Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A synth a lot of people have requested that I finally managed to borrow! Thank you to the owner.

The RS-505 or Paraphonic-505 was released in 1978 and was so called because it could make numerous sounds in parallel. The term "paraphonic" has been reappropriated in recent years to refer to instruments (like the 505) that were polyphonic, but that only had one filter and one amp.

Here's Marc Doty's series on synthesizer polyphony that I mention:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHGZsq10nFV_hYzC5KOXPVfrLfUYNkBed

In this video I go through the sounds and make a full track with it, but also discuss my thoughts about whether it warrants the high prices it now commands.

If you like the end song, it's available here: alexball.bandcamp.com/track/roland-paraphonic-505-the-light

I mentioned Anders forgot he owned an MP-600 and so he made this: youtu.be/QqK-0vYpNmw

0:00 Intro
0:53 Bass Sounds
3:02 What Roland meant by "Paraphonic"
5:06 Polyphonic Sounds
6:53 All Sounds Together
7:35 External Audio
8:02 Thoughts & Summary
10:36 Contextual Demonstration

Gear Used:
Roland Paraphonic-505
Roland System 100m
Roland System 500
Ryk 185
Korg SQ-1
Roland SH-2
Roland SH-1000
Musicaid Simmons SDS-3
Oberheim DX (used but not filmed)
Ibanez Jem 7DBK

Social & My Music:
instagram.com/alexballmusic
alexball.bandcamp.com