Overall User Ratings

"The overall quality is what ultimately sets it apart from all the other synths in its category. (Yamaha S03, Alesis SQ.6, etc, e"

Feature:
Before buying this keyboard I owned (and still do) a Yamaha S03. The Roland RS-50 is a mayor mayor inprovement over the Yamaha. The features on this keyboard are straight-foward. You get accesibility right from the get-go. I like that when you create a sound you can save it in an empty User bank, avoiding the overwriting of an existing sound. The category buttons make it very easy to find a desired sound. The D-Beam let's you be as creative as you want to. The keys in the Yamaha synths tend to feel very very cheap. I was very pleased with the queality of the keys in the Roland RS-50.

Quality:
Keep in mind you're not buying a cheap piece of work from panasonic, studiologic, Alesis, or even Yamaha (for $500) You're buying an extremely well desingned piece of eqquipment which is capable of fulfilling your needs from an amateur to a professional. If you look closely to the musicians who accompanny Alicia Keys, Ray Charles, Brian Mcknight, Lauren Hyll, Josh Groban, Stevie Wonder among many other greats you will see a Roland Synth or Workstation. Everything about this keyboard is well constructed for the price.

Value:
The is absolutely no way you will find something better for the $500 price tag. I am absolutely sure. I have owned the other two synths in themarket that compete against the Roland RS-50. 1)Yamaha S03 (keys felt cheap, has weak acoustic piano sounds) 2)Alesis QS.6 (It should sold at no more than $300, Sounds more like a Casio or Concertmate sound engine than an Alesis) The Roland RS-50 is the most well-rounded synth out there, with out a doubt. If you're still not sure go to the Roland site and take the interactive tour of the Roland RS-70 which has the same sound engine as the RS-50 and you be the judge. Then do the same and go to the Yamaha site and the Alesis site and you tell me the difference.

Desirability:
The structure of this synth is very solid. The keys feel very comfortable. with the Yamaha S03 the keys are so flimsy you end up plying additional keys by mistake. This doesn't happen with the RS-50. The Pitch bend/ Modulation wheel is the same structure of the Roland XP-50 and Roland XP-80. I have a feeling that this synth replaced not only the RolandXP-10, XP-30 but also the XP-50. I know the XP boards had lot more sounds in it, but most of the sounds ended up being repetitive and used to get in the way of the good sounds. The acoustic pianos are eerily similar. I know because my best friend has the Roland XP-50. We sat together and played them noticing the same thing I just told you. The also have a curiously similar LCD display. I'll never part with it. I'm hoping to sell my Yamaha but not the Roland.

Sound:
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL EVERYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS BOARD, THAT IT IS NOT THE SAME SOUND ENGINE OF THE ROLAND RS-5. The first thing I noticed was the tremendous quality of the acoustic pianos. They sound extremely similar to the ones of the Roland XP boards. Every sound is very well crafted. You can actually hear the subtle nuances and layers of a sound, bringing the quality of the patch to a higher level in comparison to other boards in the same category.

Support:
I called to ask how I could access the User bank without having to navigate through the entire Piano sound bank. I had to go online to find the number because it was not in the manual. (Or at least could not find it in there) I spent less than 8 minutes from the time I placed the call to the time the Roland representative answered it.

Overall:
You get your money's worth, and end up getting more than expected. The overall quality is what ultimately sets it apart from all the other synths in its category. (Yamaha S03, Alesis SQ.6, etc, etc, etc.)

"Roland RS-50, 100% improvment over the RS-5 in sound and features!"

Feature:
I won't go over what you can find on the net alredy but I'll go over the things I could not find untell I bought the RS-50. The software editor that is included seems to work well in winXP and is quite powerfull and the user interface is nice. This keyboard does not have aftertouch keys but you can assign aftertouch to any of the three assignable knobs, D-Beam, Foot switch, or the modulation control. There are many assignable parameters that can be moved around between different controlers. There is no sequencer in this synth but i'm giving it a 10 anyway because I was not looking for a sequencer I use a computer for that. There are 128 user sounds, 2 user drum kits that do store in the synth and are not lost when powered off. There are many sounds 256GM2, over 700 in total and I'm not sure but I think this synth only supports GM2 and not Rolands GS because there is not mention of it anywhere. It seems all sound have been upgraded in quaity even the standard GM sounds.

Quality:
Well the design is the same as the RS-5 but the RS-50 feels less cheap in the plastic areas. The top panel is a real brushed metal and the keys and sides are plastic. Overall it seems like its good quality and will hold up well. The knobs and controlers are a good quality but also made of plastic. The RS-50 looks very pro and a very sexy synth indeed.

Value:
I bought the RS-5 last year and returned it the next day. I saw that the RS-50 was being released and I had not interest because it reminded my of the RS-5. By chance I noticed the new features one day when browsing a music store and started to play is and the first thing I noticed was the piano sound, the RS-5 has bad piano's. Then the addition in the D-beam was cool and very usefull if you try to get creative with it. The assinable controlers were a plus and the full editing of patches. Every feature in this synth will be usefull.

Desirability:
Well based on the reviews I've read about the RS-5 and then owning one for a day and just hating the thing I think that will hurt the sales of this fine synth so this is why I'm writing a detailed review. The synth looks sexy with it brushed metal panel and orange LCD.

Sound:
This is my 3rd Roland Synth and the best yet and not even the more expensive of the three. All sounds are great and the piano's are the best I've heard on a Roland so far (32MB ROM). The ability to edit sound is great too. Very very good improvment over the RS-5 in terms of sound and features.

Support:
Roland has always been funny in this area, I have never needed support but I have wished for the ability to download manuals off there web sites and there product descriptions and information s@@k. I could not get any details on the RS-50 untel I went out and found them for myself. Roland needs to get there act togerther and put up some technical specs and details on there products... Plus most review and sales sites just copy and paste Rolands info and that down not help the buyers at all.

Overall:
This synth will last me a few years I will eventualy want to get something with a weighted action and 88 keys. Please don't relate any RS-5 reviews to this new RS-50 it's improved 100%

"The RS-50 makes me look important on stage."

Feature:
Cutoff/Resonance/Attack/Decay/Release/LFO/D Beam/Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever/Phrase/Arpeggio Generator all easily accessible.

Quality:
Looks and feels great. Keys get small scratches easily...Brand new RS-50 had tiny scratch on display screen, not too noticeable.

Value:
I paid $600 at a local shop, a week later they raised the price to $800. I would not spend more than $600 on this Keyboard. With the comparitively small pricetag comes a great name brand, a beautiful keyboard, and all of the patches that are on the upper-level workstations.

Desirability:
Very Sleek and attractive. Wouldn't ask for any other design on this model.

Sound:
The sound quality of various patches is very high. This is a great keyboard for live peformance.

Support:
Haven't needed any yet...

Overall:
Great machine, not too difficult to use or too pricy. Personally I would rather see more synth effects, but then perhaps it wouldn't be as well rounded.