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Average rating:
4.4 out of 5
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I traded my Moog Mg-1 that I payed 25 bucks for, for a D-50 with manuals and cd with some patches. This one long lost its original patch set but my friend has one and i'm not missing them horribly. I'll admit at first, programming was a bear but I just had to understand the wording. After I got used to the interface, i have to say this board is very, very awesome. The aftertouch is very expressive and will brighten up any sound. Soundwise, this thing is clear bright but has an analog quality to it at the same time. This doesnt do realistic "allthough, i got a b-3 on here that rocks." What it does and does better then 90% of the boards out there is surreal. It does sounds other boards cant do and thats its strength. It doesnt do moog bass, oberheim brass, or arp leads. It does D-50 surrealness. If you need acoustic or to try to do what other boards do, buy a piano or those other synths. If you want awesome sounds no other synth can even imagine to do, buy this. Trust me, this isnt a synth for the fad buyers or the easily intimidated. If you have the patience, this synth will reward.
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I used a D50 for several years. I then bought a JD800 which has all of the best waveforms from the D50, loads more quality sounds, more polyphony, more and better effects, a better (beautiful)interface and a stronger build. The D50 is hopelessly out of date and doesn't offer anything above even the most simple rompler synth available today. The JD800 can be bought so much cheaper nowadays. Why would anyone persevere with the D50? A D50 with the pg1000 is often more expensive. Madness! The waveforms on the D50 are quite rough if you switch off the effects. I always found the D50 difficult to work with and increasingly used an M1 which I bought soon after the D50. That sounded so much better and still does, of course. It was also easier to work with. A much more effective and satisfying unit to work with. The D50 is in no way unique. A JD800 can easily reproduce it soundscape and tons more. A D10 is multitimbral and has more polyphony. A D20 has that plus a sequencer. If you want nice pads and strings and don't have much money, then buy a D50. It is light and easy to shift about and is quite reliable, though the micro switches can be a pain. A JV30 is a better deal. A JV80 is a much better deal. The D50 isn't a va, it isn't an analogue, or anything special. It's an old, basically specified rompler which time has not been kind to.
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i really am fed up with these arguments about the D50, yes its old yes its limited, but for gods sake wake up, if you want analog or virtual analog, go buy one, if you want cheesy sounds go buy a casio or bontempi, if you lots of nice 'real world' sounds go buy a trinity or triton or whatever latest flavour korg are offering, i've owned and played virtually every synth thats been made at some time except of course the biggies, you know ppg, synclaviar etc. what i'm is every synth has a place, for whatever you want it for, the D50 is the only synth i ever kept, it is not hard to program, just different, and remember guys i was brought up on analogs; the moral here is stop bickering about what a synth can or can't do concentrate on making music guys and use each for what they are good at, and the D50 is good for gassy other worldly pads, strange new digital sounds, and freaky sounds, no other synth comes even close. i still take mine out live, and still use it in the studio.
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Well i owned the d50 eyars back and sold when everyone was selling all this stuff and buying the jd800 and jp8000 some time later , with their improved midi transmission and new looks.Years later i bought back the d50 along with my sh1091 and a few other old bits of gear.Why ?because if you stand a v synth playing a d50 patch next to a d50 you notice somethinsg lacking.Play a d50 next to a jd800 and you notice somethings lacking.Its a simple equation - the d50 along with alot of other old roland gear used low grade convertors and outputs(low in todays standards) and the result is a sublime mix of analogue and old digital sound quality .The pads on the d50 leave most people i know and have played them to looking very surprised , for glassy icey and lush bendy , totally out there sounds and especially pads this synth cannot be matched .. .i was never sure why and i have tried this next to EVERYTHING - Korg karma , Matrix 1000 , Triton , motif , dx7 , Jd800 , jp9000 , moog , you name it i have used it or tried it and the D50 ? it cannot be copied , replicated or replaced , jv1080 - ? using d50 waveforms ?jd800 uising d50 waveforms ? i'm sorry guys but hoiw many times will i have to read wankers go on about how this synth is old and outdated.It may not be reaktor or a nord modular - which i use extensively but aks youeself why i would still own one if i have and use every softsynth and other ' modern ' uptodate synth . . . because nothing else sounds like the d50.I find it quite funny you guys asking why they still fetch good money -why do you think ?beacuse they sound crap they make good money ? they sell for good prices as people with ears know the differnce between the older well built gear and todays super hi res 24 bit sounds like its in a box synths . . .
Anyone reading this because they fancy a d50 ?buy one if you have good ears and dont need 14 lfos patched to osc pitch to feel good and make great music . . .if your old enough and wise enough to have realised creativity is about simplicity and clarity then dont checkout a d50 , buy one . . . its one of a kind and as i said.I have sampled it , tried selling and getting it in fantom form etc and to be frank that a game for wankers who believed what roland told them when they said buy this it does what this did.
The same idiots who slag down this synth probably use a nord or access virus for 303 slide sounds and have a great Sh101 patch in there triton . . .
i rest my case.I rarely write reviews but this thread caught my eye and its a case of pearls before swine here.
These guys who say the d50 is out of date are suffering from myopia i am afraid big time . . .
Pearls before swine . . .
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people buy synths for different reasons. some buy them beacause they want to replace real instruments and sound like a orchestra. people that buy a d50 genraly are more into making sounds that sound like synthesisers. thats what the d50 is a synthesiser wich a fairly unique sound engine and form of synthesis. synthesis mean to create. not to copy its a great synthesiser but if you are llooking for real orhestral sounds buy a sample playback unit. one of the coolest alltime pad and nosie synths
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