Sound Design: LA Synthesis

Learn how to simulate the famous Roland D-50 engine with layering techniques in your DAW

The Roland D-50 is one of the most iconic synths of all time. When first launched in 1987, it revolutionised the industry by combining onboard samples with virtual analogue synthesis, followed by integrated effects. That architecture was called LA Synthesis (Linear Arithmetic synthesis). Nowadays, this synthesis structure can be recreated with the tools and synths found in most DAWs, but back in its day, the unique and identifiable sound was lush and huge.

The D-50 appeared on countless late-’80s records – and for Star Trek: The Next Generation fans, it was the sound of that series’ incidental music, specifically the recognisable mallet-with-pad sound, Fantasia. Other legendary presets included Future Pad and Digital Native Dance, with the latter appearing on Michael Jackson’s Bad album.

The exact samples from the D-50 are copyrighted and specific to that instrument, which is why it has such a devout following on Roland Cloud. Many of its samples are so instantly identifiable – and the virtual analogue sound so unlike any other synth – that the instrument’s ‘vintage digital’ sound is still sought after, over three decades later.

But the overall concept of LA Synthesis is easily replicated via modern softsynths, as its essence is based on layering short sampled (or modeled) transients over rich, filtered pad textures, with effects liberally applied to the end of the signal chain.

Today, we’ll look at two approaches to recreating this essential form of synthesis using Ableton Operator and Kilohearts Phase Plant.