Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $390
Standard/Professional
$249
$700+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Unlock the world of audio creativity with the Roland S-550 Sampler, an iconic piece of music gear that has been a staple in DJ and producer setups since its debut. This powerful audio sampler is revered for its 12-bit sampling capability, delivering that classic, vintage sound that digital aficionados crave. Perfectly suited for both live performances and studio work, the S-550 offers a versatile platform for artists looking to inject unique audio elements into their music.
Equipped with a user-friendly interface, the S-550 allows seamless integration with other MIDI devices, making it a breeze to layer and manipulate sounds. Its comprehensive editing features include time-stretching and pitch-shifting, enabling musicians to customize their tracks with precision. The sampler's compatibility with external monitors provides a visual guide to your audio projects, enhancing workflow efficiency. Its robust memory capacity ensures that you can store and recall numerous samples without a hitch.
Whether you're sampling classic vinyl or crafting entirely new sounds, the Roland S-550 empowers you to explore the limits of your musical imagination. With its reliable performance and intuitive design, this sampler is a valuable addition to any musician's toolkit, offering endless possibilities for creative expression.
Key Features:
- 12-bit sampling for vintage sound quality
- MIDI compatibility for seamless integration with other devices
- Comprehensive editing capabilities including time-stretching and pitch-shifting
- Supports external monitors for enhanced visual editing
- Robust memory capacity for storing multiple samples
- Ideal for both live performances and studio production
Product specs
| Brand | Roland |
| Model | S-550 Digital Sampler |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1988 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | Rackmount Synths, Samplers |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Polyphony | 16 Voices |
FAQs
-
What are the main connectivity options for the Roland S-550 Sampler?
-
The Roland S-550 Sampler features MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, allowing seamless integration with other MIDI-enabled devices.
-
How many voices of polyphony does the Roland S-550 Sampler offer?
-
The Roland S-550 Sampler provides 16 voices of polyphony, enabling complex layering and multi-sample playback.
-
Is the Roland S-550 Sampler suitable for live DJ performances?
-
Yes, the Roland S-550 Sampler is suitable for live DJ performances, offering robust MIDI connectivity and digital sampling capabilities ideal for creative audio manipulation.
-
Can the Roland S-550 Sampler be used with modern MIDI controllers?
-
The Roland S-550 Sampler can be used with modern MIDI controllers, thanks to its standard MIDI I/O ports, facilitating integration into contemporary setups.
-
What type of synthesis does the Roland S-550 Sampler utilize?
-
The Roland S-550 Sampler utilizes digital sampling synthesis, allowing users to capture and manipulate audio samples for diverse sound creation.
Videos
Espen Kraft
Roland S-550 | Demo/Review
Roland S-550 | Demo/Review
Espen Kraft
A few classic Roland S-550 sounds
SynthMania
Vintage Sampler Roland S-550 Funky demo
Aly James
I tried playing the S-550 (Roland Vintage Sampler) Cool Synth Base!
SA-105 Project
Reviews
PROS
-
Unique 12-bit sampling for raw, gritty sound quality
-
Features 8 tracks of Time Variable Filters (TVF) for dynamic sound shaping
-
Visual sequencing and editing for a hands-on music crafting experience
-
Offers a vintage vibe with composite video outputs and SD floppy disks
-
Aggressive and flexible analog filters enhance sound textures
-
Capable of waveform drawing and real-time automatic waveform modification
-
Multiple outputs and keyboard zone divider for complex setups
-
Unison mode offers fat sounds, akin to classic Roland synths
-
Modifiable OS for added functionality, including sequencer capabilities
CONS
-
Known for noise issues, requiring technical skills to fix
-
Steep learning curve due to complexity and unique interface
-
Lacks an auto-boot OS, though a mod exists to add this feature
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland S-550 Sampler.
Setup and maintenance
Software and compatibility
Features and functionality
-
The S-550 supports external display and mouse control for graphic sample editing, reminiscent of an affordable Fairlight.
Source
Mods and upgrades
-
A floppy emulator is suggested for those with non-floppy sample files, potentially circumventing compatibility issues with modern systems.
Source -
Some users refer to the llamamusic.com website for potential capacitor issues to address, ensuring the S-550 remains operational with fewer bench visits.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 7 Ratings
39
beautiful and phosphorescent
no worlds to describe this sampler, it is fair , it is little bit complicated , it no have an auto-boot os (exist a mod to have this) but have a fantastic and aggressive filter , 8 separated output, keyboard zone divider, an hacked os for make it a sequencer (it's name was doctors-s), it is like a fairlight of the poor, with an oscilloscope , waveform drawing, sampling, cutting and automatic waveform modify ( yes , it mirror the grain selected in a 2 or 3 kind of similar mods). and all in realtime.
103
Underrated sampler
An awesome 80s 12-bit sampler with mulitple outputs, analog filters and sequencer. It is also a synth where you can draw your own waveforms, flexible envelopes, the possibility to connect a monitor and mouse makes it dead simple to use. And there is a quite fat sounding unison mode similar to the other Roland synths from that time like MKS-80, JX-8P.
41010
where did you find this?
103
Can you be a little more specific?
41010
I never see these working in person and I am suspicious of ebay and don't like to buy music technology I can't fix myself....
103
Well, I love it. I replaced the floppy drive with USB floppy emulator. Plus I bought a program for reading and writing floppy images on pc. Recently I added a video card which makes it possible to connect a standard vga pc monitor.
Artist usage
Add artist
"We use the same basic gear for live work and recording: an Oberheim Xpander, Juno 106, MKS80, Prophet VS, D550, S550, all run off UMI."
In this video at 26:27 see Roland S-550 sampler
.png)
In this picture of Kondo's sound studio, the S550 is sitting in the rack behind him.
Per Music Technology magazine Sept., 1988:
Currently Saunderson's favourite sampler is his Roland S550 - a fairly recent acquisition.
"I have around 125 disks for it", he enthuses. "I use it for drum sounds, synth sounds, guitar sounds, orchestra sounds, strings, jungle sounds, church bells... More or less anything, really. In fact, the S550's taken over from the Mirage. That's out."
You can see the Roland S 550 at the 2:21 minute mark of the attached video.
In Manuel Göttsching's Studio Roma, the Roland S-550 Sampler is featured among his equipment, as shown on the Ashra website.
In a video titled "peter howell in his new studio at the bbc radiophonic workshop in 1989," uploaded by BL MT on YouTube, the Roland S-550 Sampler can be seen and mentioned on Peter Howell's computer monitor during his time at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop is mentioned using the Roland S-550 Sampler in their workshop diary, as documented in Whitefiles.
"@aeon_timelord Lots. Roland D-50, D-110, JX3P, SH-101, S-550 Sampler, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Yamaha DX7, TX81Z…possibly more I've forgotten!"
List of Synths he used for The Curse of Fenric.
.jpg?v=1782148208)
Rodney Orpheus is confirmed to use the Roland S-550 Sampler, as it is listed on The Cassandra Complex gear page, authored by Rodney himself.
Email from Tommy Tallarico from a fan who replied to him.
"Hi Dell!, I use the S-550 for sampling, and The Roland JD-800 for my main synth (which I also used as a controller for GEMS) and a little later the JP-8000. I would also add in some Roland Juno 1 stuff as well. The other thing I used was a Kawai K3 Keyboard, K4 Rack mount and Kawai Q-80"
Album Usage
The Roland S-550 Sampler 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 S-550 Sampler, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yours
More Roland Audio Samplers
$285.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$445.00 - $499.99
in Audio Samplers Rank
$599.99 - $689.99
in Audio Samplers Rank
$270.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$406.68
in Audio Samplers Rank
$346.88
in Audio Samplers Rank
$1,704.49
in Audio Samplers Rank
$170.50 - $269.99
in Audio Samplers Rank
$128.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$275.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$306.91
in Audio Samplers Rank
$249.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$35.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$35.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$375.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$132.82
in Audio Samplers Rank
$109.99 - $256.75
in Audio Samplers Rank
-m.webp?v=1782140809)
$1,470.05 - $1,799.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
.jpg?v=1781915066)
$175.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
-m.webp?v=1782140382)
$299.03
in Audio Samplers Rank
$425.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
.jpg?v=1782029281)
$248.45
in Audio Samplers Rank
$250.00 - $478.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$284.00 - $349.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$225.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$89.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$19.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$95.69
in Audio Samplers Rank
$2,429.00 - $3,099.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$491.73
in Audio Samplers Rank
$725.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$233.27
in Audio Samplers Rank
$150.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
.jpg?v=1780372966)
$584.10 - $699.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$16.99 - $190.00
in Audio Samplers Rank
$377.00 - $528.99
in Audio Samplers Rank
in Audio Samplers Rank
$107.65
in Audio Samplers Rank
Accessories & Related Items
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Audio Samplers
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
kirabirGear IQ 103
-
