping.
Mark Rushbury "Soundtracks" pack is still the best pack, in my opinion. Makes the D50 (and Boutique D-05 which I have) just a synth you can never get rid of! So unique.
I am going to order this pack asap
My Roland D50 is coming to me by postal service soon
Very useful vid as opposed to all the preset playing D50 vids. Thank you for this.
Amazingly inspiring patches aside, you really make those sounds come alive.
Ambient sounds need a characteristic approach, what the sound is meant to inspire in the player matters.
Hats off.
Thanks!!
I have a D-05. I really lusted after a D-50 as a kid but we couldn't afford that! I love the sounds of it and have made a few of my own, but even with software editors, I find the menu system absolutely arcane! Maybe I should do a 'sound a day' mission and really get to know it. I love the sound of it (USB whine aside)
Thank you Japan ❤
makes you nostalgic for a past you didnt know , well let me tell you it was glorious , people all sold their biggest analogs for this or a dx7 , we got loads of great vintage synths in 1986-1990 due to the d50 , lol
My favorite synthesizer. I owned 3 over the years and still have 2 of them.
OMG! I never knew there were so many nerds out there with me on this! You will love my Nerd Vault and how I break down my tracks old school. This was one of my favorite keyboards, however I always loved Yamaha weighted keys and finally got one in 2007. Still I wished I had kept that old thing. Great keyboard, inspired so many songs for me! I hope you like my channel.
Wow what a great journey
Excellent video thanks, I have a d50 is the best keyboard I ever played 👍
I bought a D-50 last week... it's a nice keyboard! Thanks for the video, it's a pleasure to understand the keyboard and hear those analog sounds! My D50 ame with Hcard 750... it's just fantastic, with lots of patches includes... I think this keyboard is nice to do soundtrack stuffs... And how u do to play those keyboards at upper level, while seating? lol
I bought a D-50 today 😏
Subscribed ☑️
@@djdigital3806 I’m going to pick one up today too!
EXCELLENT VIDEO. SUBSCRIBER Number 285. Just subscribed today. I LOVE MY D50. For me it is a preset synth. I have knob per function synths for that sort of thing and the D50 screen and menu diving doesn't appeal to me. I've been looking around for a programmer every now and then, but even with just the presets and fx it's a great synth!
Merci beaucoup pour cette information très informative!
Nice video! I Bought a D-550! I missed a lot my D-50.
@7.20 I thought you were going to play Mama by Genesis !
Good Job Timmy.
If you want to listen to a band that have used the D50 over almost every album they made then check out Ozric Tentacles.
I'm about to purchase one in excellent shape.
That's the best decision you made in your life.
@@timmyotoole5 😂😂 comes with a card too.
Does the soundbank card contain additional PCM samples or just patches based on the internal PCM samples?
I am curious what could be achieved if we could replace and/or expand the PCM using an eeprom-burner
As far as I know, the soundback card only contains parameters data. I think the internal PCM samples cannot be changed without hacking the ROM (and if someone did that, I would be interested to see how!).
Mono Fontana Programmed This Synth Really Well. You gotta check his music on Spinetta's Career.
Commonly Used in: Tester De VIolencia And Don Lucero
I'm a guitar player and my landlord gave me a Mint Roland D-50 and a very dusty Peavey KB/A 100 keyboard/acoustic 4channel amplifier that seems to be working fine. I read there was updates for it patches or whatever and that i could use a 2gb memory card in it instead of the M-256D card it says in the manual? , is this before or after update? I dont have a card for it atm so was wondering before purchasing anything. Do i need to install patches or updates on the card first to put anything on it? or can anything be loaded through midi ports?
Wow, how fortunate are you? I also had the same amp in the 80's/90's. It was a beast and a pain to lug around when there were so many smaller amps coming on the market with the same great sound quality.
In regards to your patches question, I only know of two ways to move patch data to and from the D50. One is by saving to the ram card. Another way is by doing a sysex transfer to your computer over the midi connection. This transfers the same sysex data that is saved to the ram card, but to your computer. You can also load patches from your computer the same way. There are several you tube videos that cover the details on how to do this. Good luck!
Not all good sounds used upper and lower tones, in Dual mode 8 note polyphony. Some good classic synth sounds were in whole mode, 16 note polyphony.
Hello maybe you can help me I have not much experience playing a board, but I currently have a Roland Juno ds61 on its way to me and I really like the Roland D-50, is it wise to buy the Roland 05 since I like the sounds of this board?
Depends if you like vintage and if you have space. You can still buy an second-hand original Roland D-50 for about the same price as a D-05.
I really love the patch right at the end of this video, is this also from the 'soundtracks' soundbank?
Hey thanks! This last one is actually a homemade patch. I might also release a soundbank one day!
Thank you for your video. How do you connect the editor(computer) to the D50 or the D-05, which is what I have?
Doesn't the D-05 have a USB port? Otherwise you need a midi interface/adapter.
Thank you for uploading this video, Timmy! A very special synthesizer. May I ask what synth is above the D-50 on your rack?
That's a Casio CT-656. Not really a great synth but I grew very fond of it. Above it there yet a Yamaha PSS-570. I should really make a video on both of these.
@@timmyotoole5 that would be cool, Timmy!
where did you get those colored bands on your cables? i’ve been looking for something like that
2:49 It sounds like that song when you're on hold
I once owned 4 of these at separate times during a 7 year span and yes it’s a fantastic synthesizer
But because I always wanted fantastic electric pianos (and even spent years trying to program a good one) and it never rendered it I began to detest everything about it
I absolutely detest the Roland D50. The Korg 01W is what the D50 should’ve been
Again, fantastic for all the obvious reasons
But I detest the Roland D-50 and find it to be the cheesiest of them all
I much prefer the DX7 which as a programmer I feel it gives me more satisfaction in every way
Hey, does anyone know how to connect a Roland D-50 to a computer or laptop and record the music played onto it?
Hi, you can hook it up via MIDI (with a MIDI interface) to save/edit your patches. If you want to record the audio output, you need to have an audio interface.
@@timmyotoole5 I did managed to find out that there are MIDI/USB adapters that seem like they can do the trick.
0:28 Another World - fluid movement
This is just a fantastic synth, there's really no sound like it. What would you recommend for someone to get who is new to this world? a D-05, D-550, or just the original D-50? I'd get the plugin from Roland Cloud but that's a subscription service :( excellent video btw!
I only tried the D-50 so I can't really talk about other options... If you just want D-50 sounds and don't care about hardware, I would go for Roland Cloud. D-05 looks like a nice compact option but there is something very special about how the D-50 feels... But maybe it's just because I have a soft spot for vintage gear.
You can buy the VST for a one time purchase of $150. Both the VST and the D-05 sound like... 90% accurate to the original
Heavy, like the Mirage Ensoniq
Nice, what u do for living?
Are there any arpeggiators on this thing? If not, then what could you use to get an arpeggiator sound?
There is no arp on it (not really Roland style at the time) but I use my Arturia KeyStep for that.
@@timmyotoole5 So you hook up the D-50 to the Arturia Keystep and use that as some sort of midi controller? Probably bad question but hopefully you know what I mean lol I probably misunderstood what you said my apologies.
An MPC 1000 or 2500 with JJ OS 2XL
What is the patch at 1:20
This synth sounds like Star Trek. Love the D50
Sounded like a John Carpenter film to me when i first fired mine up...lol
So all of the sounds are just built into it
I have an XP-10. How does the D-50 compare to the XP-10?
I have no idea but I would be curious to know. I'd bet the D-50 has more personality due to its vintage nature
Timmy can you download the roland d 50 sounds on to an ipad
I think so. Have a look at: coffeeshopped.com/patch-base/editor/roland/d-50
@@timmyotoole5 it looks like you buy it
@@timmyotoole5 win i click on the roland d 50 you have to pay for it
@@ilovekeyboards7830 I'm sorry dude. I have thought about it but I don't have enough money to buy a synth for anyone who adds a comment on this video.
Weighing up one in mint condition with original box for £700. Is it worth it? Are they easy to master?
I personally would not pay 700 GBP for a D50 but if you value the mint condition, I guess it's worth it! It's not too complicated to master I think once you get the hang of it. Definitely more menu-diving than with most recent synths but nothing too crazy.
@@timmyotoole5 Thanks for your input. Appreciate it. Well, the D-50 guy even has the original box, so I'm tempted, but I'd prob try get it for less! Espen Kraft reckoned £500 was about right, even for mint ones. I'm studying form, and right now it's between D-50, Kord M1 or
Korg Wavestation Ex. Which would you personally recommend for synth novice such s myself?!
@@timmyotoole5 Haha you should see the US prices on these things! Greedy bastards everywhere asking for crazy money on any discontinued piece of gear. The only D50 I could find under $600 is one in okay condition from a Guitar Center. The Roland System-1 used to be $350, now that it's discontinued a year or two ago people are already calling it "vintage" and asking for $500+ for a used one. Hope the market is at least better elsewhere! US is full of greedy people to the point where used gear websites are a running gag here.
shout out to the Pantha Du Prince desktop background
1:01 I hear PlayStation 1 in there
You do know that you can make you own sounds on a D50?
You do know that you can watch the video until the end? 😁
J'achète ! 😍👍Not for sale ? 😁
On my dead body.
@@timmyotoole5 😂
t'es français ?
Uh, each partial ("voice", as you call it) does NOT get its own filter, as PCM (sample) partials CANNOT be filtered whatsoever.
Well technically, if you have 4 partials, all in "synth" mode, you can set 4 different filter cutoff values (which I would dare calling "having their own filter"). But you're right, I should have added: "unless the partial is in PCM mode".
This audio in this video from the D-50 is distorting often. This is really bad for people's speakers you should learn to gain stage better while recording.
I'm planning on it... Sorry about your speakers.
Buenos sonidos, no que los latinos para pura chingadera lo usan...
czcams.com/video/h5YLW9Hn2rg/video.html
sooooooooooooo glad i got rid of the d50 and have a yamaha EX5 .............. 128 note polophony..........4 different synth engines 100 X more powerful than the d50