D-70 - Super LA Synthesizer © 1991 Roland.
The Roland D-70 Super LA Synthesizer was a flagship digital keyboard that expanded upon Roland’s Linear Arithmetic (LA) synthesis technology. Developed by Roland Corporation, it combined sampled attacks with synthesized waveforms, offering 30-voice polyphony, multitimbral operation, and advanced performance features in a professional-grade instrument. Positioned as a successor to the popular D-50, the D-70 introduced a more powerful synthesis engine, improved effects processing, and a larger waveform memory, making it a versatile tool for studio production, live performance, and film scoring in the early 1990s.
The D-70 was marketed as “Super LA Synthesizer,” highlighting its enhanced version of Roland’s Linear Arithmetic synthesis used in the D-50 series.
Unlike earlier D-series instruments, the D-70 included a more sophisticated performance architecture with multiple layers and splits for live playing.
It featured a wide selection of high-quality PCM waveforms, significantly expanding its sonic palette compared to the D-50 and D-550.
The instrument included built-in digital effects such as reverb, chorus, and delay, which were essential to its signature polished sound.
Despite its power, the D-70 had a reputation for a complex user interface, requiring significant programming knowledge to fully exploit its capabilities.
It was commonly used in early 1990s pop productions, television scoring, and MIDI studio environments alongside rack modules like the D-550 and U-series units.
The D-70 represented one of the final major evolutions of Roland’s LA synthesis before the company shifted more heavily toward sample-based workstation instruments.
Today, it is considered a transitional instrument between the classic D-50 era and Roland’s later JV/JD workstation synth families.