Roland D-50 D-550 Custom PMVA Display !
PASSIVE MATRIX VERTICAL ALIGNMENT
(Super Enhanced Black)
Amazing Custom PMVA Super Black Display ! Designed and built specifically for the D50/D550. Completely Plug N Play in every Roland D-50 and D-550 !
This display was designed from scratch to perfectly compliment both Rolands with ZERO design compromises. In keeping with my shop philosophy, I wanted to design a custom 'LUX' upgrade, not only operationally correct, but also visually beautiful. A perfect match for the black D series panels. This display has a number of unique design features.
Technical specs are as follows.
1. PMVA ( Super Enhanced Black ) LCD Panel !
The performance of this Passive Matrix Vertical Alignment display, completely blows away any standard Twisted Nematic type display.
Contrast ratio is an amazing 1000:1
Response time is super fast with NO ghosting !
PMVA is visually indistinguishable from OLED !
2. Custom Unique Triple Interface !
This special custom display has been designed with 3 seperate interface to Plug N Play in a range of different instruments. Not only are the interface different in dimensions, the pin assignments are also different. NO other display in the world has this type of interface flexibility. This work was done to accomodate mainly, old Yamaha keyboards and Roland sound modules which have 2mm connectors but also weird pin assignments. By designing the display with multiple interface in this way, costs could be kept to an absolute minimum. This is why the display can be listed at a low price of £85 instead of the higher price, normal for a custom design 'specifically' produced for one instrument.
(see pictures) for a full list of every instrument the display was designed for.
3. Custom Optimised Metal Bezel !
Bezel width and height have been specified to match the display viewing area precisely. The metal bezel is exactly 0.5mm the whole way around. This leaves a perfect black border framing the 40x2 characters. Combined with the superb PMVA black background / contrast performance, the display looks stunning !
4. Optimised 6 / 12 o'clock Viewing angle !
Correct 6 o'clock (D-50) and 12 o'clock (D-550) viewing angle required for both machines. Specify which display you require when ordering. (Both configurations are visible in the listing pictures) The viewing angle has been set during manufacture, optimised precisely for the way each one is used. User seated/standing, desktop view
(D-50) Synth racked, viewed from above (D-550)
When the display is installed, adjusted, its contrast and viewing angles behave in a very precise way.
5. Fully Adjustable Contrast Control !
For the D-50. The display will ship complete with a panel mount Alps potentiometer/knob attached. (see pictures)
This can be fitted somewhere suitable on the D-50. Contrast adjustment is then possible instantly.
**It's NOT strictly necessary to drill holes. As an alternative, the potentiometer can be set up, then tucked inside out of the way**
The contrast and viewing angles on the display are excellent. Therefore, it's not necessary to continuously make adjustments. It can be set up nicely, then forgotten. If required !
The D-50 shipped from the factory with NO contrast adjustment so it is necessary to attach some form of control to allow adjustment on the PMVA display. After the display is installed in the D-50 and switched on, the contrast is quickly adjusted on the fly.
With the D-550, the contrast is controlled from the front panel in the normal way. The display has been designed to work 2 ways to accommodate both machines. Contrast controlled internally on the display (D-50) contrast controlled from the front panel (D-550) The display vop voltage has been carefully matched to the D-550. This leaves optimal contrast setting around 12 o'clock - 1pm on the front panel knob. Optimal.
6. Custom LED Backlight design !
Designing a long, thin LED backlight with an even distribution of light, no dead spots / light spots, required a NEW backlight design. A standard 40x2 display has LED's mounted at each end, resulting in uneven light, LED lightspot at each end, and a dead area in the middle. This special PMVA display has a special backlight design. Multiple LED's are spaced around the bezel creating a perfectly even backlight. The majority of work designing this display was spent perfecting the backlight design. The end result is a display with perfect even light side to side with no deadspots or lightspots. Each character 1-40 has identical brightness.The PMVA panel is completely black corner to corner, OLED like in appearance.
The look of the display is completely flawless !
There are ZERO visual imperfections !
7. Various Backlight LED colour options !
There are 3 choices of backlight for the D-50, 4 choices for the D-550. Each one uses specific LED's that colour. There are NO colour filters or trickery of any kind. The LED's in the backlight are actual Amber, White, Blue, Red or Yellow LED's. The performance of all the displays is spectacular due to the special PMVA panel and custom backlight. The look, response, performance of each display is equally exceptional, therefore, colour choice should be based only on what 'you' think looks best.
Available in the following colour combinations.
D-50.
Amber / Black Background.
Blue / Black Background.
White / Black Background.
D-550
Vintage Yellow / Black Background.
Blue / Black Background.
White / Black Background.
Red / Black Background. (Primary Red)
Pls specify which colour you require when ordering. If you have a D-550, the display for that module is now a special slim version, see pictures (black pcb) The D-550 can now be upgraded with the slim display without any need for modifications.
( Vintage Yellow has an old skool look, burnt yellow with a hint of green. Very nice. i get asked sometimes for a retro looking display, instead of the clinical white, that's why this colour is included )
8. Fully Adjustable Backlight Brightness !
To suit every possible studio environment, I build and ship each display fully adjustable to control backlight brightness. This is used to set the display up perfectly for the light conditions in your studio. If you use the display in a brightly lit room, the backlight can be set slightly higher, if your studio is dark, it can be dialed in lower for a better look. Shipping the display adjustable is essential. Once the brightness is set up, the potentiometer is tucked inside.
Its meant to be set once. Then forgotten.
The performance of this display is spectacular !
Once installed and set up properly, it looks Amazing !
PMVA is visually indistinguishable from OLED, but without the initialization problems associated with OLED. Every menu behaves perfectly, there is absolutely NO glitching or gremlins of any kind, on any menu. Everthing is completely rock solid. Response is instant with ZERO ghosting. Exactly what i had in mind when i began this project.
The build quality is equally impressive. The company i partnered with to build this display, have done a phenomenal job with the manufacturing.The tooling, production costs, factory MOQ etc for this special PMVA were considerable.
However, due to the unique triple interface design with multiple 'different' pin assignments, the costs have been limited to 1 single design, suitable for a whole range of instruments. This is why the price for this display is lower than my other custom displays. The triple interface allows the display to Plug N Play in various things. Only one display was required, in 3 colours and 2 viewing angles.
The price is only slightly more than any other standard display. Its also £65 cheaper than the VFD. The VFDisplay has now been discontinued. Its no longer necessary to use an expensive display when something visually better, operationally superior and £65 cheaper is available. All my 40 Character VFDisplay listings have been ended, permanently. They are now, No longer necessary.
**Hi-Res pics / video of each colour and viewing angle, mounted in various instruments can be viewed using the link below. These pics / video can be used as a colour / response time reference**
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1qWvL-x99pfbzhXN9IkHL4fjj6zJRm98U
**This listing is for one (1) Custom PMVA LED Display. The D-50/D550 pictured are NOT included**
**if your buying the display for a D-550. Follow the instructions attached to the display to install. The process is now very easy due to the new skinny 5mm bezel**