The Roland DC-50 Digital Chorus, released in late 1977 or ealry 1978, was Roland’s first dedicated chorus unit to combine analogue chorus and digital echo effects in a single, compact, desktop enclosure. Despite its “digital” branding, the chorus circuit was fully analogue, utilising Bucket Brigade Device (BBD) technology to deliver the lush, warm modulation effects that became a hallmark of early Roland designs. The hall echo, however, marked Roland’s early experimentation with digital delay technology, offering performers an accessible way to add spaciousness and ambience to their sound.
Designed for vocalists and instrumentalists, the Roland DC-50 featured microphone and instrument inputs, along with a FROM PA input for integration with sound reinforcement systems. The three-step input sensitivity switch allowed it to handle signals ranging from microphones to line-level sources.
The intuitive front panel layout provided independent volume controls for mic and instrument sources, along with dedicated controls for chorus intensity, hall echo level, and a three-way mode selector switch (Chorus / Off / Hall Echo). Output levels could be switched between high, medium, and low to suit different amplification setups.
The Roland DC-50’s chorus effect was capable of transforming a solo vocal into a rich, double-tracked sound, or turning a standard six-string guitar into something resembling a twelve-string. The hall echo recreated the reverberation of a large concert hall, with delay times of 102.4ms (or 113ms in later models with serial numbers 561950 and higher). The chorus delay ranged from 45ms to 65ms, giving subtle to more pronounced modulation.
Additional features included a peak level LED indicator, footswitch input for effect bypass or cancel control, and both power and pilot lamps. The Roland DC-50 was housed in a rugged plywood cabinet covered in black vinyl leather, making it suitable for both studio and stage use. Power compatibility was broad, with selectable AC mains inputs ranging from 100V to 240V at 50/60Hz, consuming 4W (6W on 117V models). It measured 366mm wide, 148mm high, and 245mm deep, weighing 4kg.
Although the Roland DC-50 was quickly followed by more sophisticated devices like the Dimension D SDD-320 in 1979, it holds a unique place in Roland’s history. As their first combined chorus and echo unit, the Roland DC-50 paved the way for future classics, and its distinctively warm analogue sound, paired with primitive but effective digital echo, continues to appeal to collectors and musicians looking for authentic late-1970s Roland effects.
