Roland S-50

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ridgeback

ridgeback

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Not much of a keyboard guy but I've inherited this one. It's big, heavy, and everything seems to work, sort of. Any idea how old this thing is and is it worth getting it cleaned? Sounds available? I suppose I could use it for a controller or should it be a paper weight?
 
ridgeback said:
Not much of a keyboard guy but I've inherited this one. It's big, heavy, and everything seems to work, sort of. Any idea how old this thing is and is it worth getting it cleaned? Sounds available? I suppose I could use it for a controller or should it be a paper weight?
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Used to be a somewhat kickin' 16-bit sampler (processed at 12bit, so really it's 12bit)...by today's standards, probably not. They were out around 1986-87. Tops out at 750k of sampling memory, and 12bit/30kHz rates which is maybe around 30 sec. of sampling time. We're not talking spectacular sound here, and not sure about available samples for it. You could search around the net (eBay, etc.) for 3.5 disks with samples, but there probably isn't an abundance out there. The board is probably worth about $200..you could always rid yourself of it on eBay.
 
Thanks for the info

Funny cause I just watched an old New Order Vid "Everythings gone green" and what's in front of Gillian?? I think it was the same board. Anyway thanks.
 
ridgeback said:
Not much of a keyboard guy but I've inherited this one. It's big, heavy, and everything seems to work, sort of. Any idea how old this thing is and is it worth getting it cleaned? Sounds available? I suppose I could use it for a controller or should it be a paper weight?
Click to expand...

Charming machine,

Period of time when Roland was under the Fairlight impression.

Roland even made an actual ext. tablet for S50 ;)

Monitor output was mandatory then to secure CMI look.

All in all still great machine, a I love this simplicity of platform industrial design simplicity , great display, hope it is in a good shape.

Post us a few pictures if you can.
 
Nice piece of Roland history. Hunt down some old brochures and reviews, it's worth reading how impressive it WAS :p .. and had a pretty impressive price tag when it was released.

I've had one of these monsters for about 15 years. Along with the tablet (still in box!), monitor, and the full Roland library on floppy (which is probably just a bunch of blank disks by now). I've tried to sell it, now I'm glad I didn't/couldn't. Now it's just part of the furniture and I've accepted that I'll have it forever.

If you look around the web you can probably find the library disk images. Still makes a nice controller if you've got room for it.
 
Kerosene said:
Nice piece of Roland history. Hunt down some old brochures and reviews, it's worth reading how impressive it WAS :p with the tablet (still in box!),
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Yes, I keep all original 80's brochures, they are always enjoyable as if released today, strange routine, but at least people on this forum understand the flow.

Dare you admit here, to all of us, that you never ever even opened the tablet?

There should be a law preventing S50 owners doing such felony ;)
 
Dare you admit here, to all of us, that you never ever even opened the tablet?
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Yeah I've opened it. Plugged it in. Then put it back in the box. I always found the tablet to be a bit of a gimmick really.
 
Kerosene said:
Yeah I've opened it. Plugged it in. Then put it back in the box. I always found the tablet to be a bit of a gimmick really.
Click to expand...

For next of kin learning Sampling, S50 with monitor and pad is something to enjoy.
 
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