I thought I would pass on this fix for other BK5 owners that may have had a problem with sequences originating from a Yamaha format (XG and XG lite)...sometimes the drums do not respond well on other manufactured keyboards...

The problem....these SMF's prevent the BK from using the "make up tools" stated they are not a SMF format...

For the fix, I use the G70 sequencer, and on "master track" remove the system exclusive events...and resave the file...The file now will work in the BK5 and allows the "make up" tools to do their job...It only takes a minute to fix and save..

Before the fix , the drums would always play a piano tone....This use to drive me crazy with the old E-600, and I could never figure out why...The high end G1000 VA 7/76 and G70 had no problem reading correctly..I guess the sequencer plays an important part in these keyboards....

I use to love the sequencer in the G1000..it was able to fix many files for me and my Yamaha buddies....much better than the soft sequencers I have used with a PC...

Give me the Hardware sequencer any day

Fran

May give you a call soon. I'm still on the fence about the BK5 vrs. BK7M. I love the all in portability of the BK5 but would feel more comfortable behind a real keyboard so maybe the BK7M. I hate decisions like this !!!
As far as setting up I just find it difficult when you get in a tight situation like a NH rec room and have to lift a heavy keyboard out of its case thats on the floor and maneuver it onto its stand. When your done and packing up there's sure to be a wheelchair pushed up close to you so its even more difficult. Not to mention lifting the keyboard and hard case into the SUV. Same with restaurants. If theres no dance floor in front of you its manuvering between tables and not disturbing anyone. I still use my Crate KX220's for most gigs like you do the Cubes. One heavy piece but it can handle anything. Did another deck gig, popped the wheels off and put it up on a keyboard stand and it covered the whole place.
BTW if you really love the G1000 sequencer I have one for sale. Best part is I never used the sequencer so that part of the board is brand new HA!

Bill, read your own post again...you endorsed the reason you should get the BK5 over the BK7m

I will convince you when we get together...

Sounds like a Roland LOVE FEST!!!

Fran thanx for the tip very helpful....if I still had my G70.

You can always get another G70...besides the excersize will do you good..

G70 again?...no way Jose...good studio piece but that's it....KORG is the Leader now on every count....glad I returned to KORG....just love the way it sounds and how they do things...
if I still used VH I would get the PA3x, just too gimmicky after a while for my needs.....as for the exercise I'm down 40lbs now baby and counting...went from a 48 to a 42 so far..who cares what you use?...bottom line is what does it sound like...that's all the audience cares about don't fool yourself,..carry on!

Donny,

Post some pictures!

Fran, I think I have an old hernia truss around here somewhere. Donny lost almost as much as your G-70 weighs. Glad to see you're beginning to scale down a bit for the NH circuit. From my perspective it's the best job I've ever had.

Good Luck,

Gary

Gary funny thing I dont have any of my old skinny clothes.....I really gotta go buy some new things to wear but I'm being cautious as whatever I buy now will be too big in a few weeks so I'm holding off till summers end and restock....
all I wear now are a new pair of khaki shorts I bought size 42 from a 48....T shirts and sandals when I'm not on stage... on stage I wear some nice different color Guayaberas XXl and black adjustable slacks for now....but they are swimming on me, long sleeve shirts and vests that I can adjust work good for indoor gigs with air-conditioning... wont be long..

For small stuff I use a Barbetta 41c. 2-10" speakers and tweeter biamped. Uncolored, clear sound with thunderous bass- 41.5 lbs..
http://www.barbetta.com/se41c.html

Next is a pair of EV SB122 subwoofers (34lbs ea) and ZX 1 satellites (16lbs ea) with poles for most of my jobs. Power amps, mixer etc in rack. I add 2 Klipsch speakers w/ 2-15's and a horn for big outdoor stuff. I am very weight conscious and prefer the sub /satellite setup to the larger footprint and higher weight of a full range speaker and tri-pod stands. Can be carried separatley- I use a bag for the zx-1's.

The same setup is available from EV with powered speakers- ZXa1 subs and zxa1 satellites ,but I don't like the idea of running power and audio all over the stage.

Sparky, what I own now ..I like a lot and have all the bases covered...
Starting with the Roland BA330...Mixer effects, anti feedback...Four 6 and 1/2 inch full range speakers and two tweeters...109 decibels..coverage up to 100 people..

Than I have my all time favorite Roland Cube 100 Keyboard amps 15" horn and tweeter...with preamp...I have four of these and can do virtually any job with different combination...one, a pair or two pair...When I use them with the Edirol digital mixer..it will beat anything I have heard or used.and no need for a sub...


That is my personal arsenal for sound system....

With the band we have three basic system....Yorkville NX 520's with Yorkville sub woofer...great quality..

Podium Pro 1204's (12")..these are the primary set up...and kick ..big time..

For the smaller venues we use a pair of Podium 802's with a mixer..and they can churn out a big sound too ..yet sound good at a lower volume too...


I pretty much have no interest in any other sound system, I have heard and used them all....and they won't do as good a job as what I have to me..

There are many great sound systems today, but I think they are lacking with the "modern" Class D amps...Give me the old A/B stuff...Yes I know our Yorkville 520's are class D...so I am speaking from experience

Fran-

any idea if the BK-5 will drive a Ketron SD2 or SD4 - I see it does not have a sequencer for rhythms/drums including drums?

Sparky, yes it will send and receive midi data...thus control the Ketron units...both SMF play and arranger play will transmit the data to the SD models..

The lack of a on board sequencer prevets the recording of the midi data originating from the keyboard, but not the transmitting of the same data...

Any idea if it will do so across banks with different control change #'s, or just the first 128 gm sound bank? My Orla won't do that - voice 130 on the Orla calls up voice 2 on the ketron(s).

BK5 transmits and receives Bank select as well as program change..

One more question before I go shopping- I saw another thread where someone could not get it to work as a slave module- the arranger would not respond to external commands. Do you know this to be true? Have you ever tried to control it with your G-70?

Sparky, I have to leave for a gig...when I get back I will run the BK5 and the G70 thru it's paces...

Sparky, just tried the BK5 with the G70 as a controller...No problems...It depends what you need to do and how capable your controller keyboard....

Folks that were having trouble, apparently did not understand midi that well and the need to set up the midi sets...


You will have to go into menu/ arranger setting/ select the NTA (Note to arranger) channel you need to match the controller...and the control channels you need to handle program changes, style selection....etc..

As for the selection of fills and variations etc...It is better to select direct from the BK5....most keyboard controllers will not be able to send this code.... Sync start and midi clock can also be set...


I also checked the transmit/receive for bank select and program change...no problems...

Thanks alot Fran. I usually set up multiple profiles in my modules for midi transmit/receive channels for different instruments. I would like to run the Roland thru my sd4 to pick up additional or better sounds. And I run my accordion (with Totter midi) into an SD2 when I play with the band. For singles I'd like to use the midi thru from the SD2 back into the roland to use it's arranger. Foot pedal would take care of fills etc in this case. I imagine I would have to turn the "local" off in the Roland to run it this way. I use both instruments in either type of performance.

I believe the BK-5 doesn't have the 'Wizard' setup tools that come in the BK-7m, so setting up reception channels, controllers and the like might be a bit initially more difficult on the BK-5, but there are several performance tools with buttons on the front panel of the BK-5 that are missing, buried in menus, and possibly not MIDI trigger-able in the BK-7m.

I guess it boils down to just how familiar you are with getting different things to talk MIDI with each other. A good controller ought to get you possibly MORE control than you can get out of most modern arrangers (none of them offer customization of what the sliders, if any, do, whereas with a good controller, you can CHOOSE what you want, where you want it, etc.), but at the cost of some serious head-scratching as no two companies ever seem to document their MIDI capabilities in the same layout and language.