Went to hardware

[KrisH]

About 6 months ago I posted about seeking direction for my interest in synthsizers after spending decades as an electric bassist. I've kept at it, working to integrate the software synths into both my bass playing and to develop something for myself on their own. But it seemed like I was always just doing a cut and paste job whenever I tried to create anything; something was missing in my understanding of how these things are supposed to work.

Recently I traded one of my basses in partial trade for a Roland D-50 and some expansion cards (got some cash back too). I got the manuals and some old tutorials too, and as I read through them, I realized that there were ways to make this machine do much more than just the 64 sounds available per bank. Working with the interface was a pain, so I located a real-time editing program online. I think I've learned more about LFOs and filters and such in the past few weeks than I did in the preceding 6 months, just by knowing WHY turning a certain knob (or parameter) changes the sound the way it does. I guess it's kinda like becoming a more attuned driver by taking your knowledge beyond just turning the wheel and pushing the pedals.

I'm glad that there are people out there that love these old machines, and are willing to share their knowledge and resources to help keep these things alive. It's not like there a big commercial demand for it. Thanks!

-- Kris

[101 Force]

Don't be fooled by the majority of presets for the D-50! You can get regular "bread and butter" analogue-ish sounds out of it as well, especially if you refrain from using certain functions. It's a great machine that can fill a number of needs. There's an expansion card available for it as well.

[KrisH]

Do you know if this expansion board is something that is installed internally, or do you plug it into the memory card slot? It's not really clear on the site.

[101 Force]

Honestly I don't know. I'd fire them an e-mail if you're genuinely interested and if it requires messing around with the inside ask them if it includes detailed instructions and how long it would take an experienced tech to fit, so as to gauge how much you'd spend on the installation. I suspect it's an internally fitted card, but I'm not completely certain of that. The page does clearly indicate if you want the speed upgrade as well it requires some internal soldering however.

[D-Collector]

Do you know if this expansion board is something that is installed internally, or do you plug it into the memory card slot? It's not really clear on the site.

It is installed internally, and requires soldering.

But seriously man, don't waste your money on it. I bet you will never get any real use from it. And chances are you end up with a buggy D-50 that freezes, crashes and lose patches. At least that was my experience.

Otherwise, good call on the D-50! I recently finished a full new patchbank for it that you can find in the stickied new patches thread. I also have almost all the cards made for the D-50 as sysex files, in a well organized library. Just drop me a PM if you want it.

[kuroichi]

Ive wanted a D-50 and a wavestation for years, but I just cant bring myself to buy them since I cant play, and would end up just sequencing them...

[KrisH]

My keys skills are rudimentary, but getting better. More important, I'm learning about how a synth works, which is something that wasn't really obvious from the soft- synths I've played with before.

[tekkentool]

My keys skills are rudimentary, but getting better. More important, I'm learning about how a synth works, which is something that wasn't really obvious from the soft- synths I've played with before.

at this stage i'd like to tell you to please use the correct fingers when playing. Use all 5 fingers when playing scales. You don't want to burn in bad habits.

[tom Cadillac]

I got into synths from having learned acoustic piano. I'm not saying this is a better route - but anyway with hardware synths the designers have often factored in keyboard skille and stuff that's way beyond the scope of poor acoustic pianists. There's the obvious aftertouch and velocity curves.... and last week on my fs1r I was trying and failing to get a percussive organ patch to work till I started playing really fast and light and almost like using the keys as a drum. It ended up sounding like a voice singing. I think this was probably due to the imaginative programing skills that went into this patch. It certailnly ended up a long way from the percussive organ sound you'd expect. So yeah there's a lot of incredible stuff that happens just playing synths as a keyboard instrument.

And learning a new instrument isn't so difficult if you have already mastered one. Lots of basic stuff like timing and finger dexterity cross over. Enjoy!