CULT
              OF D50
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Useful links

General Info

Polynomial - Roland D50: Lot's of technical info, pictures, manuals, links, etc. Great resource to discover the internals of your D50/550!

BobbyBlues - Roland D50: One of the best. Includes a complete list of all the commercial sound banks (complete with patch lists!) + demos, sysex files and more.

Roland D50 Users Group on Facebook

Roland D50 M.EX Expansion Board (by Musitronics): Makes your D50 multitimbral, speeds up the whole system, triples up the internal memory space and more.

Roland D50 - How it works?: Great explanation by Bobbyblues.

Recommended Commercial Banks
NEW! CL-Projects "Linear Galaxy": is the follow up of Linear Universe (see below). Linear Galaxy is a sound bank for the Roland D-50 & D-550 containing 64 new and original patches (8 banks of 8 patches). Linear Galaxy focuses mainly on atmospheric and ambient pad sounds demonstrating the full potential of the Roland D-50. The sounds are very well suited to be used in ambient and new age music.

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Mark Rushbury "Sountracks" patch bank: This is a special collection of 64 sounds for the Roland D-50/D-550, particularly suited for soundtracks and ambient music, but can be used in many genres. Each sound here is an individual patch with no external effects or processing. Pads, atmospheres, analogue synths, ethnic sounds, keys, guitars and otherworldy textures - all 64 sounds are demoed! Available as a sysex midi file to load into your Roland D-50/D-550. Price is £13.99

CL-Projects "Linear Universe": Focuses mainly on atmospheric and ambient pad sounds demonstrating the full potential of the Roland D-50. These sounds are very well suited to be used in ambient and new age music but nothing can stop you from using these sounds in other types of music. Every musician who owns a D-50 synthesizer and plays or loves ambient, new age music, should have this sound bank. You won't regret it.


 
Apps

Roland D50 Editor for CTRL (Mac / PC)

D50Librarian (sysex librarian / editor for Windows, very good!)

Roland D50 Editor for iPad (MidiDesigner Panel)


Related Articles
SOS Magazine (Jul '97) - Roland D50 "LA Synthesizer (retro"

Roland D50 Linear Synthesizer by Jim Atwood
 

Wikipedia entry with historical information and technical specs

Recreate the LA synthesis of the classic Roland D50

Roland D50 at Khoral café 80


Musicians / Producers / Music Projects
That use a Roland D50 in their music, today!

Frank Dierickx (CL-Projects) (soundcloud)
The Kyoto Connection (web)
Billboard & Wilfredo F. - Cruisin' (soundcloud)
Richard Byers (Ethereal Music) (web)
Rik Vanhoenacker (soundcloud)
Klaus Himmelstein (soundcloud)
John Millar (audio)
Naanomalia (youtube)
Juno Gang (youtube)
Samuel Williamson (video)
Synthisfactory Music (soundcloud)
CascarinoLombardi Music (soundcloud)
Too Rock (soundcloud)


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