Roland RS-505 Paraphonic

4 octaves, with three sections. a section "strings", a section "synthesizer" section and "bass". In the end, it's pretty close to what we have also an ARP Omni ... There is, against a slider pitch bend, but oddly is not the "middle", it can be a pitch down, that's it! All orders are on top of base rock sliders or switches. I really like, it's like using a derrire organ. In addition, at home against ARP, the Roland of the 70's really super strong, and a quality irrprochable. The connection is very well for a machine out in 1978. Stereo output (yes ...), between one to handle external signals by the famous Roland Stereo Chorus, and the usual connectivity CV Gate. There is a fixed point of split, which also gives the limit for the bottom section or rocker switches (up / down).
And there is especially the famous Roland chorus! It is in fact almost all the intrt of this machine. A swith which allows to move from postion 1 - 2 - 3, and between its external spend another synth by Stereo Chorus. Note that the chorus can be attributed to three sections. A good vintage LFO is still hovering well add this ...

UTILIZATION

It's not really an analog synth ... is above all a String Machine with a section in complment synth rev limit and a small super bonus section low. Nothing else! So the use is very simple too. Trs enjoyable to use, it comes out without instructions. No memory, no MIDI, just the CV Gate history of being a pilot squenceur (but what intrt ... or may be the bottom section).

SOUNDS

Despite the limitations empty, the stringer trs trs Roland is doing well. Thanks to Stereo Chorus, which provides a width in the sound really amazing. Sound of a string diffrent Solina (truly unique ...), since the basic sound is not the same, the effect of "all" is not the same. The sound of the RS-505 is sweeter softer, "Vangelis", closer to some ground found on the old Genesis from 1978 to 1980, Ashra, etc ... In short, it sounds good Roland.

The synth section is trs trs simple, sweet with envelopes trs. Its really a percussive JP-4 (though released at the same time) is absolutely not possible. It really is in the purest spirit paraphonique synth. The filter is very fluid, much like the SERIES SH, and comes into rsonnance. With a bit of LFO, it's easy to make a good little slick 70's, or an imitation piano analog really cheap ...

By the lower body against possde impressive. She fills the space of a Manir which only the analog synths are capable of. Hard to explain ... it must be heard to be believed. But with section 3 to "On", the one with the shortest possible attack on a slick synth section in the well-Arian string section and a very low round and full in the bottom position of chorus II for the string section, and a very slow LFO applied to the entire keyboard, and you transport your analog world in a wonderful 70's ultra glide!

In Manir gnrale, always compare the ARP Omni, the Paraphonic is softer, sweeter. The ARP Omni, it's a relatively "raw" and pais. The Roland gets away with much more finesse! It Integrates into a mix at all easy, the sound is perfect right now.

OVERALL OPINION

A relatively rare instrument in our counter. May also be a little msestim due to the release of the VP-330 almost at the same time, who lost in the synth section dtriment a vocoder legendary! on the other hand, it is found more than acceptable price (300 - 350 Euros), while the VP-330 is found almost never below 1000 Euros ... and the RS-505 is an excellent carrier for a Vocoder external analog (I have a MAM going great for cel!)

Mine is a Japanese version, with an AC adapter for ... against the state is nearly new instrument for 30 years of age. As an amateur string machine, I'd say it's a classic, the same way as a Solina, Logan, Lambda, etc ... to the sound unique.