The Roland D-50 is a synthesizer used by Prince from the Lovesexy to the Love Symbol eras. Released in 1987, it was the next commercially-successful digital synthesizer after the Yamaha DX-7.
The D-50 combined short samples with an early virtual-analog synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on Lovesexy, Batman and Graffiti Bridge. Like the DX7, it was difficult to programme so Prince used a lot of the preset patches that came with the keyboard. It was still Prince’s main studio keyboard on the Love Symbol Album, although it was possibly being used to control other synthesizer modules.
The D-50 was also used live by Dr Fink, Boni Boyer, Rosie Gaines and Morris Hayes. Dr Fink used the rack version, the D-550, which he layered with the D-50 to create a bigger sound.
A D-50 is currently in the collection at Paisley Park.
