RS-50

Back in 2003, this synth arrived as a more portable take on the feature-packed RS-70, bringing high-quality Roland sounds and live performance tricks to players who wanted something grab-and-go without skimping on creativity.

Its 61-key velocity-sensitive keyboard feels responsive under your fingers, paired with 64-voice polyphony across 16 multitimbral parts where you can layer or split two tones per patch for thick, versatile sounds drawn from 32 MB of wave memory and 640 presets—including 384 originals plus GM2 compatibility. Hands-on controls shine with direct access buttons for quick patch selection, a pitch bend/mod wheel combo, the iconic D-Beam for sweeping filter or pitch changes via infrared, and a backlit LCD for easy navigation. Effects cover 47 multi-types, 8 reverbs, and 8 choruses, while extras like a Phrase/Arpeggio generator with over 200 templates, Multi Chord Memory for single-key complex chords, and 32 Rhythm Guide patterns make jamming effortless. Compact at just over 12 pounds, 40 inches wide, and with stereo outs, pedal jacks, MIDI I/O, and headphones, it's built for stage or studio mobility.

Over the years, players have praised its bread-and-butter tones—like nuanced acoustic pianos and punchy synths—for gigging reliability, though some note the editing depth stays surface-level compared to deeper workstations.