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Part Two: "We are even more back"

This keyboard has the SuperNATURAL logo on it and it has four buttons above the pitchbend lever to use with the SuperNATURAL sounds. It would be nice if it has the SuperNATURAL soundset of the Jupiter 80 or the Integra 7.

Copied from the newest 4Sound catalogue. 4Sound is a large Danish music store. The major points from the text are:

Price: € 2100
76 keys
1700 sounds
22 SuperNatural sounds
70 drumsets
Virtual tone wheel organs
540 styles
1000 music assistants
5 MFX blocks
Mastering effects
Intuitive panel layout
Double LCD display
Professional 16-track sequencer
Rhythm composer
Microphone XLR input with dedicated reverb
Composite video out for song texts and images
Roland Wireless connect and iPad apps

brooster wrote:Copied from the newest 4Sound catalogue. 4Sound is a large Danish music store. The major points from the text are:

Price: € 2100
76 keys
1700 sounds
22 SuperNatural sounds
70 drumsets
Virtual tone wheel organs
540 styles
1000 music assistants
5 MFX blocks
Mastering effects
Intuitive panel layout
Double LCD display
Professional 16-track sequencer
Rhythm composer
Microphone XLR input with dedicated reverb
Composite video out for song texts and images
Roland Wireless connect and iPad apps

I do not see anything impressive...

BK 9is coming ! Thats all...

Still waiting for the Zeus to arrive.

Roland BK-9 Backing Keyboard

A World of Music at Your Command

The BK-9 Backing Keyboard is the new flagship instrument in the acclaimed BK series, bringing together sensational sounds, top-class rhythms, and an incredible selection of premium features. You have a world of music under fingertip control, with a massive sound selection—including Roland’s renowned SuperNATURAL sounds—and a huge range of completely remastered rhythm accompaniments in nearly every musical genre, from classic to modern. An innovative dual LCD system and intuitive panel layout make it easy to direct your virtual band, while powerful effects and assignable real-time controls let you select and shape sounds with ease. With numerous additional highlights such as USB song playback/recording, an onboard 16-track sequencer, Rhythm Composer, and much more, the BK-9 is a powerhouse music machine for professional performing, song composition, and casual enjoyment at home.

•Flagship 76-note instrument with top-level sounds, industry-leading auto-accompaniment features, and a lightweight, mobile design
•Over 1,700 sounds and 70 drum kits, including 22 SuperNATURAL sounds and 500 all-new tones
•Legendary Virtual Tone Wheel organs, with dedicated harmonic bars for authentic vintage organ performance
•540 rhythms (including 25 new rhythms), remastered for exceptional audio quality; over 1000 Music Assistants onboard
•Five independent multi-effects engines (MFX), plus dedicated mastering effects
•All-new user interface with intuitive panel layout, powerful dual LCD system, and Mixer function
•Professional 16-track sequencer and built-in Rhythm Composer; Chord Loop and Audio Key functions
•Song playback/recording, unlimited Performance List storage, and more from convenient USB memory
•XLR mic input with dedicated reverb effect; composite video output for displaying lyrics and photos
•Compatible with Apple iOS devices via Roland Wireless Connect; supports USB connection to iPad with Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit
•Free iOS apps include BK Partner, Lyrics Viewer, Air Recorder, and more

Highly Mobile Pro Instrument, Built for Live Performance

Equipped with a pro-quality 76-note keyboard and weighing less than 21 pounds (9.4 kg), the BK-9 is surprisingly light, making it easy to carry anywhere you want to play. Its user interface has been designed for maximum efficiency and ease of use while performing, with an innovative dual LCD system, logical panel layout, and many dedicated and user-assignable controls. 10 Favorite tones can be stored for each real-time part, an extremely convenient feature for live playing. 1000 onboard Music Assistants provide instant setups for every musical style, and you can save an unlimited number of custom setups as Performance Lists to USB memory.

Massive Sound Selection

A flagship instrument deserves a flagship sound set, and the BK-9 delivers with over 1,700 fantastic sounds and 70 drum kits. 22 sounds feature Roland’s renowned SuperNATURAL technology, providing ultra-realistic acoustic instrument tones with an incredible range of natural expression. Also included are 500 all-new tones, specially selected for the BK-9 from the expansive Roland libraries. The Virtual Tone Wheel sound engine puts legendary organ tones at your fingers, with front-panel harmonic bars and a rotary effect for authentic organ performance. The BK-9 is also equipped for future expansion, with a User Tone area dedicated for upcoming BK-series sound collections.

Remastered Rhythms

Filled with full-ensemble accompaniments in almost every musical style imaginable, the BK-9 lets you lead the world’s most versatile backing band as you play. 540 built-in rhythms include 25 new selections, and all the rhythms have been remastered with the BK-9’s superior sounds and powerful new effects processing for impressive audio quality straight from the recording studio. Via USB memory, unlimited additional rhythms can be added, and MP3, WAV, and SMF files can be played as well.

Multi-Effects and Onboard Mixing

Five independent multi-effects engines (MFX) offer an enormous range of sound processing possibilities, with three MFX dedicated to rhythms and two MFX dedicated to real-time parts. Global reverb and chorus effects are available as well, along with two mastering processors that allow you to optimize the sound of the rhythm and real-time sections separately to suit performance venues and add final polish for recordings. A great new feature for live playing is the Mixer function, which gives you instant adjustment of rhythm and real-time part levels, MFX parameters, and more using the harmonic bars on the front panel.

Powerful Tools for Creativity

A built-in 16-track sequencer provides a professional platform for composing and editing SMF data, while the Rhythm Composer lets you create and customize your own rhythms with ease. The convenient Chord Loop feature instantly captures rhythm backings as WAV audio loops, and also makes it simple to build chord sequences from rhythms to use for composing in the sequencer. With the Audio Key function, audio files stored on USB memory can be assigned to the top seven keyboard keys for quick-access playback while performing. Additionally, BK-9 performances can be easily recorded directly to USB memory as CD-ready WAV audio.

Extras for Entertaining

If you sing or work with a vocalist, you’ll appreciate the BK-9’s convenient XLR microphone input, which features phantom power, a dedicated reverb effect, and easily accessible front-panel controls. A composite Video Out jack is also provided, allowing you to display embedded MP3/SMF lyrics and chord symbols on an external video monitor for performance assistance or sing-along entertaining. Photo slideshows can be displayed as well, letting your audience enjoy custom images while listening to your music.

Roland Wireless Connect and Free iOS Apps

The BK-9 is compatible with Roland Wireless Connect, which provides cable-free communication with Apple’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via Roland’s optional WNA1100-RL Wireless USB Adapter. An iPad can also be connected directly to the BK-9 with a USB cable using Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit. Many free iOS apps are available to enhance your BK-9 experience, including Air Recorder for jamming and capturing performances (iPhone/iPad), BK Partner for selecting tones and rhythms (iPad), Lyrics Viewer for displaying SMF lyrics (iPad), and a number of others.

One more entertainer keyboard with about zero relevance for band keyboarders. A real Musikmesse highlight, is it?

Roland FP-80 Digital Piano
Top Piano Expression and Inspiring Features in a Sleek, Contemporary Design

Stylish and portable, the FP-80 Digital Piano brings a rich and rewarding musical experience to every piano lover. The acclaimed SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine and Ivory Feel-S Keyboard deliver authentic tone and touch, while an onboard multi-channel speaker system equipped with Roland’s Acoustic Projection technology envelops you with beautiful, immersive sound. The advanced rhythm feature further expands the joy of playing the piano, providing dynamic, sophisticated accompaniments that automatically follow your performances in real time. Available in attractive black or white finishes, the versatile FP-80 is perfect for a wide range of applications, including stage performing, the classroom, daily practice, and entertainment at home.

•Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine onboard
•Ivory Feel-S Keyboard with Escapement
•Integrated four-speaker sound system with Acoustic Projection technology
•Intelligent rhythm feature with full-keyboard chord recognition
•Chord Pattern function provides self-playing chord sequences for practice and improvisation
•90 rhythm types, with two variations for each style
•Mic input and harmony effect
•Available in black (FP-80-BK) and white (FP-80-WH) finishes
•Compatible with DP-10 Damper Pedal (included) or RPU-3 Triple Pedal (optional)
•Optional matching stands: KSC-76 (for home use) and KS-12 (for stage use)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... k9sNSB3958

BK-9 Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBnjXmLQ ... detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azAD3i6x ... detailpage

One more entertainer keyboard with about zero relevance for band keyboarders.

Roland BK-9 is serious competitor for PA3X and killer of PA-600.

For band keyboardists there is Roland V-Combo VR-09, which is more flexible in real life then M50/KROME, and BTW much more easy to use for recording purposes.

The BK-9 looks like a great tool for the arranger enthusiasts among us.

Interesting to note is that this arranger, which sells for around 2000 Euros, has physical drawbars while the JP80, -which was designed as a performance synth and which costs over 1000 Euros more-, lacks these dedicated controls in spite of carrying a tonewheel organ simulation inside.
It makes you wonder.

Then again, Roland picked a fine date to appoint a new president for the company, April Fools Day...

Anyway, I get a feeling that Musikmesse is not going to be too exciting this year.
KRONOS still has not met its equal two years after the launch.

The BK-9 looks like an interesting arranger. I still don't get the dual display vs a larger color display that could be run in a split screen or windowed mode. I'm sure the sequencer could take advantage of a larger screen. I guess they had a lot of screens laying around from th BK-5 or maybe it saved some programming time.

Also the spec for the keyboard lists "Key Touch High, Medium, Low, Fixed". Is this aftertouch with only 3 aftertouch pressures being recognized or is it some sensitivity setting?

Yatrix wrote:

One more entertainer keyboard with about zero relevance for band keyboarders.

Roland BK-9 is serious competitor for PA3X and killer of PA-600.

For band keyboardists there is Roland V-Combo VR-09, which is more flexible in real life then M50/KROME, and BTW much more easy to use for recording purposes.

How can the BK 9 be a PA 600 killer. It costs 1000 Euro more then the PA600 and has less features then the PA600. No sample option, no touch screen etc. So tell me what is so special about this Roland?

Bald Eagle wrote:Also the spec for the keyboard lists "Key Touch High, Medium, Low, Fixed". Is this aftertouch with only 3 aftertouch pressures being recognized or is it some sensitivity setting?

No, that's velocity sensitivity. Only 3 curves. If neither fits your playing, sucks to be you. Personally I think that having fixed velocity curves is stupid, users should be able to create their own...