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Description

Dive into the nostalgic waves of the late '80s and early '90s with the Roland Boutique D-05. This compact powerhouse resurrects the iconic sounds and digital synthesis prowess of its legendary predecessor. Perfect for musicians seeking analog-esque tones with modern flexibility, the D-05 offers a creative playground with its integrated modulation joystick and expansive sequencing capabilities. Whether you're crafting tracks in your studio or performing live, this synthesizer brings the classic vibe into the modern era without missing a beat.

Key Features:

  • Faithful recreation of a legendary '80s digital synthesizer
  • Rich, analog-esque tones that shaped a musical generation
  • Integrated modulation joystick for dynamic sound shaping
  • 64-step sequencer for intricate melodic patterns
  • Portable design for musicians on the go

Product specs

Brand Roland
Model D-05 Boutique Series Linear Synthesizer Sound Module
Finish Black
Year 2015 - 2025
Categories Desktop Synths, Digital Synthesizers
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI
Polyphony 16 Voices

FAQs

Is the Roland Boutique D-05 a polyphonic synthesizer?

Yes, the Roland Boutique D-05 is a polyphonic synthesizer with 16 voices, allowing for complex and rich sound layering.

How does the Roland D-05 compare to the original Roland D-50?

The Roland D-05 replicates the iconic sound of the D-50 with modern enhancements, including a more compact design and additional functions like USB MIDI connectivity.

Can the Roland D-05 be used as a standalone synthesizer?

The Roland D-05 can be used as a standalone synthesizer, but it requires an external power source or USB power to operate.

What kind of connectivity options does the Roland D-05 offer?

The Roland D-05 features MIDI input and output, as well as USB MIDI, allowing for seamless integration with other MIDI devices and computer-based setups.

Is the Roland D-05 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Roland D-05 is suitable for live performances, offering portability and classic sounds ideal for stage use, though it may need additional amplification.

Does the Roland D-05 include built-in effects?

Yes, the Roland D-05 includes built-in effects, such as chorus and reverb, to enhance and modify the sound output.

RolandChannel

RolandChannel

Roland Boutique D-05 Walkthrough with Legowelt

Video thumbnail for Roland Boutique D-05 Walkthrough with Legowelt by RolandChannel

Roland Boutique D-05 Walkthrough with Legowelt

RolandChannel

RolandChannel

Video thumbnail for Sonic LAB: Roland Boutique D-05 by sonicstate

Sonic LAB: Roland Boutique D-05

sonicstate

sonicstate

Video thumbnail for Roland D-05 Boutique Part.1 [Classic Sounds]  | No Talking | by DKS SYNTH LAB

Roland D-05 Boutique Part.1 [Classic Sounds] | No Talking |

DKS SYNTH LAB

DKS SYNTH LAB

Video thumbnail for Roland Boutique D-05 Preset Walkthrough by soundseasy

Roland Boutique D-05 Preset Walkthrough

soundseasy

soundseasy

Video thumbnail for Roland D-05 Linear Synthesizer | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Roland D-05 Linear Synthesizer | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Video thumbnail for Roland Boutique D-05 synthesizer | Play (sounds demo) by Whentherushcomes

Roland Boutique D-05 synthesizer | Play (sounds demo)

Whentherushcomes

Whentherushcomes

Video thumbnail for Roland D-05 Boutique Linear Synthesizer Sound Module - Overview and Demo by Musician's Friend

Roland D-05 Boutique Linear Synthesizer Sound Module - Overview and Demo

Musician's Friend

Musician's Friend

Video thumbnail for Roland Boutique D-05 unbox, 1st look & sound demo by Marc the Darc

Roland Boutique D-05 unbox, 1st look & sound demo

Marc the Darc

Marc the Darc

Video thumbnail for Roland D-05 - A quick introduction in 1 minute by moogaudio

Roland D-05 - A quick introduction in 1 minute

moogaudio

moogaudio

Reviews

PROS

  • Near-identical sound to the original D-50

  • Includes all the classic D-50 presets and soundcards

  • Portable and compact design

  • Full polyphony of the original, unlike other Boutiques

  • 100% noise-free operation

  • Compatible with D50 librarian software for custom patches

  • More reliable than vintage gear

  • High-quality build and sound

CONS

  • Discontinued, leading to higher second-hand market prices

  • Lacks the physical presence and keyboard of the original D-50

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland Boutique D-05.

Value and pricing

  • It's possible to find unboxed units for around £340-£385, but buyers must be cautious of issues like broken modulation and pitch bend controls.

    Source
  • Current high prices for the D-05 are due to its discontinuation, not a price hike, making it a scarce item.

    Source

Comparisons

  • While the Blofeld is considered for comparison, it requires a sample license for similar functionality, potentially reducing polyphony when mimicking D-50 parameters.

    Source
  • For the same price, alternative synths like the Hydrasynth Explorer are noted for being more versatile and enjoyable to use compared to the D-05.

    Source
  • The D-05 lacks the slight "magical quality" found in the original D-50 sound, though it's indistinguishable in a mix.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The D-05's preset capabilities make it ideal for "impulse playing," with users keeping it accessible for quick jams.

    Source
  • The D-05's compact size is ideal for integration into a small, dawless setup.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners enjoy using the D-05's sequencer, describing it as one of the most enjoyable in their setups, despite the challenging interface.

    Source
  • Owners find the interface challenging, describing it as "horrendously bad," necessitating external programming software for effective use.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The D-05 is compatible with Patchbase editor for iPad, providing a streamlined interface for easier programming and parameter control.

    Source
  • The D-05 doesn't require periodic internet connection checks like the Roland Cloud software, offering more standalone functionality.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Unlike the D-50, the D-05 includes a built-in sequencer and arpeggiator, expanding its standalone performance capabilities.

    Source
  • The D-05 offers dual mode, allowing 8-voice bitimbral operation, effectively splitting or layering patches for richer sounds.

    Source
  • The D-05 includes 'Vintage' and 'Modern' modes, allowing users to toggle between original tones and a cleaner, modern sound.

    Source
  • The D-05 is unique among Roland Boutiques for offering 16-voice polyphony, unlike other models which typically have only 4 voices.

    Source
  • The D-05 comes pre-loaded with all expansion cards available for the original D-50, enhancing its versatility.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Ultimate Patches offers preset packs with around a thousand new patches for the D-05, providing expanded sound options beyond the factory presets.

    Source
  • Using a PG-1000 programmer enables real-time editing on the D-05, improving performance capabilities over the original D-50.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Roland D-05

soundonsound.com

The Roland Boutique D-05 is a nostalgic yet modern tribute to the iconic D-50, capturing its signature sound with remarkable accuracy. It offers full polyphony, real-time parameter changes, and additional features like an arpeggiator and sequencer. However, its reliance on USB power, 3.5mm sockets, and rear-panel volume control may limit professional live use. Ideal for studio enthusiasts, the D-05 delivers authentic D-50 tones in a compact and affordable package, making it a worthy addition for fans of vintage digital synthesis.

positive

Roland Boutique D-05 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Roland Boutique D-05 revives the digital synth classic, D-50, with a charmingly compact form. It captures the original's rich, complex sounds that evoke 80s nostalgia. The inclusion of a polyphonic sequencer and arpeggiator are standout features, adding creative depth. While it nails the vintage vibe, the fiddly programming interface and limited output options disappoint, feeling cheap for its price range. However, for those enamored with retro digital tones, the D-05’s sonic authenticity and affordable compactness make it a delightful addition to any synth collection.

positive

Review: Roland D-05 : Ask.Audio

ask.audio

Roland's D-05 brings back the iconic sounds of the D-50 with a stylishly portable twist. While the tiny knobs and editing limitations might irk deep sound sculptors, the built-in sequencer and arpeggiator breathe new life into this classic. A dream for history-loving keyboardists, but not for those seeking full sound customization.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 8 Reviews and 28 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
wavesequence

Notes

In 1993 I bought a second hand D-50 but its keyboard was completely without aftertouch and dynamics was quite hard to manage. On one hand I was fascinated by its timbre on the other hand I realized that the instrument was really a crap and only when driven by an external keyboard I obtained the sounds I had in mind. Thus after almost six/eight months of suffering I gave it away to a musician who used it as an expander. Several years after, Roland had this great idea to reissue a great classic synthesizer such as D-50, in a more compact size. The sound is unmistakably the same.

seansnow99

Amazing !!

This is such a great synthesizer !! Has all the classic D-50 presets, as well as all the soundcards built in !! One of the best boutiques, as it is a digital synth replicating the sound of a digital synth, apposed to a digital synth replicating an analog synth, so the sounds are pretty much identical to the actual D-50.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Fantasia/Digital native dance ext. Some of the greatest presets ever created !!

From Gear Setup
ronaldcaramit

Awesome

I wanted to buy another D-50, but it it hard to find one of them with good price and good condictions. But I found this little toy and loved it.

enorthby

Near flawless remake

Roland knows what the people want! forget the old mega heavy Synth from the 80's purchase this boutique synth and enjoy the same quality results for a game changing synth from the past.

mookid_

It's a D50

its a d50 in module form. only thing youre missing really is the ability to use cards.

jeffersonweber

D 50 in a box plus extras!

Tons of Patches included and tons available online! love it!

From Gear Setup
hexcode

Nice!

Pretty little Synthezieser! It has so many presets, and it´s very small!

synth_mike

Classic recreated

Well build, well sounding, classic sounds 80s

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Peter Sagar uses Roland Boutique D-05

Peter Sagar

Singer, Guitarist

Mac DeMarco

...
Verified via Red Bull

Seen in Sagar's home studio, used mainly on Fresh Air

See how Legowelt uses Roland Boutique D-05

Legowelt

Music Producer

...
Verified via Legowelt

Off a dedicated page under the "Synthesizers" section of Legowelt's official website: "2017 mini Boutique version of the legendary classic 1987 Roland D50 synthesizer manufactured to celebrate its 30th year anniversary. A 64 step polyphonic step sequencer, arpeggiator and expanded memory for patches are some new additions." It also presents a downloadable soundbank which he made for the product.

See how HOMESHAKE uses Roland Boutique D-05

HOMESHAKE

Homeshake

...
Verified via Red Bull

In a Red Bull studio tour feature, HOMESHAKE is seen using the Roland Boutique D-05 synthesizer while working on their album "Helium."

See how Chris Vrenna uses Roland Boutique D-05

Chris Vrenna

Drummer, Music Producer

Nine Inch Nails

...
Verified via Chris Vrenna

Chris Vrenna includes the Roland Boutique D-05 under the "Hardware synths" section on his official website, as confirmed by Chris Vrenna himself.

See how Emile Haynie uses Roland Boutique D-05

Emile Haynie

Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

In this article Emile Haynie says he uses the Roland D-05 Boutique Synth Module and is shown in one of the photots

See how Doctor Sung uses Roland Boutique D-05

Doctor Sung

Singer, Keyboardist

TWRP

...
Verified via YouTube

In this livestream clip at 11:27 you can see Doctor Sung talk about his Roland Boutique D-05. He explains how desktop modules are a great cheap alternative to buying full size synthesizers.

See how Eric Persing uses Roland Boutique D-05

Eric Persing

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

In a YouTube video by RolandChannel titled "Roland D-50 Celebration Moments with Eric Persing," Eric Persing is shown using the Roland Boutique D-05, highlighting its faithful reproduction of the original sound.

See how Steve Levine uses Roland Boutique D-05

Steve Levine

Composer, Music Producer

Culture Club

...
Verified via Roland Cloud

"The great advantage of Roland Cloud, especially in the rough demo or sketch stage, was to have all the classic synths at your disposal. The ability to initially have multiple instances of the same synthesizer running together (something that would be difficult, and very expensive) is one of the wonderful features of the cloud. ‍ Once a track was created and approved, I could easily start printing or rendering the audio and in some cases double the sounds with my vintage hardware. ‍ This was especially true of the D-50 as I have the Roland Cloud version, the new Boutique 05, and my original D-550. The latter has some of my own sounds I created many years ago, but instantly evoke the sound of the ’80s. This was very important to the overall tone and vibe of Hyperbrawl.

I also loved mixing, say, the JUNO sounds with the JUPITER sounds. I also used the JUPITER arpeggiator on many of the parts as this added an extra melody or rhythm and is very different from the often more-complicated DAW versions."

See how Johan Berlin uses Roland Boutique D-05

Johan Berlin

Keyboardist

Eclipse

...
Verified via Gig Performer Community

Johan Berlin uses the Roland Boutique D-05 as part of his musical setup. As detailed in the Gig Performer Community, Johan shared that after releasing an album and being asked to play live, he purchased a used D-05 Boutique to complement his reliance on D50 sounds, stating, "I saw a small D-05 Boutique that I purchased used and thought that now at least I have two!" This supports his need for authentic 1988/89 sound replication during live performances.

Album Usage

The Roland Boutique D-05 has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Roland Boutique D-05, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

Show yours
jamie_breustedt

jamie_breustedt

Gear IQ 124

dandydust

dandydust

Gear IQ 180

dandydust

dandydust

Gear IQ 180

chase_h_xealot

chase_h_xealot

Gear IQ 145

jeffersonweber

jeffersonweber

Gear IQ 820

seansnow99

seansnow99

Gear IQ 1764

seansnow99

seansnow99

Gear IQ 1764

chase_h_xealot

chase_h_xealot

Gear IQ 145

can_kutlu

can_kutlu

Gear IQ 149

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