Unveiling the Secrets of the Roland D-50: The Definitive Vintage Synthesizer Sound Design Tutorial

This video took 11 hours to film and has over 4,350 edits so please like and subscribe to the channel if you found it helpful! Ever wondered how to make your own sounds with the Roland D-50? This is the definitive tutorial on LA synthesis and sound design, whether it be with vintage synthesizers like the Roland D-50, D-550 or JD-800, with the Roland Cloud software / VST, Zenology or Zencore, or boutiques like the D-05 or JD-08.
►My D-50 Patch Library: vultureculture.live/products/...
►D-50 Sound Design Playlist: • ROLAND D-50 Synthesis ...
I'll be using an original hardware vintage synthesizer D-50 from 1987 in concert with a PG-1000 programmer but everything I show works with the software / hardware versions I mentioned. You can even program the D-50 without the programmer directly with the membrane buttons and screen.
You'll learn every function and parameter in the D-50 as well as how to save your own patches / presets to harness the most famous digital synthesis engine of all time!
00:00 Intro
01:23 What makes the D-50 special?
03:58 PG-1000
04:29 Patches / Tones / Partials
05:17 Muting Partials / Fantasia
07:36 Hypersynth HCard-750
07:54 Initialize Preset
09:30 All 47 One-Shot Samples
12:30 All Looped Samples (Wavetables)
15:20 All Sample Loops (Wavesequences)
18:14 PG-1000 Color Coding (Crème - Partial / Blue - Tone / Red - Patch)
19:03 Structures
21:31 Waveforms (Oscillators - WG Waveform)
24:03 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
25:24 LFO's
30:27 Filter (TVF - Time Variant Filter)
36:14 Bias
39:36 Envelopes
51:44 Time Key Follow + Depth Key Follow
57:27 Filter Modulation by LFO
1:00:52 Blade Runner / Vangelis Lead Patch Design
1:01:43 Why can't I hear Partial 2? (Fixing Init Preset Problems)
1:05:41 Amplifier (TVA - Time Variant Amplifier)
1:06:43 Amplitude Modulation
1:16:38 Vibrato (WG Pitch)
1:22:10 Equalizer (EQ)
1:25:32 Chorus (All Chorus Patches)
1:28:51 Output Modes
1:30:10 Reverb (All Reverb Patches)
1:38:02 Blade Runner / Vangelis Lead Patch Demo
1:38:32 Writing and Naming Patches
1:40:20 Making a Kick Drum
1:43:00 Pitch Envelope
1:51:16 Key Modes (Whole, Dual, Split, Solo / Monophonic)
1:55:00 Analog Brass Patch Design ala Kawai K3
2:06:12 Auto-Bend one Partial (That 80's Brass Trick)
2:16:37 Patch Parameters (Tone Pitch Shift, Balance)
2:19:53 Bend Modes
2:21:16 Portamento (Modes, Hold Modes)
2:23:11 Chase Modes
2:35:51 Analog Brass ala Kawai K3 Patch Demo
2:36:02 Compare Patches
2:36:52 Pretty Hate Machine / Wavesequencing Patch Design
2:37:57 Ring Modulation
2:47:03 Working with Loops (Wavesequences)
2:56:41 Pretty Hate Machine / Wavesequencing Patch Demo
2:57:06 Outro

[@MichaelSouhoka]

14:06 to 14:58, those spectrum loops have many advantages I have experienced in many D50 patches that I knew. Spect1: Useful to create metallic synth harmonics, it is used in Digital Native Dance patch. Spect2: Usually to create bells and ting-a-ling sounds like Fantasia or Glockenspiel, often combined with one-shot PCM Bell sound. Spect3: For breathy harmonics, it is used in Living Calliope patch. Often combined with one-shot PCM Breath sound. Spect4: This dizzy spectrum is useful to create space sound or computer tech sound effects. Can be used as the harmonics for creating synth basses or guitars. Spect5: Usually to create bowed harmonics found in cello or violin bow. It is used in Digital Cello patch. Spect6: Has a similar characteristic as in Spect2, but more thicker bell loops. Useful to create mallet percussion sounds like Celesta or Tubular Bells. It is often combined with one-shot PCM Bell sound. Spect7: Also for breathy harmonics like Spect3, but more harsh sound. It is used in Shakuhachi patch. Can also be used as a breathy loop for saxophone or any woodwind instrument patches. It is often combined with one-shot PCM Steam and Indian Flute sounds.

[@MichaelSouhoka]

The patches I mentioned above are from D-50 factory patches (PN-D50-00), but some musical instruments I've mentioned are based on my personal opinion from variety of D-50 patches.

[@VultureCulture]

Really helpful to have your descriptions and where the spectrum loops are used! Thank you!

[@MichaelSouhoka]

@@VultureCulture No worries. Feel free to create the harmonics from any spectrums to make many amazing D-50 sounds! Spectrums, Noises, and PCM combo loops are the secrets of D-50's patch recipes.

[@musicaldracula2017]

It is such a landmark in digital synthesizer history not only for Roland, but all...

[@VultureCulture]

Very true. This synth popularized the sample plus synthesis approach that still dominates electronic music

[@musicaldracula2017]

@@VultureCulture Yes indeed :) I have D50 and JD800, cannot sell them...

[@cmaynes]

the D50 is just an insanely underappreciated synth.... very deep video Vulture! love your work!

[@VultureCulture]

It is an absolute powerhouse and I love the sound so much! Thank you for letting me know you found it useful 🙏

[@Johnnyk999]

Although I've been around since the beginning of the synth era, somehow the D-50 totally escaped my attention until very recently. It's an amazing piece of gear, sporting some sounds very reminiscent of the Korg Wavestation, yet pre-dates it, which blows me away. I'd venture to guess that it's architecture is totally different, and from what I've heard from the various demos here on YT, it also seems that the architecture is more diverse / powerful than the WS. If I'd been aware of the D-50 before now, I'm pretty sure that I'd have one.

[@VultureCulture]

I do show how to do "wavesequencing" on the D-50 in this tutorial, although it's not nearly as deep as the WS. Overall I'd take the D-50 anyway over the Wavestation to make sounds, but I do love the WS presets.

[@torbenanschau6641]

The JD-800 isn't LA-Synthesis. It's all partials consisting of samples in a much higher quality than on the D-50 but no digitally generated waveforms which make the D-50s sound so special. Also the filters are completely different. Even the D-70 - though even being called Super LA" - was like that, in this case basically a beefed up U-20. LA Synthesizers are: D-5, D-10, D-20, D50, D-110, D-550, MT-32, E-5,10, 20, 30 (Portable keyboards though).

[@VultureCulture]

LA Synthesis is primarily a marketing term used by Roland to sell their new range of late 80's synths and wikipedia does list the JD-800 as an LA synth. It is true that all of the waveforms in the JD are pcm based like the 80's hybrids, the SQ-80, DW-8000, PPG Wave and K3, and that the D-50 and its derivatives do have virtual analog synthesis in them, which does have a different sound.

[@torbenanschau6641]

@@VultureCulture I wouldn't see it as pure marketing. LA was indeed an mathematically and resarch based invention. In the 80s you could read elaborated documentaries about it. The non sampled waveforms are calculated, the filter actually was one of the very first digital ones thus also calculated. And that with some really weird resonance which was lacking on the other digital filters till the 90s. Thus the D50 is no hybrid but all digital including the very first reverb built into a synthesizer or the Ringmodulation. The most insane feature actually is the digital PWM, which sounds very distinctive. Roland had to create their own dedicated custom chips. The others you mentioned have nothing in common with the D50 nor does the JD800. No matter what Wikipedia says, the JD is no LA Synth. I don't remember what label Roland used for it, I think later they called it RS PCM. It's basically the concept soon to be used in the JV, XV, XP, RS and Fantom series. None of these can sound remotely like the D50. The MT32 can, though not with the same quality. There's good info about LA available on the net, like eg muzines.

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you for the info! 🙏My JD simply says "programmable synthesizer" lol

[@MichaelSouhoka]

I am 100% agree with you. D-70 is a PCM synth, not LA synth. And JD-800 technology is far beyond D-50's architecture. JD-800 and JD-990 are often compared side-by-side with Roland JV-series (except JV-30/35/50 which are based on SC-55 Sound Canvas) because of the similarities between technology and sounds, and JD-990 can use the SR-JV80 expansion boards, that's why it often compared with JV-880 and JV-1080.

[@oscargrouch8888]

I have a Roland D50 but I have always been intimidated to program it. Great video to demonstrate the pg1000 controller

[@VultureCulture]

It's never been easier! And with the free ctrlr plugin it's never been cheaper!

[@dtscape]

Wonderful synthesizer. I had one from when I was 17 years old. Sold it, with big regret, several years ago. Miss it sooo much. Use Roland Clouds siftsynth version now It's an amazing synth. Great video. Thank you. 😊

[@VultureCulture]

Let me know how the tutorial is with the software! 🙏

[@Rsonixtunes]

As a D-550 owner, the BEST investment you can add is patch base for iPad w the d50/d550 patch editor. It reveals sounds that I thought simply weren’t possible. Check it out, Vulture!

[@VultureCulture]

I need to finally check out patch base one day!

[@pierrejpiscitelli]

This is a phenomenal video. Thanks for all of your knowledge and hard work!

[@VultureCulture]

I appreciate it! Glad you found it helpful!

[@yogamer37jones23]

Great tutorial! I appreciate the organization and effort this took to make. You are helping me demystify this awesome synth.

[@VultureCulture]

So glad you found it helpful!

[@bobbydavro6594]

Thank you very much for this invaluable resource!! Keeping an eye on your channel here, so much good stuff you've produced! I've had my D-50 a few years now and whilst I have had a good scratch at the surface, there is still so much to learn and unravel!

[@VultureCulture]

I tried to be extremely thorough with this video. Thank you for your comment 🙏

[@Jesoteric]

D-50 is my personal favorite synth of all time, the sounds are so awesome

[@VultureCulture]

It's my vote for the best sounding vintage digital

[@claudiogarrido6566]

Thank you very much !!!! I really appreciate the effort you made to share you knowledges!!! Congrats!

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you very much! 🙏

[@mitchelldries6628]

i have to applaud your effort in making this video! very concise. i wish this video was around in 1999 when i owned my first d-50. i quickly learned that getting the pg-1000 was an essential peripheral to make editing that much easier! even back then, there was very minimal resources or info for this synth (likely nearly snubbed or forgotten in favor of soft synths or modern hardware of the time). luckily i had more time on my hands, so diving deep into editing and understanding it made sense over the years, but sadly sold it five years later to move to a different state. only just recently did i acquire another one and am not only loving the sounds it produces, but digging now having access to thousands of sysex patches i can easily load via computer, and using software editors that were not quite so easily available in the past. a great underrated synth that still can hold up to modern demands if programmed correctly! i do want another PG-1000, though, just to make the editing that much quicker and hands on...... anyway, once again, CHEERS to you and this great video! looking forward to more!

[@VultureCulture]

I really appreciate your comment! And I'm glad you've got another one to explore with! I've always been shocked at the lack of documentation and support for understanding the D-50, even with the boutiques and software versions. I feel like it just came out at that time where people didn't want to program sounds anymore. Let me know if you find anything I missed in this video to update.

[@calvin808]

Amazing video. Extremely comprehensive. I worked in a music store when this synth came out and this video would have sold THOUSANDS of copies. Very well organized, researched and delivered. Instant Sub.

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you so much, that means a lot 🙏 I wish Roland had done something like this back then, but at least now I've done my community service and it exists for fans of this synthesizer!

[@russellyoung6498]

Thanks for a great insight into a classic synth. Compelling viewing!

[@VultureCulture]

I'm glad you found it helpful! 🙏

[@viday228]

0:31 And the same principles also apply to the Roland V-Synth version of the D-50, but the sound will be slightly different.

[@brianptguitarkeyboardcover9957]

Thanks for the video, Roland D50 was my first synth that got me hooked on synths

[@VultureCulture]

Thank you for checking out the video - I love the D-50 🙏

[@ClaireSweets]

I'm following along on my jd800. Really enjoyed your tutorial and really helpful.

[@VultureCulture]

That's awesome! I plan on doing another video like this with the JD-800 in the future!

[@ClaireSweets]

@@VultureCulture can't wait. They are very similar. Again - Really great tutorial.

[@VultureCulture]

🙏

[@up2base]

very in detail and completely. Thanks

[@VultureCulture]

I did my best to create an exhaustive tutorial 🙏

[@erikt211]

17:31 I’ve definitely heard that loop… in a computer somewhere, for something in the 90’s.😆

[@VultureCulture]

Oh for sure!

[@Wil_Dsense]

I love tricking my brain with the D-50 + LA synthesis and my D-05! I just wish I could program the thing lol BTW I have to know what the music is playing in intro and end? It’s heavenly I love it man. I’m looking forward to watching this whole video and more of yours, on the Kawai synths, etc! New Sub! Wish I found your channel sooner, but here now 😊

[@VultureCulture]

With this tutorial you definitely can program it. I believe it works with the CTRLR panel VST, which is free. The music is a jam I made with patches I created for my D-50 (works on D-05) sound library: vultureculture.live/products/neon-chronicles

[@Dr-Stu]

Fire'd up my D-50 to noodle while my PC is booting up and boom, you've done this. That's anything productive I had planned out the window for the next 3 hours! It was obviously meant to be though.

[@VultureCulture]

Awesome! I hope you find the tutorial helpful! 🙏

[@tommiilee]

Huge Thanks. Great video and talent. Thanks to You, Linear arithmetic synthesis has become very easy, attractive and awesome. It would be a dream come true, if such an amazing tutorial was also created for Frequency modulation synthesis and Yamaha DX7.

[@VultureCulture]

I'll get to work on it 😂

[@tommiilee]

@@VultureCulture Great 🤩

[@thedonal]

Fantastic timing- I'm just starting to properly dive into my D-05 (with the browser based programmer). I find the menu architecture a bit of a pain on this one- I totally get how it works, it's just a case of finding things and getting used to how to best use the structures for more interesting sounds.

[@VultureCulture]

Hopefully this video is helpful - I agree that the architecture is a little strange, but once it clicks, it clicks and is worth it!

[@dramklukkel]

At 1:52:12. Key Modes: Seperate mode, allows the Upper Tone and Lower Tone to be controlled from two seperate midi-channels. Effective only when using external devices.

[@amonster8mymother]

I like how you've got this set up. Im left handed and i like how youve got your programmer 9n the left side. What stand are you using on the pg1000?

[@VultureCulture]

Just a regular music stand!

[@quantumeseboy]

I guess I'm not a Roland guy, the only Roland I really like is V-Synth and btw, I think the best incarnation of D-50 came in a form VC-1 card, it was very easy to program on a large touch screen of V-Synth.

[@VultureCulture]

One of these days I'll check out a V-synth to see how it sounds compared to the OG

[@patrickgracia627]

I just bought on it's on order. I think it comes with software; I don't have one of the pg1000. I hope I will be able to get these sounds without of that pg 1,000 thing. Can you let me know and it said it was a keyboard controller to if I am not mistaken? Merry Christmas

[@VultureCulture]

No need for the PG-1000, you can program everything with this CTRLR program (it's free!): ctrlr.org/roland-d50-editor/ Also if you want the sounds I designed for the D-50 you can get them here: vultureculture.live/products/neon-chronicles

[@this_connor_guy]

Absolutely WILD patch at the end there! Those old romplers and their loop sounds. You gotta find just the right way to utilize those sounds, haha. Closest I've gotten to using this is the SoundProcess OS on the Ensoniq Mirage. Effectively turns the Mirage into a D50 more or less. Doesn't have the same depth and complexity, of course.

[@VultureCulture]

I haven't heard about the Sound process OS before! What's it do? Maybe it's time I upgrade my mirage lol

[@this_connor_guy]

@@VultureCulture turns the Mirage into a four oscillator synthesizer with an algorithm for each pair of oscillators. You can, of course, load in samples from your MASOS disks too. You can do some timed loops with your samples so sort of arpeggiator like. The manual is difficult to understand though given it's written by an engineer.

[@VultureCulture]

That's crazy! I had no idea that existed!

[@this_connor_guy]

@@VultureCulture definitely a well kept secret, haha. Fun to use with some great weird custom samples.

[@MrSimonjan78]

Hi. Great video and great synth. That sound on the beginning of this video is amazing. Could you tell name of this sound or how to create it. I'm using Roland Fantom and wish to try recreate that type of sound. Thank you

[@VultureCulture]

The patch is called Jupiter strings, you can definitely find it online if you search through the D-50 patchbanks people have posted

[@MrSimonjan78]

@@VultureCulture Great.Thank you

[@lucaeri4537]

Great! I subscribe. Could you tell me best PG 1000 software? Thanks

[@VultureCulture]

ctrlr.org/roland-d50-editor/

[@billrebsamen1810]

Thought I'd post this just to see... back in the late 80's...when I was pining away for a new fangled Digital Synth...I got a postcard in the mail from Roland announcing they were blowing out their D-50s for $1000! So I ended up with a D-50...wondering if anyone else here got a postcard deal D-50? This would have been about 1989.

[@avalotikeshwara6136]

Source of the FGTH Relax signature sound finally revealed! 15:35

[@VultureCulture]

Pretty sure in the original it's a dx7 - can't tell if you're joking lol

[@avalotikeshwara6136]

@@VultureCulture I really thought so until I checked it: Relax was released in Oktober 83, so it was recorded earlier. DX7 was released in May83, I don' think they used it. The producer-god Stephen Lipson says it is a mix of a Piano and some Fairlight-Sample kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKsnYSenaaIqZY

[@systemfan8]

Wow, that intro patch is out of this world!🔥 Is it a preset or a self-made one?

[@VultureCulture]

It's a patch I found on my HCard called "Jupiter Strings."

[@systemfan8]

@@VultureCulture many thanks, really appreciated! Seems I need HCard for my D-550 too)

[@khajub]

Thank you, looking forward , I have the D-50 in my Roland V-Synth XT ! will it be applicable ??

[@VultureCulture]

I wasn't familiar with it but I googled it and it says the V card is a fully programmable version of the D-50 - so yes!

[@khajub]

@@VultureCulture excellent thank you :)

[@VultureCulture]

Now that the tutorial is up, let me know if it works with your V-synth!

[@suitandtieguy]

this is really fantastic work you've done. thank you so much, and i don't even own a D-50! let me know if you ever want to Knobcon. i'll comp you in for this!

[@VultureCulture]

I actually think I'll be going this year!

[@suitandtieguy]

@@VultureCulture do you know how to get ahold of me?

[@marcuswerker]

I loved it!!! Thanks a lot. I have a Roland D-05 and a JD-08, this lesson is helping me a lot!. Thanks again.

[@VultureCulture]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! 🙏 Come hang out in the livestream sometime if you want to chat synths kzbin.infoj1m_1GDibJY?feature=share

[@srpskihayk]

Cool. Thanks. But isnit possible to create a sound completely from scratch? I mean access samples from the machine to create from a blanknpatch, or have to modify an existing patch?

[@VultureCulture]

Yes you can, this is a 3-hour tutorial on how to do exactly that!

[@srpskihayk]

@@VultureCulture Ah, ya got me. My impatience got the best of me. I sit with my d50 on “init patch”and pg1000 and all i hear is the occassional hum. I guess I didn’t make it that far in. I’ll keep watching! Thanks.

[@culturedslob]

This is wild

[@VultureCulture]

Hahaha it be like that sometimes

[@patrickgracia627]

I mase a mistake I just received my first real synth. A Roland xps10, I hope it is any good and can do what I want with it. I had a Yamaha MX61 years ago, but it wasn't really a synth. Maybe this isn't a real synth either. What do you think? I almost bout a Yamaha Chk61 I liked the organ tones and already own a psr x900. Still trying to learn that!

[@VultureCulture]

I think the D-50 certainly is a real synth! It looks like the xps-10 is a rompler based off the Juno-Di, a virtual analog or rompler synth.

[@snitchhomeallone1427]

Hey Mr. Vulture :) sorry in the first place cause my english is not the best, If i ask something what you already explained in the Video -.- i have a d-50 and found a guy from france who wrote a Software for the rare memory cards of the d 50, so you have them all 6 programmed an are able to load them in the d 50 with Midi.. my question is that the Roland dont have a storage place by itself, so do i overwrite the presets on my memorycard If i load in one of the others? the second question: is there a possibility to modulate or manipulate the Wave of the sounds just on the Roland itself? Or do i need the PG 1000 for it? third question :) are there Sounds in the hypersynth hcard that the other memorycards dont have? and maybe with the hcard i already solve my Problem in the First question.. Just dont have so much money to bis all of it -.- thank you so much for your Video and your Help 😊 best regards Marian

[@VultureCulture]

1. Yes - if you import sounds via sysex it will overwrite the internal sounds. Not a big deal because you can overwrite that with the default presets later if you want. 2. Absolutely, you can edit everything directly from the front panel without a pg-1000. Here's the manual to reference how to do it: archive.org/details/synthmanual-roland-d-50-owners-manual-advanced/page/n6/mode/1up Honestly I recommend the CTRLR programmer though, it's free and acts as a virtual pg-1000: ctrlr.org/roland-d50-editor/ 3. It seems like the patches in the h-card are from other libraries released in the 80's, most of which you can find online as well.

[@snitchhomeallone1427]

@@VultureCulture Hey man :) dude, thank you so much in the first place.. after wrote my comment, i already found the editor software and also my mistake to just read the basic manual -.- ..the problem with the editor download is that it called something like "bpanelz" file and i cannot open it or find something about it.. but i will look for another download or if iam to just to silly ;)

[@VultureCulture]

You need to download the CTRLR software first, then open the panel in the software: ctrlr.org/

[@amonster8mymother]

I'm really trying to get the high pitched sounds that i think daniel lanois may have used in the U2 songs.

[@VultureCulture]

Probably the spectral waves up high. If you're interested I just came out with a Patch Library for the D-50 called Neon Chronicles. Check it out here: vultureculture.live/products/neon-chronicles

[@neilbradbury8303]

Daniel Lanois used a Yamaha DX7 on the U2 albums. He's a proficient DX7 programmer.

[@pepinillosazucarados6743]

Where can i find the jarre patch (machine run)

[@VultureCulture]

This is a tutorial on how to make your own sounds with the D-50, so if you like a sound Jarre used you can probably create it relatively easily. As far as where to find the actual patch I think Bobby Blues (bobbyblues.recup.ch/roland_d-50/d-50_soundbanks.html) is a better resource than I am.

[@79yank]

Nice video. But JD800 has not the same architecture as D50. JD800 lacks the synth oscillator part, it's based purely on samples and therefore is missing PWM for instance.

[@VultureCulture]

For sure, but the goal here is to teach people how to program, and the way it's laid out is almost identical

[@WilsonPhotography1]

Will this apply to the D-20, D-10, D-110?

[@VultureCulture]

Unfortunately not entirely, although some of it may apply. Those synths have majorly stripped down architecture of the D-50

[@logicbasics3957]

POLYSIX on top of D50, Looks like my studio, only that the D50 is on top of the POLYSIX ;-)

[@VultureCulture]

Honestly those two synths are probably the best way to get that 80's sound instantly

[@WVandellHarris]

Is there a tutorial anywhere on YT that DOES NOT incorporate the PG-1000 ???

[@VultureCulture]

I had considered doing it without the PG-1000, but it's so much more of a hassle that I'd recommend using a software editor, either on your computer (link in description to the ctrlr programmer which is free) or an iPad. Most editors are laid out identically to the PG-1000 so this tutorial will still be useful to you.

[@WVandellHarris]

@@VultureCulture right on! thank you for the link! all I would need is a MIDI to usb connector from my D50 to the iPad correct ?

[@WVandellHarris]

@@VultureCulture I searched the provided link but could not find one for the editor in this video’s description.

[@WVandellHarris]

Never mind I just heard your directions

[@VultureCulture]

@WVandellHarris I'm 99% sure that's right but because I don't have an iPad I can't be 100% sure lol

[@AEMachinas]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@VultureCulture]

🖤

[@timothyharrison3627]

You'd have more credibility if you played bladerunner in the Wright key