Fran Thanks--

Don In case Frans Are Sold I would Want yours Please advise me your details and if that is acceptable to you

In Advance Don Thanks

Jack

Sold!!!!

Donny horse traded with Uncle Dave...DNJ says happy holidays to all on SZ....

PS: DonM has a pair available...

Don It looks Like DNJ got Frans so I definately want a pair of yours--my details are above please let me know yours--

Thanks

Jack

http://www.alesis.com/multimix8usb20

http://www.mackie.com/products/profx8/

and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you as well ...

Shipping my Podiums (Podia?) to Jack next week. I'm glad someone will be getting some use out of them.
I have orders from headquarters to clean out the garage, so I may have other items coming up for sale!
DonM

A friend, who is a member of Roland Arranger forum, tells me that several owners are selling their BK-7M.

Seems it is tad difficult to use, and lacks some important features, especially midi recording, which is found on even entry level arrangers.

Are you planning on selling yours, during the garage clean-up, Don?

Ian

I'm always looking to improve my situation. The BK7m has suited me very well, but like all arrangers, it has some drawbacks.
I found it to be an extremely useful device. Once you set up a controller, it has a lot going for it. I can do things with my controller that are impossible to achieve with just onboard controls.
I also use the 7-switch Roland pedal, assignable to just about anything you want it to do. After that there are still assignable pedal slots on both the module and controller.
The sound is at least as good, and probably better, than the E80, and the storage system is much improved.
I don't use midi recording, so that isn't a factor. It does have WAV recording, which is more useful for me, but to tell the truth I use an external Tascam mini stereo record to record everything. Then I can listen to my mistakes on the way home, then connect to the PC, save anything decent and dump the rest.

If I move on, it will be solely because I would like to return to something that is totally self-contained, with vocal harmonizer/processor, text display and a larger screen.
I also miss having multi-pads.
I prefer the joystick, which I do have with my module/controller setup.
The one that comes closest to meeting my requirements at this time is the Korg PA3X. I will not return to Yamaha unless they improve the drums and vocal harmony even more, so that will probably be never since they don't think anything is wrong with them. They did make a step or two in the right direction with T4, but it is too large and awkwardly shaped for my preferences. Also I don't like the fact that once you buy a Yamaha, you can not expect any upgrades from them until they offer a new model. Korg, Ketron and Roland have all been good about periodic improvements to current models--sometimes vast overhauls. Sure, maybe they should get it right in the first place, but at least they are aware and responsive to customer input.
To me, nothing sounds quite as good as Ketron, as far as drums, bass, background, etc. I may return to an Audya if the Korg doesn't suit me. My concern with Ketron is that IF it should break, there is no local option for repair. I haven't had any problems with mine, but going without my primary keyboard for weeks is not an option I want to have to deal with while I send it off the one person who could repair it.
My concern with Korg is whether I'll be able to come up with enough suitable styles. Style CREATION would be a viable option on it though.
I have a buyer waiting for my BK--in fact several people have expressed a desire to buy it, but I intend to continue playing Roland until I can get my hands on a PA3X and spend some time setting it up to see if it suits me. If I later find it doesn't, I would have absolutely no qualms about returning to the BK7m. And for $850, I could have another one the next day, or even two of them for less than the price of anything else with comparable capabilities. I considered keeping the BK for a backup or second setup, but I still have by trusty E50 for that.
Until then I am pleased and so are my clients and audience.
I have been active on the Roland forum. There are two that I remember on there who have "dumped" their BKs, Miden and Hammer. They both had reasons unrelated to sound or quality. Regardless of what arranger we're speaking of, there will be people who love it and others who find it isn't as suitable for them as another arranger might be. During recent months the number of BK users on the Roland board, and also on the Yahoo BK group, has grown by a very large number. Most of the players on Yahoo use them with accordions, but there are some who use keyboard and guitar controllers with it as well.
The fact is, we have many wonderful choices with Yamaha, Korg, Ketron and yes even the BK. It is amazing the sound and capabilities offered by ALL the current, and even not-so-current models. It is merely a matter of deciding which, relatively small, factors that make one board more suited to an individual performer's needs and desires. For somewhere between one thousand and four thousand dollars, we get hundreds of great sounds, hundreds of amazing styles, wonderful effects, vocal processing, lyrics handling, songbook/music finder software, midi, MP3, Wav recording and/or playback--the list goes on and on. Arrangers are amazing bargains if you consider all this.
Also, it's the end of the year and I really need a tax write-off!
DonM

Don,

How much is a 76 Pa3x in the USA, I keep looking at it, it looks like a lot of thought has gone into it. Not played it to see how much better it is than the Pa2x, I did have one and sold it about 12 months back.

Tony

Don,

You were one of the very few who got along with the BK-7M...even die-hard Roland fans like Fran, Diki, etc. are/were very disappointed in the instrument.

Here in Cape Breton, they sold only two, and both were returned.

I do hope you have better luck with the PA3X...they sold only one here(against many, many Tyros4's)...biggest complaint was lack of support and very few third party (and factory) styles available.

I do think the PA3X is a very professional arranger, and I think the ergonomics are superb and probably the best of the current crop, so maybe those pluses will make up for the minuses.

In any case, good luck with whatever you choose.

Ian

They list for $3,999. Expect to get a few hundred off that.
DonM