Nannerfan wrote:
I'd say pick up the JD-800 and have "fun" for awhile.. then go back to the D-50.
You'll find you don't even need the programmer anymore.. and it just sounds a bit sweeter than the JD-800 for pads.
"fun" yes JD is fun, it's more than that - it's a serious musical work tool and I've now sold my D-50 (which I loved). There's more to the JD-800 than a bit of slider fun, it puts out consistently useful musical sounds, in a mix it works amazingly well. D-50 is great too. It's just a matter of choice or taste. I can't say the D-50 sounds better all the time because it does far less than what the JD-800 does, in fact aside from the occasional pad, they sound quite different in tone and complexity.
D-50 has a little more in it's engine but loses out on filter based stuff. A lot of the sounds I'm making for the JD are totally impossible on the D-50, the best stuff I had on the D-50 was gorgeous and unique stuff that served a purpose but it was not the better all rounder. In isolation the D-50 sounds warmer, thicker than the JD-800 but in an actual song the D-50's pads are no better (sometimes they need a bit more EQ in fact to fit). I had to free up some room and for me the JD-800 surpasses the D-50 as a more varied, contemporary useful sound design machine. Have owned a lot of D-50s and programmed them inside and out, and no doubt I'll pick up another at some point (maybe the rack) but no doubt I'll end up selling it again as I always do. The JD-800 however just has the sound I need, itself it sounds vibrant, fizzy, synthetic in a good way and can also be dark, aggressive, epic and analogesque in how it's filter responds - all of these are good qualities and none of them were present in the D-50 (aside from 'epic' and possibly 'vibrant'). Not denying the D-50 has it's own mojo, it's a very special synth and in full synth mode (no pcm) it puts out sounds that are unique and warm that no other digital can.
I really have no need now for 2 roland digital 'pad monsters' and the JD wins for me, it's just so inspiring to make new sounds on, and the real time control (proper real time not just editing as on the D-50) opens up a lot of new musical doorways - and the effects are brilliant, the distortion gives very aggressive depeche mode style synths (as the JD was used a lot on the "songs of faith and devotion" album - not surprising).
D-50 will always be in my top 5 digital synths but to dismiss the JD as mere 'fun distraction' vs it, is wrong, for me at least, as it works really well, classy, noise free, hands on and can do far more than the D-50. D-50 makes your jaw drop at times, again in isolation, some of it's pads are other-wordly and gorgeous but I've used them, I've programmed the h**l out of the D-50 and I need new sonic possibilities and for me the JD-800 is the next stage up, sacrifice a bit of warmth but gain a much more useful instrument over a range of sounds.
Not only that but the JD also semi-replaces other synths I've had, while the D-50 really just did it's own thing. JD for me replaces what I liked, and what I could get from my past synths like AX80, DW-8000, D-50 (sort of), even some polysix style res filter tricks! That's some going for a digital synth! and in that package with totally beautiful interface and instant hands on - it's a sound designers dream.
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the only way to be sure... (these are my 2 beauties) 
