Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $4

Budget/Beginner

$500

$1501+

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High-end

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Description

The Roland Sound Canvas SC-50 is a versatile and compact sound module that has made its mark in the world of digital music production. Ideal for both studio and live settings, this sound module is known for its high-quality General MIDI (GM) sounds and ease of use. Whether you're layering lush orchestral strings or crafting intricate electronic beats, the SC-50 offers a reliable platform for both beginner and seasoned musicians.

With the SC-50, you get access to a wide range of sounds that cover everything from traditional instruments to more eclectic options. Its multi-timbral capability allows you to play multiple instruments simultaneously, making it a favorite among composers and arrangers who need to layer tracks without compromising on sound integrity. The intuitive interface ensures that you can navigate through sounds and settings with ease, while the solid build quality means it can withstand the rigors of frequent use.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing setup, the SC-50 connects via MIDI, allowing it to pair with keyboards, sequencers, and computers for a fully customized music experience. This flexibility makes it a valuable addition to any musician's toolkit, ensuring that your creative process is as smooth and uninterrupted as possible.

Key Features:

  • High-quality General MIDI (GM) sound set
  • Multi-timbral capability for simultaneous instrument play
  • User-friendly interface for easy navigation
  • Reliable MIDI connectivity
  • Suitable for both studio and live performance settings

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Roland Sound Canvas SC-50.

Features and functionality

  • The Roland SC-50's sound set is similar to the "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth" found on mid-1990s Windows PCs, offering limited General MIDI sounds.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The SC-50 is an older model with fewer features compared to newer Roland models like the SC-88Pro, which includes an onboard FX unit and more instruments.

    Source
  • Studio Canvas series, such as the SD-20, offers General MIDI 2 compatibility with improved samples and three distinct sound sets for different musical applications.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The Sound Canvas VA and Sound Canvas iOS are software recreations of the SC-8820, providing a modern alternative to the hardware.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The SC-50, being over 25 years old, might not justify its cost compared to more contemporary sound modules that offer enhanced performance and features.

    Source

Critic Reviews

SC-50

synthmania.com

The Roland Sound Canvas SC-50, a streamlined successor to the SC-55, impresses with its surprisingly strong sound quality, particularly in basses, piano, and vibraphone. While it shines in delivering classic tones like '80s synth bass and realistic acoustic instruments, its lack of sound expansion and sequencing capabilities might deter those seeking a more versatile module. As a standard for General MIDI and multimedia work, it offers excellent quality for its price, making it a solid choice for specific sound needs, but its limitations keep it from being a comprehensive solution for all musicians.

Roland SC-50

polynominal.com

4.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 1 Rating

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Paddy McAloon uses Roland Sound Canvas SC-50

Paddy McAloon

Singer, Guitarist

Prefab Sprout

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Among the outboard sound modules McAloon likes to use when choosing final sounds are an EMU Proteus orchestral unit, Korg TR–Rack and two Roland Sound Canvases. The results are recorded to his Tascam MX2424 hard-disk recorder. “I use a lot of sounds that I suppose were designed for dance music,” he points out. “But I use them way out of context. I’ll use one part of the sound and treat it, put it through a delay or put flange on it. I’m trying to disguise the lack of finesse that may exist in the original sound sources.

See how Eric Persing uses Roland Sound Canvas SC-50

Eric Persing

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Spectrasonics

Eric Persing has had a unique and influential relationship with Roland Corp for two decades. He started as a product demonstrator in 1984, showing some of Roland's first MIDI instruments. He quickly became involved in the R&D side with Roland Japan, earning the title "Chief Sound Designer", and began contributing his design ideas, real-world studio experience and sound design expertise. Persing's skills have left their mark on countless classic Roland instruments.

He is the originator of many legendary Roland sounds that have become part of the vocabulary and lexicon of musical sound. These include the Factory D-50 sounds such as Fantasia, Soundtrack and Digital Native Dance, a majority of the JV/XP/XV series Classics, all the Factory JD-800 sounds, the original Juno "Hoover" sound and thousands of others.

Here is a partial list of the Roland instruments that Eric has contributed his sound design, sampling and design consulting skills:

Juno-106 Alpha Juno 1&2 JX-3P JX-8P JX-10 Jupiter 6 Super Jupiter D-50 D-550 D-110 D-10 D-20 D-70 MT-32 U-110 U-20 U-220 Sound Canvas JD-800 JD-990 JV-80 JV-90 JV-1000 JV-1080 JV-2080 XP-10 XP-50 XP-60 XP-80 XV-3080 XV-5050 XV-5080 Fantom JP-8000 JP-8080 S-10 S-220 S-50 S-550 S-770 S-760 S-750 MC-303 MC-500 MC-505 VP-9000 MSQ-700 MSQ-100 MKS-20 MKS-30 MKS-50 MKS-70 MKS-80 R-8 R-5 DR-660 DR-770 R-70 V-Drums V-Drums expansion board SRV-2000 DEP-5 RSP-550 R-880 SRV-330 SE-50 SE-70 VS-880 VS-1680 SR-JV series expansion boards SRX series expansion boards Sound Canvas Project series CD-ROM libraries Archives series CD-ROM libraries Composers series CD-ROM libraries

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 Sound Canvas SC-50, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Roland D-550 Synthesizers & Sound Modules
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Roland S770 Audio Samplers
1
Roland D-110
Roland D-110 Synthesizers & Sound Modules
1
Roland U-20
Roland U-20 Synthesizers
1
Roland JX-8P
Roland JX-8P Synthesizers
1
Roland R8 MKII
Roland R8 MKII Drum Machines
1
Roland VP-9000
Roland VP-9000 Audio Samplers
1
Roland Jupiter-6
Roland Jupiter-6 Synthesizers
1
Roland D-20
Roland D-20 Synthesizers
1

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