Roland D-50 User manual

fSRoland
MSI LINEAR SYNTHESIZER
D-5D
Owner's Manual
ADVANCED

ADVANCED COURSE
CONTENTS
(TJOutline of Tone Parameters 3
1. The Basic Concept of aTone 3
2. Structure of Tone Parameters 5
a. WG 7
b. TVF 7
c. TVA 7
d. ENV 8
e. LFO 8
[2]Editing 9
1. Calling aParameter 9
2. Changing Values 11
a. Local Editing 11
b. Ten Key Pad 13
3. Useful Functions for Editing 14
a. Compare 14
b
.
Undo 14
c. Copy 14
d. Partial Mute 17
e. Partial Balance 17
4. Sound Creation 19
5. Naming 20
[3] Tone Parameters 22
1. Common Parameters 22
a. Structure 22
b. P-ENV 23
c. Pitch Modulation 25
d. LFO 26
e. Equalizer 27
f. Chorus 29
2. Partial Parameters 30
a. WG Pitch 30
b. WG Modulation 32
c. WG Waveform 33
d. WG Pulse Width 35
e. TVF 36
f. TVF ENV 39
g. TVF Modulation 42
h. TVA 43
i. TVA ENV 44
j. TVA Modulation 47
(4) Writing 48
G3M1D! 51
1. Connection 51
2. Setting MIDI Functions 51
a. MIDI Functions commonly set
for all Patches 52
b. MIDI Functions individually set
for each Patch 56
3. Key Mode Alteration 57
4. Data Transfer with MIDI 61
H]Data Transfer with Memory Card 65
1. Patch Transfer 65
a. Patch Transfer to the
Memory Card. 65
b. Patch Transfer to the Internal
Memory 66
2. Copying aReverb Type 68
a. Copying from aMemory Card
to the D-50 68
b. Copying from the D—50 to a
Memory Card 69
jTjAppendix Tables 70
1. Patch Factor Table 70
2. Tone Parameter Table 71
a. Common Parameters 71
b. Partial Parameters 72
3. MIDI Function Table 73
4. Error Message Table 74
5. Sample Note 75

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
UOUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
1. THE BASIC CONCEPT OF ATONE
ATone consists of two Partials (Partials 1and 2) and aCommon
block.
$>
Partial 1
Partial 2
Tone
<^*1 (Structure
(ENV for pitch control]
Common
<t=D \3LFO'<
y[ Equalizer )^>{ Chorus
Tone Name
„>
Each Partial (Partial 1and Partial 2) can have one of two sound
generators (a Synthesizer sound source or aPCM sound source). So
you can think of the D-50 having powerful synthesizers built in.
Each of these hypothetical synthesizers could behave like a
conventional analog synthesizer, or aPCM sampled synthesizer. Any
combination of two synthesizers can achieve some remarkable cross
—modulation effects, so characteristic of today's purely digital
sounds.
Some Common parameters apply to both Partials (Partial 1and 2),
"Structure" is one of the Common parameters. It decides which of
the two sound generators is used for each Partial. Other Common
parameters are an ENV for pitch, three LFO modules, equalizer,
chorus, etc.

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
[STRUCTURE] Structure, which is one of the Common parameters, determines which
two of the hypothetical synthesizers (a synthesizer sound generator
or aPCM sound generator) are to be used as Partial 1and Partial
9
A"Synthesizer sound generator" works like aconventional analog
type synthesizer with an oscillator, afilter, an amplifier and two
ENV's. APCM sound generator provides 100 different PCM sampled
sounds.
These two Partial sounds (Partial 1and Partial 2) can simply be
mixed as shown below.
Partial 1
Partial 2
jF
By mixing two Partials, fatter sounds can be obtained. This is
effective for making strings or organ type sounds.
Or Partial 1can be mixed with the ring- modulated sound of
Partiais 1and 2.
Partial 1h
Ring
Modulator
'—
/
Mixer
Partial 2]
L-V
J"I
^>

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
The Ring Modulator multiplies two sounds, creating an unusual and
metallic sound that contains complicated harmonics. For instance, two
waveforms (® and ©) are multipled and waveform ®is created.
This is effective for making metallic sounds.
2. STRUCTURE OF TONE PARAMETERS
Depending on which generators are selected in the Partial Block,
greatly different Tone Parameters will be used .Some Tone
Parameters used for the Synthesizer sound generators are irrelevant
to the PCM generator (see the diagram below).
In aStructure with Ring modulation, some parameters of Partial 2
are automatically set to those of Partial 1. See page 22 "Tone
Parameters" for adetailed explanation.

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
Synthesizer Sound Generator
r"
WG
Partial
"~l
V
©Pitch
©Waveform
TVF
DPulse
Width
f
(©Cutoff
Frequency y
TVA
)TVF
ENV
)Resonance
f
©Level
)TVA
ENV
©P-ENV
for pitch
controlling
)LF0-1
)LF0-2
)LFO-3
PCM Sound Generator
T' TVA "~i
V
)Level
)TVA
ENV
f f

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
a. WG (Wave Generator)
b. TVF (Time Variant Filter)
In the WG (Wave Generator), the pitch and waveform are controlled.
©Pitch
The basic pitch of aPartial (sound generator) can be set here.
The pitch is aCommon parameter, and is therefore controlled by
©P-ENV and ©LFO-1.
©Waveform (PCM Wave Number)
This selects the waveform of the sound source. When asynthesizer
sound generator is selected, the waveform can be controlled by the
©Pulse Width controls.
©Pulse Width
This changes the waveform of the sound source. The pulse width
is controlled by any LFO (=Common parameter).
This filter passes lower frequency harmonics and cuts off the higher
ones. By changing the cutoff point and the resonance, the waveform
changes.
©Cutoff Frequency
This sets the cutoff point. The cutoff point can be controlled by
©TVF ENV and any LFO (=Common parameter).
©Resonance
This emphasizes the cutoff point, making more unusual or electronic
sounds.
c. TVA (Time Variant Amplifier)
This controls the volume of the Partial.
DLevel
This determines the volume of the sound. When asynthesizer
sound generator is used, the level can be controlled with the ®
TVA ENV and any LFO (Common parameter). When aPCM sound
generator is used, the ©TVA ENV controls the level.

OUTLINE OF TONE PARAMETERS
d. ENV (Envelope Generator)
This generators acontrol signal (envelope curve) which controls the
pitch, timbre and volume of each Partial (sound generator).
©P-ENV
This is the ENV which controls pitch. It can be set for two
selected Partial at once.
®TVF ENV
This ENV controls the cutoff point, and can be set for each Partial
separately.
(DTVA ENV
This ENV controls the volume level. This can be set for each
Partial separately.
e. LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)
This oscillator generates low frequencies only.
Any of the three LFO's can be used for the two Partials, Vibrato,
PWM growl or tremolo effects can be obtained using these LFO's.
*A different LFO can be used for each section or aPARTIAL.
®LFO-1
This can control ©Pitch, ©Pulse Width, ©Cutoff Frequency
or ©Level.
©LFO-2
This can control ©Pulse Width, ©Cutoff Frequency or ©Level,
©LFO-3
This can control ©Pulse Width, ©Cutoff Frequency or ©Level.

EDITING
21 EDITING
The D-50 features various parameters which can be edited, thereby-
synthesizing new sounds. However, it does not feature knobs or
switches on its front panel. Instead, there are two methods of
editing :one is achieved by calling each parameter with the relevant
buttons, and changing the value with the Joystick, or Increment and
Decrement Buttons, the other is by using the optional programmer
PG —1000, which has all the necessary panel controls.
For quicker and easier editing or synthesizing from scratch, the PG
—1000 may be essential.
*The editing procedure does not automatically rewrite the existing
program, the appropriate writing procedure, on page 18 must be taken.
1. CALLING APARAMETER
Anumber of Patch Factors and Tone Parameters are shown in a
Menu Display at the same time. There are several Menu Displays as
shown below. Each parameter shown in aMenu Display contains
Tone Menu Display
(Lower)
Play Mode Display
Common
Menu Display
Partial 1's
Menu Display
v1"
Partial 2's ^
Menu Display
Ytu*V
Tone Menu Display |
(Upper) Patch Menu Display
Common
^Menu Display
Partial 1's
Menu Display
Partial 2's
Menu Display
t t t 1tf V"v
several more parameters.
You can select any parameter you want by using the corresponding
Selector Button or Scroll Button.
CZH
i 1 ii—i;
i—i i—
i
r~ri
I—
l
l—il—li—
l
fZZl I
Left Scroll Button
rzzjczziczzi
i i
i
—
ii—it=i
rzzn ICZZICZZI
Selector Buttons Right Scroll Button Exit Button Shift Key

EDITING
The following explains how each button works. The Menu Display
and parameter which each button leads to are shown in the supplied
Edit Map. Please thoroughly study the map.
•Selector Buttons
These can be used to select one of the parameters shown in the
Display. Simply push the relevant Selector Button, and its current
value will flash in the Display.
•Scroll Buttons
These buttons can be used to scroll through more parameters in
the same menu group.
Pushing the far —right Scroll Button calls the next parameter
group, and the left Scroll Button returns to the previous parameter
group.
•Exit Button
This button can be used to leave the parameter currently called
and go back to its Menu Display. To go back to the Play Mode
Display, hold down the Shift Key while pressing the Exit Button.
[CHANGING PARTIAL DISPLAYS]
While editing aparameter of one Partial, you can call the Display
of the same parameter for adifferent Partial.
The Patch Buttons 1to 4can select Partials as shown below.
I!=
i—ii—M—
i
i—
1
1—
1
1—ii 1 1 11i
i—
i
i1
E=Dfc£5Er=]
CZTJCZ] CZDCZ] [IPIZPCZ]^[zzi czrj en tzzi iii ir~~i inn11 11 i
Upper's Partial 2
Upper's Partial 1
Lower's Partial 2
Lower's Partial 1
10