BK-9 Serious Competition?

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Thu May 09, 2013 6:12 pm

Hi Dennis,

What do you think of it? Strengths / weaknesses etc.
Is the lack of user sampling a no-go for you?

Diki asked me to write a review comparing it with my Pa2x, it will be on the Roland Arranger Forums eventually. I'll try to be objective comparing the pros and cons of each.

Best regards,
Rob

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Thu May 09, 2013 10:13 pm

Hi Rob,
is the Roland Arranger Forum still active?? I tried joining a few weeks back as I was considering buying a BK7-m to add to my PA3X, they never got back to me ie needed approval for joining. Or else maybe I had the wrong roland forum.

Rob Sherratt wrote:
Anyway, can I join as a member on the Roland Arranger Forums for which you are an Admin? It's probably best that I stop writing about the BK-9 on Korg Forums, and that I start to contribute on your forum instead.

Best regards,
Rob

tommy1340millar · Post by **tommy1340millar** » Fri May 10, 2013 2:46 am

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:18 am

rikkisbears wrote:Hi Rob,
is the Roland Arranger Forum still active?? I tried joining a few weeks back as I was considering buying a BK7-m to add to my PA3X, they never got back to me ie needed approval for joining. Or else maybe I had the wrong roland forum.

Rob Sherratt wrote:
Anyway, can I join as a member on the Roland Arranger Forums for which you are an Admin? It's probably best that I stop writing about the BK-9 on Korg Forums, and that I start to contribute on your forum instead.

Best regards,
Rob

Hi Rikki,

The CAPCHA on Roland Arranger Forums does not work. I emailed to admin and Diki answered and enabled my account. It is not a very active forum currently, but I can help and I have Web admin expertise if Diki wants my help.

I am expecting my BK-9 soon, and I don't think it appropriate to publish a review on Korg Forums.

Best regards,
Rob

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:23 am

Hi Tommy,

Nice to see that your BK-9 has arrived. Are you interested to contribute over at Roland Arranger Forums? Diki will enable your account if you email him. The CAPCHA problem is quite a serious barrier that needs to be solved.

Best regards,
Rob

tommy1340millar · Post by **tommy1340millar** » Fri May 10, 2013 11:20 am

Rob Sherratt wrote:Hi Tommy,

Nice to see that your BK-9 has arrived. Are you interested to contribute over at Roland Arranger Forums? Diki will enable your account if you email him. The CAPCHA problem is quite a serious barrier that needs to be solved.

Best regards,
Rob

Been there, did that!!

I now have (imho) best of both worlds. Never fancied a Tyros.

rikkisbears · Post by **rikkisbears** » Fri May 10, 2013 11:40 am

Thanks Rob,
may become more active again now that they have a new more upmarket arranger.

Definitely something they need to fix, I just assumed it was no longer active, possibly so do others.

Hadn't actually realized Diki was in charge, know him thru Synthzone.
Rob[/quote][/quote]

Hi Rikki,

The CAPCHA on Roland Arranger Forums does not work. I emailed to admin and Diki answered and enabled my account. It is not a very active forum currently, but I can help and I have Web admin expertise if Diki wants my help.

I am expecting my BK-9 soon, and I don't think it appropriate to publish a review on Korg Forums.

Best regards,
Rob[/quote]

Dikikeys · Post by **Dikikeys** » Sat May 11, 2013 7:10 am

Just a moderator, guys... Not running things by any means...

Søren is the head honcho there. Really nice guy, been a pleasure being part of that community from back when it was just the G70 Forum!

Rob Sherratt · Post by **Rob Sherratt** » Sat May 11, 2013 9:41 am

Hi Diki,

I've been grateful for your help and I've now "met" Soren on the forum also, thanks for explaining, Sir!. Thanks a lot for the new BK-9 sections you and he created.

I'm now "backing off" from corresponding about the BK-9 on Korg forums. If anyone is interested to follow developments with the BK-9 and the "Session Manager" collaboration for the BK-series, see you over at Roland Arranger Forums.

I have now sold my Pa2x.

Best regards,
Rob

Reuben · Post by **Reuben** » Tue May 21, 2013 1:40 am

Hi Rob,
While we understand if you "back off" a bit from the forum there are many including my self who would appreciate your review of the BK-9. When you have had a bit of time with it I would love to hear what you think.
Very best regards,
John

Giner · Post by **Giner** » Tue May 21, 2013 2:22 pm

Ditto.

Dikikeys · Post by **Dikikeys** » Wed May 29, 2013 3:59 pm

Rather than discuss a Roland arranger in detail on a Korg forum, a visit to either Roland-arranger.com http://www.roland-arranger.com/smf/index.php or the Synthzone general arranger forum http://www.synthzone.com/forum/ubbthrea ... board_Foru will get you plenty of info...

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Wed May 29, 2013 5:12 pm

Moderator: Shouldn't this post be in "General Synthesizers/Keyboards" for discussion of non-Korg keyboards?

tonsy · Post by **tonsy** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:12 pm

ive tried it with the spcialist product beside me,,it isnt pa3x rival even it has audio style with time stretching/tempo sync like fantom G..all keyboard menu editing are too simple ,,we cant go deeper like on pa3x..but anyway the factory piano sound is still cant beat by pa3x's factory piano

Post by **karmathanever** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 1:42 pm

Hi all

Actually got my hands on the Roland BK9-76 today for about an hour - for what it may be worth, here is my review:-

This is no competitor to Korg (or Yamaha for that matter).

Keybed is quite nice - didn't have any bad feelings about it - think it must be semi-weighted.
Organs and drawbar sounds and features are very nice but defaults to velocity-sensitive keys (guess it can be configured).
Sax is horrible - very aggressive in attack - impossible legato.
Pianos and EPs are nice.
Acoustic guitars are just OK.
Electric guitars are very average - not very realistic.
Styles are "acceptable" for those "around the Christmas tree" sing-alongs - some nice intros/endings - 4 of each!!
I found that although the display would show "Em7b5" the backing didn't quite get it!!!
It has BETTER intelligent chord fingering than Yamaha PSRs and Tyros.
Bass inversion worked very nicely and has its own button like Korg PAs.
Drum sounds are very nice but...
...the biggest let-down with the styles is the atrocious drum tracks - they are aweful - lots of purring machine-gun rolls which are fine for dance/trance/techno but these were in a lot of styles like pop, jazz, big-band and even in lighter jazz styles with brush kits - so horribly disappointing - clearly not programmed by a drummer.
I found the "split screens" quite nice but this keyboard is NOT performance friendly.
I really don't think it can be intended as a "pro" keyboard.
Absence of aftertouch was frustrating.
This might suit "shopping-centre-one-man-band" gigs.
At $2,500 - I think there are better options.

Just my personal feelings, opinion and experience today.

Cheers

Pete