Roland S-50/S-550/S-330/S-760/W-30 Sampler Homepage - Info - DIY - Free Samples - GOTEK - SCSI2SD

Another S‑550 owner with this same video board has put together a great overview of how it works including the menus. For more details check out freudelheim

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you experience any problems with the screen shaking, freezing or rolling around, try resetting the GBS8200 board back to the defaults by pressing and holding the "DOWN/AUTO" button for more than 5 seconds. This will reset the GBS8200 board into the 800*600 output mode

If you want to take a chance and venture into the cryptic Chinese menus, the quick route to get English displayed is made by pressing:
          MENU   >  UP   >   MENU   >   UP   >   UP   >   MENU   >   MENU

Other menu functions (with no OSD menu showing on the monitor)
     Auto‑Scan: DOWN/AUTO
     Reset The Board: Press and hold DOWN/AUTO for 5 seconds
     Video Mode‑Select (RGBS / RGBHS / YPbPr): UP (RGBS = 15‑pin VGA connector)
This video board is very easy to use. If you need additional menu info and technical specs, you can download the GBS 6800 Operation Manual at this link

If this video board will be used with an S‑50 or S‑330, an inexpensive metal housing is recommended to keep the static sensitive components safe. I use a Hammond 1599DD aluminum enclosure (normally used as a guitar pedal case). If this is to be used with an S‑550 and there is no HD5‑IF SCSI Interface Card installed, you can do what I did and take advantage of the empty space on the underside. Place the video board inside the sampler like so...

(GBS 8200 Video Board With 8‑pin DIN Cable From P11 Mounted In The Underside Compartment Of An S‑550)

GBS 8200 Video Board With 8‑pin DIN Cable From P11 Mounted In The Underside Compartment Of An S‑550	(Dell E176FP 17" LCD Flat Screen Monitor (click for larger image)
	Sharp LL-T15A4-B 15" LCD Flat Screen Monitor (click for larger image)

$20 (USD). Now that's the kind of DIY I like... nice and inexpensive!

If needed, here is some more detailed info;
I tested the GBS 8200 video board with a Sharp LL‑T15A4‑B 15" LCD Flat Screen VGA Color Monitor (manufactured in 2003 ‑ specs) and a Dell E176FP 17" LCD Flat Screen VGA Color Monitor (manufactured in 2006 ‑ specs). In addition to a standard 15‑pin VGA Out connector, there is also a 12‑pin socket (P12) on the GBS 8200 video board which provides a video output signal for R, G, B, VSYNC, HSYNC, and GROUND. If you have an older style monitor like a CGA, EGA, or RGB, this extra 12‑pin connector might be able to adapt to those older style monitors by using a different connector arrangement. For this DIY, the included 8‑pin connector (P11) with six wires was used. You might be tempted to use a tap off of the main S‑550 circuit board to supply power for the GBS 8200 video board. Don't do it. Ordering a replacement circuit board for vintage gear like the S‑550 is not an option. Play it safe and stick with a cheap external power supply. An external power supply will also help to isolate any hum the GBS 8200 video board might introduce into the S‑550 audio circuit

How To Share 1 Monitor With 2 Or More Roland S‑Series Samplers

If you have 2 or more Roland S‑Series Samplers, this inexpensive DIY is for you. Complete plans are contained in this PDF file
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S-50_S-550_A-B_Switch-Box_DIY

Using A Non‑Roland Mouse With S‑550, S‑330 or S‑7xx Samplers

NOTE: The S‑50 will not work with any type of mouse. The EXT CONTROLLER port on the back of the S‑50 will only work with the optional DT‑100 Digitizer Tablet. If you plug a mouse into the EXT CONTROLLER port, you run the risk of causing a short circuit in the sampler. Likewise, if you plug a non‑Roland mouse into the EXT CTRL port on the S‑550, S‑330, S‑750, S‑760 or S‑770, you run the risk of causing a short circuit. If this happens, see the Roland Fuse Reference Webpage

After losing bid after bid on expensive MU‑1 mice at eBay, I decided to purchase a KMTech PS/2 to MSX mouse adapter instead. It works flawlessly with my S‑550 and S‑760. The adapter is very small at 63mm x 19mm x 13mm. Compared to the price of a used MSX mouse, this clever adapter board is a bargain at $32 (USD) + shipping. The overseas shipping to the USA was amazingly fast at only 6 business days! The eBay seller is kevinmount* who has a 100% Feedback Rating

The big advantage this adapter has over an MU‑1 mouse is that if the PS/2 mouse goes bad, a replacement is inexpensive as opposed to finding another expensive MU‑1 mouse on eBay. Plus, every MU‑1 or MSX mouse I've seen for sale on eBay is being sold as a used item and is already 20+ years old. I've had excellent results using a WYSE PS/2 (P/N: 770510‑21L / LED Optical Type) and a DELL (P/N: M-S34-6MD / Ball Wheel Type). It's recomended that when using a LED Optical Type mouse, do not use a mousepad with complex patterns. Use one with a solid color or the mouse pointer will jump around the screen

My only complaint about the board is that it needs some type of cover. My solution was to wrap everything with black electrical tape. I can't stand to have an exposed circuit board with static sensitive components glaring at me. It goes against everything I was taught about electronics S50/S550 MOSUE BOARD

           * The item was PS/2 to MSX Mouse Adapter Purchased from eBay seller kevinmount with a 100% positive feedback rating
             Ship time: 6 days from United Kingdom to the USA
             Search eBay for 'MSX Mouse Adapter' and you should be able to find the item right away

2‑Prong Power Cable Replacement DIY

Tired of always looking for that oddball 2‑Prong AC power cable? Do something about it. Here's a super simple mod that will let you use the more common 3‑prong AC cable with your Roland sampler. The cost for parts was less than $1. In addition to always being able to find the right AC cable, this mod adds ground circuit protection. Why is that important? Just ask several S‑50, S‑550 and W‑30 owners who connected their sampler to an ungrounded mixing board. The audio output transistors on their samplers were toasted!!!

The mod is so simple that all it needs is a picture to explain. It's easy as 'connect the dots'. If you buy the correct sized AC power adapter (P/N: 703W‑00/03), it's a 1 for 1 swap, no case modification and no sheet metal to cut. There's even a pre‑drilled hole in the case for the ground wire. Just piggy‑back onto one of the screw holes used for the serial number plate. Easy! The DIY image shows the mod for an MKS‑70 but this will also work with an S‑50, S‑550, W‑30, MKS‑50 and a bunch of other Roland rackmounts and keyboards. If you are using a sampler with something running other than 110/117V AC, please note... this mod has NOT been verified to work on a sampler running 220V/240V. This mod is only for those with electronics experience. Author accepts no liability if you damage your synth or hurt yourself. Always keep one hand behind your back when working with live electrical circuits. It's the best way to stay alive

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AC Power Receptacle Replacement DIY

If you just want to buy a 2‑prong AC replacement cable, don't pay the ridiculous high prices at eBay or elsewhere
The 2‑prong replacement cable is Hosa P/N: PWC-178 and is available at sweetwater.com + always FREE Shipping / NO Minimum!

W‑30 LCD Replacement DIY

Detailed instructions for replacing your old LCD. Not the easiest DIY in the world but the good news is for under $30 (USD), you can get rid of that annoying high pitched shrill in the process

* * * Update: December 2021 * * * A new version of this DIY manual is now available. Feedback from others report that a 100 Ω / 1W resistor works best with the Blue, Black and Monkey Vomit Green displays. Also, most people agree that cutting off the existing LCD wiring harness and reusing it is easier than assembling a new Hirose connector so this has been added as Option #1


W-30 LCD Replacement DIY - Ver. 20211221 (Right‑Click then Save As PDF)	buydisplay.com P/N: ERM24064FS-1 (240x64 Black/White)

W‑30 Backlight Replacement

Over time, the W‑30 backlight will begin to fail and get dimmer. It takes a while to disassemble the W‑30 to gain access to the LCD, but installing a new Electroluminescent Panel (ELP) segment is quick and easy. The old ELP slides out easily after unsoldering two leads

There are several vendors on eBay selling ELP's the price range of $8 to $20 (USD). The most common colors available are Blue or White

When soldering in place, use a heatsink (a large coin also works well) and touch the leads with the soldering iron for only very brief moments and use a lower than normal temperature for the soldering iron. I had to trim off about 1mm from the top and bottom edges to make it fit. However, it's not an issue because this flexible ELP may be bent or cut into any shape. This ELP also works with Roland S‑750, S‑770, AKAI, Kurzweil and EMU samplers. The Roland W‑30 Blogspot has some good before/after pictures about this replacement. A green ELP is shown on that webpage but the instructions are valid

* * * Please Note * * * If your W‑30 has a high pitched and incredibly annoying shrill, that sound is caused by a failing high voltage inverter circuit which drives this ELP. Replacing the ELP will not stop this annoying sound. Your best course of action would be to replace the entire LCD assembly as detailed at this link

W‑30 LCD Contrast Pot Replacement

One of the most common failures on the W‑30 is a broken LCD Contrast Potentiometer which is located on the back of the sampler. This knob has a tendency to break easily during transport because Roland used a sub‑standard plastic part. Symptoms are a wobbly, unreliable knob or worst case scenario, a blank LCD. You can replace this one using an Alpha brand 9mm B10K Ohm potentiometer. The cost is only 67¢ (USD) and is available from taydaelectronics.com. The part number is SKU: A‑1850

This part is not a direct "drop‑in" replacement. Replacing this one is a little tricky because of the tight quarters and the case alignment. I had to cut off a small section at the end of all three pins and bend them at a right angle to make it fit into the PCB holes. I cut two 25mm sections from a strong paperclip, sanded off the outer chrome and soldered them to the ground frame of the pot. I then soldered the other ends to the empty GROUND trace holes on the PCB for stability (the empty GROUND trace holes were leftover from the old potentiometer). The result was a perfect fit. The old potentiometer I removed was a B5K Ohm so I'm not sure if the previous owner of this sampler replaced it sometime in the past or if Roland changed the value to a B5K Ohm on later production models?!? The schematics in the W‑30 Service Notes say this part should be a B10K Ohm pot so that's what I used

Don't get your potentiometers locations mixed‑up like I did

      LCD CONTRAST is on the MAIN BOARD and Silkscreened as VR1
      INPUT GAIN is on the ANALOG BOARD and is also Silkscreened as VR1

Note: This replacement part from taydaelectronics.com is also a plastic part just like the Roland original. A metal shaft potentiometer is too large to fit through the opening in the case unless you drill it larger. You can take your replacement one step further and cut the plastic shaft off flush with the back of the case and add a flat‑blade screwdriver notch for adjustment. This way, if the back of the sampler gets knocked around during transport, the recessed knob will be unaffected. The drawback is of course, it's not very easy to adjust the contrast knob while you are on stage

The INPUT GAIN Potentiometer is also a part which breaks easily but this potentiometer is much harder to replace because of it's odd‑ball value which is C5K Ohm (Anti‑Logarithmic). To date, I've been unable to source an equivalent part number for this potentiometer

S‑50 And W‑30 Control Jack Templates

I designed these templates after being frustrated time and time again by having to move my S‑50 and W‑30 away from the wall to locate where certain audio and control jacks are located. This makes it easier to plug cables in and out without having to always face the back of the sampler... or use a mirror. There are four template variations with different fonts and color schemes for each sampler

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S‑50 Control Jack Templates

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W‑30 Control Jack Templates

File Format: PDF Document

Mouse Or RC‑100 Is Unresponsive, Intermittent Or Not Working (S‑550, S‑330, S‑750 & S‑770)

I always thought the mouse interface on the S‑550 sucked due to a poorly designed operating system. It turns out those claims were unwarranted. I didn't know it at the time but the problem was always with the EXT CTRL 9‑pin connector on the front panel. I opened up five S‑550's and all five had broken or loose solder connections at this PCB location. Due to age, excessive pressure on the case, strain on the 9‑pin connector or a combination of all three, these solder connections break off or become loose. Some of the symptoms include

Mouse or RC‑100 Is sluggish, intermittent, unresponsive or not working at all
Mouse cursor jumps to the bottom of the page
Unable to boot sampler into Mouse Mode or RC‑100 Mode
Settings for Mouse or RC‑100 won't work during system boot (i.e. Holding Numeric '2' Button @ Power‑up)
Mouse or RC‑100 suddenly stops working
Sampler stops and reboots itself for no reason

After reflowing new solder to all 9 pins, the mouse works better than ever now. Of course Murphy's Law kicks in for this fix. This section of the S‑550 is the most difficult to access. It requires no less than the removal of 26 screws, the faceplate, the Jack Board, three wire harnesses and three mounting plates. Have at it!

If you are still having problems with the mouse or RC‑100 after extensive troubleshooting, be aware that there is a 1/6 Watt PICO® Fuse Resistor which may have blown. I remember back in the 1980's when a rash of Atari computers had a similar problem. If a device other than an Atari mouse or joystick was plugged into the 9‑pin jack, it would sometimes create a short and blow a PICO fuse because one of the pins carries a +5V signal. A similar situation may exist here with the S‑550, S‑330, S‑750 and S‑770 (the S‑760 does not use a PICO fuse in the EXT CTRL circuit)

This Fast Blow PICO Fuse (P/N: 0251.750NAT1L) manufactured by Littelfuse has nearly the same resistance as the original of 0.15 Ohms. Since this is a "Fast Blow" fuse, use a heatsink when soldering this component in place. Use a slightly lower than normal soldering temperature and don't let the soldering iron make contact for more than three seconds at a time. Otherwise, the performance may be deteriorated or the fuse may open. This one (P/N: 0251.630MXL) will also work in a pinch. It has a lower blow point (630mA vs. 750mA) and a higher resistance (0.2 Ohm vs. 0.15 Ohm). The differences are so minimal that it should not be an issue (i.e. only 1/20 Ohm). As long as the blow point is lower and the resistance is close, you're covered

The original PICO fuse installed by Roland was a Panasonic P/N#: ERQ16NKR15E ‑ Original Panasonic datasheet: here

Mouse schematics for the S‑550 (Left), S‑330 (Middle) and S‑750/S‑770 (Right) showing fuse resistor locations

Video Output Not Working (S‑550, S‑330, S‑750, S‑760 & S‑770)

If your sampler is having an issue with no video output, it is possible that a fuse in the video circuit has blown. Just like the mouse circuit, the same 1/6 Watt PICO® Fuse Resistor is used. This Fast Blow PICO Fuse (P/N: 0251.750NAT1L) manufactured by Littelfuse has nearly the same resistance as the original of 0.15 Ohms. Since this is a "Fast Blow" fuse, use a heatsink when soldering this component in place. Use a slightly lower than normal soldering temperature and don't let the soldering iron make contact for more than three seconds at a time. Otherwise, the performance may be deteriorated or the fuse may open. This one (P/N: 0251.630MXL) will also work in a pinch. It has a lower blow point (630mA vs. 750mA) and a higher resistance (0.2 Ohm vs. 0.15 Ohm). The differences are so minimal that it should not be an issue (i.e. only 1/20 Ohm). As long as the blow point is lower and the resistance is close, you're covered

One important thing to know is that Pin #1 of the 8-pin DIN connector in the video circuit is connected to the PICO fuse and +5V DC. Pin #1 is used by some monitors and some external video boards but not by others. SCART external video boards and some older RGB monitors require a connection to Pin #1. The GBS 8200 external video board and some older RGB monitors like the Atari SC1224 and SC1435 do not use a Pin #1 connection. If you have no video output with the latter, replacing the PICO fuse will not help so look elsewhere for the problem. If you have no video out and are using an external SCART video board, check for a fried PICO fuse

The original PICO fuse installed by Roland was a Panasonic P/N#: ERQ16NKR15E ‑ Original Panasonic datasheet: here

RGB video schematics for the S‑760 (Left), S‑330 (Middle) and S‑750/S‑770 (Right) showing fuse resistor locations

No Sound Output Or Scratchy Sound Output/Input (S‑550, S‑220 & MKS‑100)

Broken traces on the Switch Board are a common point of failure with the S‑550, S‑220 & MKS‑100. Over time, moving the sampler around will place too much strain on a particular section of the Switch Board and it will eventually crack. This usually occurs when the module is shipped from Point A to Point B. Broken traces on the board will set the total output volume knob to zero which renders the sampler useless. The problem area is located near the REC LEVEL and VOLUME potentiometers (VR1 and VR2). I was able to fix my S‑550 by using epoxy on the broken PCB then soldered some jumper wires to reconnect the traces which were snapped

Scratchy sound or no sound at all can also be related to the REC LEVEL or VOLUME potentiometers (VR1 and VR2). If you are experiencing scratchy sounds when using either of these potentiometers, you can replace them using an inexpensive one manufactured by Bourns. The part is available here at Mouser for less than $1 (P/N#: 652‑PTV09A‑4015FB103). Just like the original B10K potentiometers VR1 and VR2, this replacement has a very short Flatted/D shaft. The pins need to be bent slightly to fit into the PCB but it works perfectly

Special Note For MKS-100 Owners:
The REC LEVEL potentiometer (VR1) for the MKS‑100 is B50K... not B10K so use P/N#: 652‑PTV09A‑4015FB503 for VR1 (and use P/N#: 652‑PTV09A‑4015FB103 for VR2)

Distorted Sound Output (S‑550)

If your S‑550 is experiencing distorted sound output, it's possible the previous owner was careless and connected one or more of the 1/4" output jacks to a non‑grounded mixer or some other type of non‑grounded equipment. Since the S‑550 is not grounded by default, this can easily damage one or more of the nine output transistors on the Analog Board (this board is located in the compartment underneath the sampler). It's an easy fix if you are handy with a soldering iron. Replace all nine 2SC2878A transistors at locations Q1 through Q9. As of January 2022, there are a few vendors on eBay and AliExpress selling replacement 2SC2878A transistors. Even if you've isolated only one or two outputs as the culprit, take some extra time and replace all nine transistors while you have the board out. It's possible that other transistors were damaged and are ready to fail soon. Detailed information about this fix is available in this thread over at gearsz.com. This is another reason why it's a good idea to ditch that stupid 2‑prong Roland power cable and add a three‑prong AC power outlet to your Roland samplers/synths to ensure proper grounding! If you are in a jam and can only find 2SC2878-B transistors, they will work but... you will need a transistor tester to measure and select only those with an hFE less than 700

S‑50 Noise, Static And Distortion Issues

If your S‑50 is experiencing noise, static or distorted audio then join the crowd. Over time, the S‑50 can start to experience a problem with the relay coil which is located on the Jack Board. The relay coil is there to temporarily delay an inrush of current to the Audio Out circuit so that any annoying loud pops are avoided when you power on the sampler. The Audio Out circuit is essentially turned off for a couple of milliseconds

The three solutions I know of are to Replace It, Clean It or Bypass It

SOLUTION #1 - Replacing The Coil
Tom Arnold, another S‑50 owner, has supplied an excellent solution which has been verified by several online visitors here. He designed a very small PCB which is used to replace the single relay coil by using three inexpensive, low current and easy to source relays. The big advantage to this solution is these new relays are easily swapped out when they fail. According to Arnold, the S‑50 design is prone to failure because the original single relay coil and replacement relays will eventually fail over time. Since it's very difficult to remove and clean the factory installed relay coil, swapping out three 0.85¢ relay coils makes more sense because they are socketed on this new PCB

"This is a 3DPDT relay board to replace the 6PDT relay in the Roland S‑50. Two holes in the middle are for hold‑down screws. I recommend putting in sockets so you can replace the relays more easily as they will go out again the way they are being used."

The best price I've seen for these new relays is only 0.85¢ each from Allied Electronics. You'll need to buy three 16‑pin IC sockets and three 5V relays (Zettler P/N#: AZ822‑2C‑5DSE)

The bad news is that OSHPark has a minimum purchase of three PCB's. The good news is they only cost $3/each

S50/S550 DOWNLOAD

PCB's designed by Tom Arnold are available from OSHPark here

S50/S550 DOWNLOAD

5V Relays From Allied Electronics - here

UPDATE (November 2018) : Open Mirror from Australia was able to install this new PCB and Relay setup into his S‑50 before I was able to (it's still on my To‑Do list). He reports excellent results. The distortion he was experiencing has completely disappeared

Click here for images of his installation plus... Before & After sound comparisons

SOLUTION #2 - Cleaning The Coil
Jim Atwood Of Japan has a step‑by‑step solution for cleaning the relay coil at this link;

S50/S550 DOWNLOAD

S‑50 Noise, Static And Distortion Solution

SOLUTION #3 - Bypass The Coil
Some online visitors have reported they have bypassed the coil completely and just remember to keep the volume slider at zero when powering up. Since this will significantly alter the original circuit design, I won't provide any info about that fix. It seems risky, IMO

The S-50 Or S-550 Front Display Panel Is Blank / Freaking Out / Intermittent

S-50_S-550_ZONE

Q: I have an S‑50 / S‑550 and the display screen is blank or acts weird. What can I do?

A: Some owners have reported failures with bad solder connections on the FIP display. Use a magnifying glass to inspect for hairline cracks and reflow NEW solder if needed. The FIP driver coil for the display panel is also a common point of failure with the S‑50, S‑550, Super JX‑10, MKS‑70 and other Roland synths. The cause is a manufacturing defect which has been traced to the Sumida Corporation, the only supplier of this coil (P/N: 12449251). Unfortunately, sources for replacement coils are very difficult to find. A supplier on eBay has some redesigned replacements which sell for $75 USD. Another hope is to find an old coil from a cannibalized Roland product which uses the same part number. The JX‑10, JX‑8P, GM‑70, GR‑1, DDR‑30, S‑50 and S‑550 synths/samplers all use the same part number. However, be aware that these coils may also be defective. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when or if a coil will fail. Guy Wilkinson has a webpage with detailed troubleshooting of the FIP display and FIP coil at this link

Note: The image on the right shows the coil on an S‑550 Main Board as denoted by the silkscreen label T1. The coil for an S‑50 is located on the Panel Board Assembly and has a silkscreen designation of L1 even though these are the same part number. Also, the MKS‑70 synth uses a nearly identical coil but the windings are slightly different. The coil from an MKS‑70 will most likely work in a pinch

Tact Switch Replacements (S‑50 / S‑750 / S‑770 / W‑30)

After time, some of the buttons (tact switches) will start to act intermittently or fail. The best solution is to replace all of the tact switches at the same time because if you only replace a few, others are bound to fail soon after. eBay and other vendors sell complete sets of tact switches and these range anywhere from $30 (USD) to $92 (USD). Ouch! You can save a lot of money buying them instead from an electronics supplier such as mouser.com. You can get a complete tact switch replacement set from Mouser for less than $8 (USD)

There are two types of tact switches to choose from. I prefer a harder press Operating Force of 2.6 Newton because I like to hear that solid 'Click!' whenever I make a selection


1)     Brand Name: ALPS
        Manufacturer P/N: SKHHAMA010
        Mouser P/N: 688-SKHHAM
        Operating Force: 1.6 Newton (Black)
        Operating Life: 500,000 cycles
        Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D)
        [ Alternate P/N: OMRON B3W‑1000S ]

2)     Brand Name: ALPS
        Manufacturer P/N: SKHHARA010
        Mouser P/N: 688-SKHHAR
        Operating Force: 2.6 Newton (Red)

        Operating Life: 200,000 cycles
        Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D)
        [ Alternate P/N: OMRON B3W‑1002S ]

The total number of tact switches needed for each sampler differs
(Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spares because... shit happens!)

   S‑50  / 34
   S‑750 / 21
   S‑770 / 21
   W‑30  / 29*

* FYI ‑ After replacing tact switches on my W‑30, the Panel Board position was lower than expected. To make all tact switches work properly when pressing buttons, I had to place a 1mm tall plastic spacer under each tact switch before soldering them in place. I'm not sure if all W‑30's are like this or not?!? The original factory tact switches were Roland P/N: 13169633 which is the discontinued ALPS P/N: SKHHAD039A. This same tact switch was used for the D‑70, Juno‑106 and S‑10

The Operating Life for these tact switches is realistically, probably 10 years until stress and/or oxidation starts to set in and they become intermittent. Removing old tact switches from the PCB is a matter of personal preference. The method I prefer is to use a small sharp pair of diagonal flush wire cutters and cut all four leads off from the top side of the PCB. Take extra care not to wedge the wire cutters in‑between the base of the tact switch and the PCB when cutting the leads. This places excess force on the via traces on the underside of the PCB causing possible damage. Use a solder sucker, a fine tipped soldering iron or a stainless steel hollow desoldering needle and remove the leftover pins from the PCB holes. Remove any excess solder remaining in the holes. The vias on the brittle 30+ year‑old PCB's are very fragile. Take extra care not to lift them off the surface of the PCB while desoldering. Using too much heat or keeping the soldering iron too long in one spot usually leads to this type of problem

S-50 / S-550 DOWNLOAD

Tact Switch Reference Page For Other Roland Synths/Samplers

Tact Switch Replacement (S‑760 Only)

Tact switch leads for the S‑760 are mounted extremely close on top of the Panel Assembly PCB and using diagonal flush wire cutters to remove them (as explained above) is not the best method for this sampler. I recommend using the combination of an Exacto razor knife and a stainless steel hollow desoldering needle (or a solder sucker) to remove these small tact switches from the PCB. Heat the solder trace on the backside of the PCB and use the Exacto razor knife to gently pry the tact switch up and out of the PCB via. Use the stainless steel hollow desoldering needle (or a solder sucker) to remove any excess solder from the PCB vias. I found working with the S‑760 Panel Board Assembly to be a real challenge. After soldering the switches in place, two of them did not work because the solder did not make a good connection. I suspect that using a very low temperature setting was the culprit. After reflowing solder on these areas, a good contact was made. I used a very low temperature setting because the 30+ year‑old Roland PCB's and traces are quite brittle and fall apart easily. Also note that the Panel Board Assembly and Encoder Assembly are incorrectly labeled in the S‑760 Service Notes

The total number of tact switches needed for the S‑760 is 13. Do yourself a favor and buy a couple of spares because... shit happens

There are two types of tact switches to choose from. The original Panasonic tact switches installed by Roland had a light touch Operating Force of 1.3 Newton*

1)     Brand Name: OMRON
        Manufacturer P/N: B3F-6022
        Mouser P/N: 653-B3F-60223
        Operating Force: 1.5 Newton
        Operating Life: 300,000 cycles
        Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D)

2)     Brand Name: OMRON
        Manufacturer P/N: B3F-6020
        Mouser P/N: 653-B3F-60203
        Operating Force: 1.0 Newton
        Operating Life: 1,000,000 cycles
        Size: 5mm (H) x 6mm (W) x 6mm (D)

        Note: These switches will also work for the Roland JV‑80, JV‑90, JV‑880, JV‑1080, JV‑2080, U‑20 and XP-50

The original switches I previously recommended were manufactured by Panasonic but these have been discontinued. You may still be able to find some of these from other electronic supply houses like AliExpress

       Manufacturer P/N: EVQ-21405R* (This part was marked as obsolete at mouser.com in August 2019)
       Manufacturer P/N: EVQ-22705R (This part was marked as obsolete at mouser.com in August 2019)

                S-50 / S-550 DOWNLOAD

Tact Switch Reference Page For Other Roland Synths/Samplers

S‑760 Rotary Encoder Replacement

Although it's not exactly a "Drop-In" solution, this rotary encoder replacement works extremely well. It requires an inexpensive custom PCB, a low‑cost commonly found rotary encoder and little bit of soldering. I have also supplied an alternate method which does not require a PCB. It takes a little more work but if you are miserly to the extreme... that's the one for you

S-50 / S-550 DOWNLOAD

S-760 Encoder Replacement DIY

SP-700 LCD Replacement

The Screaming Banshees From Hell
- Two of the most common failures on the Roland SP‑700 are
  - 1) Dim or dark LCD backlight
  - 2) High pitched shrill emitting from a defective high voltage inverter
    - A defective high voltage inverter supplying current to the LCD’s Electroluminescent (EL) backlight causes a high pitched & incredibly annoying shrill. Replacing the electroluminescent panel will not solve this issue. The only solution is to replace the entire LCD assembly. It's a lot of DIY work but luckily, you can find an inexpensive modern day replacement LCD for only $26 (USD). This replacement completely removes the high voltage inverter circuit and does not rely on an EL backlight panel because it uses a normal LED for illumination. As a bonus, there are four colors to choose from for a new LCD - White (over Black), Black (over White), White (over Blue) or Black (over Monkey Vomit Green)

SP-700 LCD Replacement DIY - Ver. 20211108

After‑Market Floppy Disk Drives

DIY info for replacing an unreliable or broken FDD using inexpensive Chinon, Teac, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, NEC & other brands. Some of the instructions are easy as moving/adding jumpers while others require a steady hand w/intermediate soldering skills

S-50 / S-550 DOWNLOAD

FDD Tech

SCSI2SD Device With MicroSD Cards

SCSI2SD

Note: The SCSI2SD project is somewhat outdated these days due to lack of hardware availability

SCSI2HD information previously available on this page has been moved to a separate page at this link

SCSI Hard Drives, CD-ROM's, ZIP Drives And Miscellaneous SCSI Projects

Note: SCSI Hard Drive, Zip Drive, KW-30 and other SCSI projects previously available on this page have been moved to this link

W‑30 Jog Wheel And Encoder Replacement

Several quality options for replacing your jog wheels and/or encoders

W-30 ENCODERS

W‑30 Jog Wheel & Encoder DIY

Real‑Time Filter Control For Your W‑30

A very cool, easy and inexpensive DIY using a minimal amount of parts. These same functions can be performed using the Roland EV‑5 or EV‑7 Expression Pedal

W-30 VIDEO

W‑30 Real‑Time Filter Control DIY Video
(This Links To A YouTube Video)

W‑30 Filter Control Sample Files (W-30_Techno_Sounds.zip)
The creator of this very cool DIY sent me some custom W‑30 samples which really take advantage of the different filter controls

EV-5 / EV-7 EXPRESSION PEDAL

This foot pedal is a variable resistor for controlling different parameter functions on the W‑30. Depending on how the EV‑5 control jack is assigned, this pedal can modify Control Changes in real‑time. The W‑30 Control Change parameters which can be changed using an EV‑5 are

#1 = Modulation #2 = Breath Controller #7 = Volume #64 = Hold/Sustain

The video bleepbit posted above has info on his webpage which states, "...the trick is to set the EV‑5 to receive the Control 2 (Breath Controller) and the Breath Controller to the Aftertouch (to do it press Config 2 / F4 in the Performance Mode) and save your preferences to the System Disk (Save / F1): Now, you can manage the cut‑off in your sounds by the real‑time filter."

The EV‑5 retails for the outrageous price of $119 USD and the EV‑7 retails for even more at $279 USD. It is a very simple circuit and it is quite easy to make an equivalent tabletop hand controlled input device using a couple of inexpensive potentiometers, a 1/4" stereo plug, an enclosure and some 2‑conductor shielded cable

Instead of buying the 1/4" stereo plug and 2‑conductor shielded cable separately, I suggest that you buy an inexpensive, ready‑made cable on eBay and snip off one end. That way, you'll have a 1/4" plug already soldered onto a cable which will eliminate extra work on your part. I have found this to be the least expensive route. I was able to build one for under $11 ‑ and that includes the shipping charges! Granted, it's not a true foot controller but, it's still a useful real‑time input device for the W‑30 and other samplers/synths, as demonstrated in the video above by bleepbit

The EV‑7 and EV‑10 expression pedals are identical to the EV‑5 except they are housed in a metal case, not plastic. The EV‑10 had an extremely brief production run before it was replaced by the EV‑5. Recently, the EV‑7 seems to have been removed from the inventory of most online retailers

Notes:
❖ Also works great with other samplers/synths including the Roland Alpha Juno‑1/2, HS‑10, JX‑10 and the MST Expressor Eurorack module
❖There is an optional add‑on polarity switch mod which enables EV‑5 compatibility with non‑Roland gear. Details for adding this optional switch into the circuit are here
❖The image shown on the right is a dual EV‑5 hand controller. This variation on the original design uses one 1/4" stereo output jack and one 3.5mm stereo output jack (hidden from view). Using output jacks instead of hard‑wiring the output cables was preferred since I already had several existing ready‑made cables. The knobs on top are the Main Controllers (VR1)

Adjusting the EV-5 Minimum Volume Knob

EV-5 Owner's Manual
(Japanese and English)

EV-7 Owner's Manual

EV-5 DIY Parts List (Hand Controller Version)
   Tayda P/N: A-1982 - 10K Ohm Linear Pot
   Tayda P/N: A-1983 - 50K Ohm Linear Pot
   Tayda P/N: A-5081 - 1/4' Stereo Plug
   Tayda P/N: A-5166 - 1590A Enclosure
   2 Conductor Shielded Cable (Shield = Ground)

   taydaelectronics.com

Variation: DIY Dual hand controller with optional output jacks

S‑550 And W‑30 Firmware: EPROM's or OTP EPROM's?

OTP v2.00 EPROMS Soldered Onto The S‑550 Main Board
These OTP EPROM's are found on later production runs

It is unknown what the final firmware versions are for these two samplers but I suspect they are v2.02 (S‑550) and v1.03 (W‑30)

S‑550
The S‑550 has a pair of EPROM's on the Main Board labeled IC#3 and IC#6 which contain the sampler firmware. Depending on the production year, these IC's are either EPROM's with Quartz windows or One‑Time Programmable EPROM's (OTP). The easiest way to tell is:

If they are in sockets and can be removed easily, they are EPROM's with Quartz windows (the label on top covers the Quartz window)
If they are soldered onto the Main Board and the silkscreen on top reads "Roland", they are OTP EPROM's

Quartz Window EPROMS (W‑30 & S‑550)
These S‑550 EPROM's are found on earlier production runs

On late production models, it will be extremely difficult to upgrade because they will be soldered onto the PCB. The part numbers shown on both of my OTP EPROM's are LH57F003 (v2.00) and other owners have reported LH57F007 (v2.01). This is a Roland manufactured version of the Sharp LH57128‑20 OTP EPROM. It can be read and backed‑up using an EPROM burner but obviously, it will be next to impossible to unsolder it safely from the Main Board without taking a chance on breaking fragile PCB traces. My advice would be to just keep things as they are if you have v2.00, v2.01 or v2.02. I have seen a few rare cases on late production models which have socketed Quartz window EPROM's containing v2.02 firmware

Note: Unlike the W‑30, the S‑550 does not use ODD or EVEN EPROM's. Both IC#3 and IC#6 contain identical firmware code so you only need to backup one of the EPROM's and burn two of the same EPROM's when duplicating. Binary files for creating your own S‑550 EPROM's may be downloaded for free at the Synth & Sampler Binaries Webpage

To check the current firmware version of your S‑550 EPROM's, a monitor needs to be connected to the RGB port of the sampler

Power on the S‑550 while holding down the [ 1 ] button on the DATA ENTRY KEYPAD
Continue to hold down the [ 1 ] button until "Please Insert System Disk" is displayed on the monitor
Continue to hold down the [ 1 ] button and insert System Disk v1.13 in the floppy disk drive, USB/FDD or SCSI2SD device
Continue to hold down the [ 1 ] button while the disk loads and starts to counts down from 70 to 0
When the countdown reaches 67, you may release the [ 1 ] button
Press the [ DEC / NO ] button when the countdown is complete and "Next Disk Please?" is displayed
Press the following buttons in order: [ FUNC ] [ MENU ] [ ∇ ] [ EXECUTE ] [ MENU ] [ 1 ] [ DEC / NO ]

A message similar to the following will be displayed on the CRT screen:

     Ver # disp
     MT25 ROM. Ver. 2.01  05 AUG/88   (This Line Displays The EPROM Firware Version#)
     S‑550 SYS. Ver 1.13  26 OCT/88   (This Line Displays The Floppy Boot Disk O/S Version#)

This is a list of all the S-550 EPROM firmware versions I have found in the wild

     MT25 ROM. Ver. 2.00   11 SEP/87
     MT25 ROM. Ver. 2.01   05 AUG/88
     MT25 ROM. Ver. 2.02   01 FEB/88

Through extensive testing, I have been unable to find any differences between these three versions. My best guess is that some minor changes were made to improve timing on the SCSI chain

W‑30
Every W‑30 I have ever seen (early and late production models) have both EPROM's IC#19 (EVEN) and IC#20 (ODD) socketed so they are much easier to work with. Also, I've never seen any version other than v1.03. The only real need to make copies of these two EPROM's would be to have a backup available in the event the electrons deplete over time. For more info about electron depletion, see the EPROM Quick Start Guide

To check the current firmware version of the W‑30 ROM's, power on the sampler while holding down the [ F1 ] button
A message similar to the following will be displayed:

     W‑30 ROM Ver 1.03 [01/21]

Note: Binary files for creating your own W‑30 EPROM's may be downloaded for free at the Synth & Sampler Binaries Webpage

W‑30 Custom Wave ROM's

Special Thanks go out to Ishibashi Hisao and Bernd Brüning for all of their hard work on this very cool and FREE W‑30 upgrade. It replaces the two default Wave ROM's with new code on the factory Wave ROM IC's and contains 32 new Wave samples. Vintage Drums, Oberheim, Moog, Juno and several others are included. For more information, see this YouTube video

Installation Instructions:

The benefits of this amazing upgrade are numerous. However, unsoldering these large 32‑pin IC's should only be attempted by those with advanced soldering skills. The double‑sided PCB on the W‑30 poses a major risk if something goes awry

Ensure you are properly grounded, working on a static‑free workbench or table and wearing eye protection during any soldering tasks
Carefully unsolder the two original Wave ROM's on the MAIN PCB at locations IC29 and IC30
- NOTE: DO NOT confuse these new Wave ROM's with the main O/S EPROM's at locations IC19 and IC20
- The new Wave ROM's are 32‑pin IC's... NOT 28‑pin IC's
Install two new 32-pin DIP sockets
Download the custom code for the two new Wave ROM's
- This *.ZIP file contains the new Wave ROM Binaries and Custom Boot Disk
Burn the new Wave ROM's for IC29 and IC30. Recommended blank EPROM's to use are:
- AT27C040-90PU / OTP - 4MB (512K x 8)
- TMS27C040-12JL / Quartz Window - 4MB (512K x 8)
After burning the new Wave ROM's, plug them into the new 32‑pin DIP sockets
- Ensure the IC notches are aligned correctly in the DIP sockets before you turn on the W‑30 ! ! ! ! !
You will also need a new custom W‑30 Boot Disk to use these new Wave ROM samples (included in the download link from above). After starting‑up your sampler with a custom boot disk, the W‑30 will work just like before but it will have a new set of amazing default Wave ROM samples to work with. Included in the download link above are variations of W‑30 boot disks. Depending on the setup you are using, these are the new boot disks to use:
```
     v1.10 (Only 3.5" FLOPPY or GOTEK)
     v1.07 (SCSI2SD / HARD DRIVE / CDROM / ZIP DRIVE)
     v1.06 (Only 3.5" FLOPPY or GOTEK - Fast Boot)
     v1.01 (Only 3.5" FLOPPY or GOTEK - Old School Version)
```

Note: If you are new at burning synthesizer Wave ROM's, there are detailed instructions for creating your own at this link

Replacement Power Switch [ S‑550, S‑220 and MKS‑100 ]
ALPS P/N: SDGA3P Sony P/N: 554‑880‑12 Power Rating: 5A @ 250V AC Type: ON/OFF w/Four Solder Lugs
If your old S‑550 switch is experiencing problems, don't bother trying to repair it. Some of the parts inside are sealed in plastic and other parts are wired in place. Repairing it is a lost cause. This power switch works with the S‑550, S‑220, MKS‑100 and a wide selection of other Roland synths and samplers including the D‑110, D‑550, GM‑70, JV‑880, MKS‑20, MKS‑50, MKS‑70, MKS‑80, and U‑220. In the 1980's and 1990's, this power switch was also used with a variety of Sony/JVC/Panasonic TV's and component stereo devices. This power switch is quite robust and therefore more expensive than most. Replacements can sometimes be found on eBay for about $10 (USD). Do a keyword search for "ALPS SDGA3P"
Replacement Power Switch [ W‑30 / S‑330 / S‑750 / S‑760 / S‑770 (except for the S‑770 Canada version. Eh?!?) ]
ALPS P/N: SDL1P‑D Power Rating: 5A @ 250V AC Type: ON/OFF w/Four Solder Lugs
If your old switch is experiencing problems, the outer shell is removable and the inner workings can most likely be repaired by cleaning the contacts only if you have the skillset and patience of a watchmaker and you like puzzles. Use caution if you attempt to repair this switch! My experience with this one proved they explode like a hand grenade because they are spring loaded. Use eye protection and only open the outer case while holding it inside a Ziploc baggie to keep the parts inside from flying across the room! Replacement switches can be found on eBay for only $2.50 (USD). Do a keyword search for "ALPS SDL1P‑D" or visit the jk_parts storefront on eBay

S‑50 Service Information Sheets For Roland Engineers

Factory supplied info for repairing S‑50 hardware and software bugs

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S‑50 Service Information Sheets

Main PCB Board Assemblies And Power Supplies

S‑550
There are four different models of the S‑550 sampler. Each one uses a different transformer (110V, 117V, 220V or 240V). The DIY's shown above were installed and tested on five different S‑550 samplers. Four of the models tested use the 117V transformer and the fifth uses a 240V transformer. 117V And 240V transformer systems use identical Power Supply Board Assembly PCB's. Main CPU Board Assembly silkscreen part numbers on the five models tested were

PCB #1 P/N: 79380120 00 AIN-32H UL94V‑0
- Very Early Production Model
  - S/N: 830xxx w/socketed EPROM IC's v1.00
PCB #2, #3, #4 & #5 P/N: 79380120 02 AIN‑32H UL94V‑0
- Mid & Late Production Models
  - S/N's: 853xxx, 864xxx, 867xxx & 886xxx
USB/FDE was the only DIY tested on the 240V transformer system

W‑30
There are two different models of the W‑30 sampler each using a different Power Supply Board (110V/117V & 220V/240V). The DIY's shown above were installed and tested on two W‑30 models using only the 110V/117V transformer model. The Main CPU Board Assembly silkscreen part numbers on both models tested was

Image by keyboardkountry.com

PCB #1 & #2 P/N: 76212120 UL94V‑0 AIN‑32H
- Very Early & Mid Production Models
  - S/N's: AB0xxxx & AB1xxxx w/socketed EPROM IC's v1.03

It's interesting to note that the W‑30, S‑330, S‑750 and S‑760 samplers all use the identical Power Supply Board. If you find yourself in a pinch and can't find a replacement power supply, one option might be to buy a "broken" sampler on eBay (i.e. one with a broken floppy drive, broken LCD, etc...) which has the same model power supply inside... provided it powers on, of course :^)
100V / 117V Power Board ‑ Roland P/N: 22443588 / MSA817
220V / 240V Power Board ‑ Roland P/N: 22443589 / MSA818

The schematic for this power supply is absent from the W‑30, S‑330, S‑750 and S‑760 Service Notes. A stripped down schematic and component layout does appear in the S‑770 Service Notes. However, there are no component values listed... only the PCB silkscreen numbers. This model is extremely difficult to repair because TDK also took extra precautions to protect their design by encasing some of the circuitry inside a shell of polyresin. Thus, some of these components can't be replaced or even identified. Thanks soooooo much :^(

Disclaimer
Listed above are the Main PCB Board Assembly model numbers used for testing these DIY's. It's highly unlikely, but there is always a possibility that some modifications and add‑on gadgets will not work with other Main PCB Board Assembly models. Modifications made to any factory stock equipment will always pose an element of risk. Sometimes mistakes are made which are irreversible. The author is not responsible for any damage or injury resulting from this DIY info. Use this DIY information at your own risk

Spare Parts Cross Reference Chart

I've compiled a small cross reference chart which is useful for matching duplicate spare parts on Roland synths and samplers. I use this list to find spares on broken equipment bargains found at eBay auctions. I just bought an S‑220 for only $23 which has enough spare parts for 19 different Roland synths and samplers. Gotta love eBay! ANIMATED_SMILE

Spare Parts Cross Reference Cart

Favorite DIY Tools And DIY Vendors

Tips For DIY Freaks Who Like To Save $$$. I picked this selection of gadgets and vendors because of the extremely LOW cost. I use everything shown here almost every day and highly recommend each one

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Favorite DIY Tools And DIY Vendors

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