I write a whole lot of electronic music, mainly darkwave, trip-hop, and other industrial-styled dance music. For these genres, the D5 is A PERFECT 10/10 synth in terms of playable sounds. Most of the factory horns, leads, and strings have the perfect low-fi, detuned sine/saw noise that you hear in most dark dance music, making the D5 useable for almost any electronic music. It does great drone pads for trip-hop, and a lot of FM-style punch basses for house music. This synth has delay, chord play, and an arpeggiator. PROGRAMMING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, SO DON'T TRY. You can, however, download roland's FREE patch editor and edit sysex sounds over MIDI. D5 also takes semi-easy-to-find PCMCIA explansion cartriges for tons more sounds.

I have never had a cheap synth contain SO MANY useable sounds right out of the box. In terms of old 80's synths, I have everythign from the DX7 and ESQ1 to the older Polysix and Juno61. I own an alesis QS8 and have owned a Korg Trinity. I believe many of these boards have a sound all their own, something that cannot be duplicated by just recreating the patch on another synth. The D5 has a sound all it's own: low-fi, but very cool and professional sounding. This is no board for the jazz or classical musician, but if you're into crazy dance music, this is a GOOD investment for 150 or less! Trust me!

I thought it was my lack of experience that made it difficult to prgram, but..nooooo.. it is truly awkward to use!! The keys pop out if you get to enfusiastic and some of the presets where a joke!!

I've since bought a D550 (i didn't put me of the D series all togther luckily) and i adore my D550, its so lushes and rich and thick in comparisson. I know theres a whole 2 synths between them (D10, D20) but i never could have expected the differnce between the two considering its the same form of synthisis!

Don'y buy one unless to litterlry PLAY with. if you considering it then spend the litle extra on a D10.. you'll thank me, trust me.