Roland D-50

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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.^[1]

The D-50 has been used by musicians including Prince, Sting, 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. ^[2]