Roland D-5

Multitimbral Linear Synthesizer
(1989)

A cut-down version of Roland D10 which was a cut-down of cult D50. A double cut-down! but D5 added some special new tricks like arpeggiator.

User manual Service manual

Overview

OVERVIEW still similar to d10 with 61 keys but with a smaller case and external PSU.Pitch bender / modulation on the left side. No more slider control and less functions.

RELATED MODELS:
- Roland D10 same in a 61 keys keyboard
- Roland PG-10 Programmer for quick edit

Terminal connectors:

- Midi Interface

- main signal out

- pedal switch HOLD
- phones out

- memory card slot

Sound

OSCILLATORS Sound architecture of the D5 is almost identical to that of the D10
Intel 16 bits CPU 8098 manages 32 voices (DAC PCM54 BB) polyphony or partial (a patch is composed by up to 4 partial); each partial being either a synth waveform (saw tooth or square with variable width) or any one of the internal 256 PCM samples. Finally Each pair of partials (1&2 and 3&4) an be assigned a Structure (13 models, see below).

PCM The sample PCM are divided into two banks, each with 128 samples.
PCM A: transient attacks (The attack samples concentrate on providing the attack envelope segments of behavior of instruments. )
PCM B: same as A but in looped form.
NOTE: 63 samples are dedicated to drums and percussion

D5 Algorithms

The partial combines partial synthesis elements with a digital ring modulator in 7 possible pathways or algorithms: (p= pcm sample / s= digitally generated wave).
Compared to D50, the D110 adds 6 more structures, 5 with ringmods + 2 with linear partials (sample / awve)

LFO single triangle-shapped modulator , very simple compared to bigger D50.

ENVELOPE 3 main groups for pitch, amplitude and filter with very similar specs: 5 times+ 4 times.

FILTER: digital resonant lowpass for SYNTH part (not pcm) like D50

Memory and effect

MEMORY Preset Patches: 128 + User Patches: 64.
Sounds can be saved to Midi sysex dump or to memory card (models: M256 , M512e, M128)
HINT: Sounds are compatible with D10/D20/D110 commercial ROM cards

EFFECTS DSP such as reverb has disappeared, instead four Patch effects: Chord Play, Harmony, Chase and Arpeggio:
Arpeggio allows you to set the rate and the direction (up, down, up and down, or random) but it cannot be synched to Midi clock.