Samples Meet Synthesis So, what exactly made this synth so attention-grabbing? The Roland D-50 used an innovative mixture of short, sampled “attack transient” waveforms blended with digitally-synthesized sustaining sounds. This technique, which Roland dubbed “LA Synthesis” offered the realism of expensive (at that time) digital samplers, the expressiveness of a synth, and the polish of a high-end studio thanks to onboard digital effects – it's no wonder the D-50 became one of the best-selling professional keyboards in history!

New Wave. New Jack. New Age. And so on… The 80s were a dynamic period for pop music. Producers were trying new things, looking for new sounds, and new genres were being forged at a furious pace. From 1987 on, the Roland D-50 was massively influential and appeared in studios and on stages around the world. Some of the most influential recording artists in history have used the beautifully crafted presets, unaltered, as the cornerstone of huge international hits. There’s just something about the quality of its sound that grabs you. And with the Roland D-50 in this new DCB software synthesizer format, Roland Cloud subscribers can travel back to the future; back to LA!

