Roland RA-50 Realtime Arranger

The Roland RA-50 gives you high quality synthesizer sounds, reverb sounds, automatic accompaniment performance etc. resulting in a powerful one man band system.

It features excellent functions and therefore can be used by inexperienced and professional players.

The RA-50s' 'intelligent' Arranger section automatically produces a tasteful accompaniment consisting of drums, bass, and other instruments ( such as piano, percussion,and horns ) that is based on the chord you play and the music style you choose.

32 preset music styles, which each feature an additional variation, are provided. You can also choose between 'basic' or 'advanced' versions of these styles, giving you 128 ( 32 styles x 2 original / variation x 2 basic / advanced ) different accompaniment possibilities.

You can add other creative variations to an arrangement using the fill in function which lets you switch smoothly between a music style or its variation after a fill in pattern is played. By pressing 'to original button', the style changes back to the original style after another fill in is played. A break function lets you stop the performance for a single measure to perform your own fill-ins in real time.

To begin or complete your arrangements with a professional touch you can use the RA-50's built-in intro and ending functions. 'Chord intelligence' function allows you to play full chords with just one or two fingers. 'Chord hold' sustains a chord on the lower .

'Sync start' lets you start the performance automatically when you press a note.

Eight programmable user programs are provided for creating your own customized combinations of parameters for use with different songs or arrangements. Each user program stores settings for upper and lower tones, music styles, tempo, level balance, effects and other functions, and can be accessed instantly by pressing a single button at any time during a performance.

The RA-50 also provides a 'melody intelligence' function which creates block chords for accompaniment based on the melody and bass note.

Additional styles are available on Roland's optional library of Music Style cards ( TN-SC1 and TN-SC2 series).

A midi module with auto arranger functions.

A simpler version of he RA-90 Plugs into any Midi instrument via MIDI cable, (or stand alone as a drum machine:) and works as a drum machine which can also create bass lines and accompaniments when connected to an instrument.

With organ, piano ( 128 preset L/A synthesis sounds ).

30 variations of drum rhythms.

The RA-50 has eight MIDI configuration power-up modes.

By turning the unit on while holding down the appropriate MIDI SET button, the RA-50 will automatically assign the proper MIDI functions for use with a midi piano, guitar, keyboard, or accordion.

Specifications :

32 music styles.

Arranger Control: Start / Stop,

Arranger Select,

Intro / Ending, Break,

Chord Intelligence,

Melody Intelligence,

Chord Hold, Split Point,.

2 Sound Source Sections

LA Digital Synthesis ( 32 Partials, 13 Structures ),

128 Tones,

30 Rhythm Tones,

Maximum 32 voices.

Digital Reverb: 8 Types ( Hall 1 / 2, Plate 1 / 2, Room 1 / 2, Delay 1 / 2 )

Front Panel: 74 Switches, Master Volume, Tempo. Display: 16 Character x 2 lines backlit LCD . Indicators: Switch x 19, Beat x 4, Midi Message x 1.

Rear Panel: Ext. Pedal jacks x 3, MIDI ( KBD ) In / Out, Output Jacks x 2 ( L / Mono, R ), Headphones jack, DC in jack, Power switch, Card slot. Power Supply: 9V DC ( when using supplied adaptor)

Owners Manual (RA-50_OM.pdf) - Roland