Let's face it the G70 in all its glory maybe has had it's time and is a bit dated to some,....meanwhile Roland is moving forward with new technology in the arranger keyboard arena with the upcoming release of the New 76 key, dual screen, Voc processor, Chord looper, etc, BK-9 backing keyboard,......Rumored speculation is all over the place but no one really knows what is to be expected until it's Official release in Frankfurt Music mess show on April 4th.... Are the throngs of Roland followers ready to embrace this new member to the family or will they remain loyal to the older G70 only time will tell. So I would guess the new Bk-9 is the new "Roland TOTL arranger KB" now and doesn't have to cost a fortune to sound really good & have some really nice features onboard.
Can't wait to see the release demos and really get to see what the BK-9 is offering & how it stacks up against other KB's like the KORG & Yamaha, Ketron, etc,...

I can tell you now...the BK 9 will have to do a lot of catching up before anyone with common sense decides that the G70 days are over...

The G70 stil remains, not just compared to the BK9, but maybe overall..the best built 76 action key, stage fiendly keyboard today..

The BK9 will still lack the superior keybed from it's "great uncle".....the touchscreen (best of all arrangers)..way superior to the BK9..The combination of touchscreen and buttons..make on the fly the best...You will have to get use to cursor enter procedures(BK9)...menu driven (although better than it's siblings).

Other than the great media player on the BK, and maybe the chord looper.....the adevantages end for the BK9..

In the real world it is a MOTL keyboard that serves as Roland's current best...

When the folks decide to dump their "old" G70's I will grab some bargains...

After the PA series, that is

I just believe all these made in China , plastic keyboards that just will not last like the older keyboards...PAX1,2 and maybe 3...Ketron's line up, Rolad's G series (G800,1000,70)..

There is such a big difference playing a keyboard that has built better feel about it...If I have to explain it to someone..they would not have a clue to start with...

Playing on the better built keybords, helps the relationship between the feel response and the sounds...that I just don't get with..the plastic stuff..

Playing a PA2x or Ketron, or G70 or a MediaStation...are all enjoyable..compared to the "get use to" light, plastic keyboards..Roland's current line up, Yamaha across the board lineup, Korg's arranger line with the exception of the PA3x (maybe)

Sure playing senior gigs or in and out jobs..the light weight, less frills keyboards do the job...at a cost..compromise on the "enjoy" factor for the player..

I know we will hear from the folks that only play the PSR's and lower cost Korg models....but if you haven't experienced the difference...there will be no convincing anyone

+1

I hope they build this around the soundsources of the integra 7 with lots of free ram for my own samples, added full audio styles, and the abbility to function as a vst host/plugin on a pc or Mac.. And the abillity to add an external computer monitor with touchscreen

Things Roland has the technollogy for.. And this would certainly be something i would love to play...


Sadly i think the soundengine will be a slightly updated bk7 engine, same goes for he styles, and probably connectivity might be midi only.

Right on the money there with the "enjoy factor for the player" comment, Fran. I don't particularly enjoy schlepping my aging Pa1xPro in and out of gigs, but I like to feel something substantial under my fingers. After all, if I'm enjoying what I'm doing, chances are that's getting across to the audience, too.

So with that said, ...did you already PRE order the Bk-9?
you know you'll be the first on your block to have one... ..........I'm guessing the BK-9 will be priced at around $2199.99 - $2499.99 or so...?

Pricing will be interesting. Do they want to compete with the psr950/sd5 for $1,900-$2200 range? Or go up to $2800 nearer the pa800 slot?? I think the former makes more sense- the pa800 is by itself at this price point.

or maybe KORG will surprise us with the "New" PA900?