Here it is.

http://youtu.be/4gRkTUo2fTQ

Sounds Good! excellent! demo, I wish it had after touch.

Well, just not impressed yet. Nothing my little $500.00 Korg Micro Arranger can't do.

Deane

impressive ...

Sounds Awesome ...wow!!...... and it looks super pro too...this time Roland got it right!! .
The super natural sounds are a big plus also. Bravo!

Does anyone know when it will be available to buy?

To me, the only thing impressive was the player. The keyboard seemed to emphasize the bass, but drums were lacking in every style. Not for me - that's for sure.

Gary

Very cool. great demo. I'm wondering what sound engine they used for the organ sounds. VK8 maybe ??? If it'll replace my VR700 thats another bonus.
Another thing important to me is it looks professional. Nice and sleek for a restaurant or CC gig where looks matter. And a somewhat full keyboard you can actually play.

Not one of those silvery things with a tiny keyboard and built in speakers.

( Sorry I couldn't restrain myself, only a joke !! )

I thought that the SuperNATURAL sounds were not that Super. The tenor sax, growl sax, harmonica and mute trumpet were bad.
The alto sax was OK along with the trumpet although there was a bad splat sound on the trumpet when the velocity was high. The splat ahould have been assigned to one of the buttons.
The SuperNATURAL jazz and flamenco guitars sounded good.

Sorry Roland not very impressed sofar.

I would have to agree with Hammer and Gary....way too much bass and drums didn't sound good on any style played...some of the sounds were good but i was hoping for a much better product...i'll have to pass on any thoughts on aquiring the BK9.


steve

mox8,psr s910, pa50sd, microarranger, cx3, psr s2000

I was impressed with many of the styles; they sound fresh and last more than just four bars and this adds to the overall sensation of realism. The interesting thing is that almost all the styles demoed are present also in the BK7-m, that at this point looks more and more interesting as a backing unit and would make a nice addition to one's existing setup. As for the BK-9, I hope that it's an intermediary step towards a future TOTL arranger, that has styles as fresh and live as these plus (almost) all the supernatural voices found in the Integra module and a keybed a la G-70. THAT would be a killer arranger.

I think that the demo suffers for too much compression. Whether this was put on by the arranger itself (it has separate Mastering EQ and Comp for both the style section and the Keyboard Tones) or whether it was added afterwards to optimize it for web delivery, I don't know.

But I can assure you, take the compression off or reduce it radically, you are hard pressed to find a punchier, more live sounding arranger.

Unfortunately, I have no way of removing the compression from the demo - it is what it is.

Gary

to live or die by the demo is ridiculous....
we all know you have to make a KB sound great if you know how using its features. couple that with some good chops and you'll get good results. saying the BK-9 isn't worthy is just plain silly it's not even on the market yet.

By the way, if you liked this demo, check also these two (of a BK-7m), by the same demonstrator, who apparently is also an accordeon player (and a very talented one!)
Warning: you could end up buying a BK-7m (or an accordeon... )

Demo ballroom styles

Demo swing and dance styles

Need to take all in consideration.
The demo is very important in the ecuation.
The price vs features/sounds/styles is maybe the most important.
Just as important is the joy playing the instrument.
The looks, weight, size...

I think, if the feature set is what we've seen already and is not gonna change, the price is just about 15-20% too much.

This video does not do justice to the sound quality of the styles. It seems that the RH part has been boosted way too much. Although highly unlikely, it would be a shame if the style part volumes are set that way by default. The Bk-7m has some very good drum and bass patterns in many genres but had some reverb which needs some altering to my liking... Each to his own here.

And this would definitely be a step up from the 7-m with those 500 new tones and 22 Supernatural tones. This keyboard has some good features especially for live use. The favourite tones is a good idea especially for those using arrangers in a band setup where you are expected to play just the few tones. Touchscreen would have been nice but if there are dedicated buttons well laid out then it can perform as smoothly or even better than the touch. The Audio key feature is also great. It makes sense to have this chord looper feature because it frees up the left hand to use the joystick or articulation buttons more expressively and with accurate timing. However, what I fail to understand is if you can use your iPad Screen as the touch screen controller for BK, why not have additional USB slots ?

Overall, I feel the Supernatural sounds and DNC need some catching up to do with the quality of SA voices. The best and obvious way we could judge on the sound would be to play it with a decent pair of headphones or through HQ monitors. Its pricing of 2500 USD is a little too steep when one considers the Bk-7m to be at 1000 USD. And they should also have a good followup plan with OS Updates(like they did with the G-70) and expansion packs to justify the customer`s investment. And it won`t be a bad marketing idea for Roland to give BK-9 owners(first hand) a discount on the Integra modules and vice versa

Donny, I didn't say anything about it not being worthy or unworthy. Someone will like it - just not me, at least from the few demos I've heard. I would never consider purchasing ANY keyboard based upon a couple demos. That's why I'm meeting up with Joe Ayala next week to see and hear his S-950 first hand. That's also why I drove to Philly to see and hear Uncle Dave's Bose L1. It's why I drove to Bricktown, NJ to hear your Barbetta Sona 32SCs many years ago.

Keep in mind that I really liked what I heard when I listened to the Tyros-4 and S-950 demos, but I wouldn't purchase either of them based upon demos. But, when I hear a demo like the one posted in this thread, it tends to be a portal of what one would hear when playing the keyboard first hand, and the person providing the demo seems to be a top-notch player.

Several years ago, when Dan01 had his keyboard store in the Baltimore metro area, I heard a demo of the SD1. To me, the demo sounded harsh and thin. A few weeks later I was able to hear Dan01 play it live at the Piano store where he worked - it sounded thinner and more harsh. At the time he was playing it through an amp that was touted as the best thing since sliced bread. I thought the amp sounded pretty bad, too. I didn't go there to buy the keyboard, but instead to hear the amp. If I recall, you and Scott Yee both purchased one. You sold yours a few months later. I believe the amp was a Motion-Sound KP200. I had the KP100 for a while, an amp that was given to me by a friend because it no longer worked. I had it repaired, tried it out, and traded it to HankB for an old Barbetta he had in the shed. That Motion-Sound was a lousy amp.

Cheers,

Gary

First demos are rarely the best... We've seen this with almost everything released for years now. Why this surprises anyone, who knows?

Add to that, different sales regions put out their own demos, with better or lesser quality.

Personally, I believe that MOST current arrangers that have master EQ and compressor sections, the settings are too aggressive. Bass and treble is overhyped, and compression squeezes what little life an arranger has completely out. Unfortunately, modern CD's are compressed and limited so hard, this is what we have come to expect. But if you want to sound 'live', take it all off!

I agree with Diki. I turn off compression on both my Tyros 3 and Motif XF. It makes a big difference.

I love the Joel style, but when the sax lead came, I just had to laugh - pitiful. It still reminds me of the e-09 series. 'Cmon Roland, get serious. Put some muscle in your boards.

In fairness, I have heard few 'live' SA2 sax demos that came even CLOSE to the factory demos, which are sequenced (but use style play as the jumping off point).

The timing and phrasing is MUCH more critical once your sax sound actually CAN do legato and staccato tonguing. And few arranger players I have seen play live have the requisite skills to pull this off.

Rumors for a May 21st, 2013 release date to buy BK-9 in stores.

Some confusion about bad saxes on Roland KB's?..Here's a BK 7m Sax Ballad......

No confusion, Donny. I, personally, didn't think the sax sounded good at all. Maybe it was because I was listening to the song with my Yamaha YST MS50 sound system plugged into the PC.

Gary

99% of whether a sax sound is good is the playing. Phrasing, evenness of touch (horn players, unless going for the effect deliberately, do not jump in volume from note to note, but keyboard players have a hard time hitting every note almost the exact same velocity), ability to make phrase ends quieter than phrase starts (horn players run out of breath!), all of these make a radical impact on whether a solo is believable...

I must confess, I'm not too enthused about that Wham! solo. For starters, it sounded like he was playing an alto sax down in a tenor sax's range. Then you have to take into account that this is a BK-7m. Not a BK-9. No switch enabled up glisses like the SA saxes have. But the BK-9 is supposed to have some of this kind of stuff.

For now, I'd be waiting patiently for them to hit the stores, and for Roland to release their usual top quality demos. We have seen neither, yet...

Realism is obviously lacking in my opinion. The Tenor Sax was okay, albeit, far from perfect. The others sounded very unnatural. The distortion guitar was a big disappointment too if you ask me. On the other hand the acoustic guitar was very good and the accordion was excellent. The muted trumpet was okay but some of the solo trumpet notes didn't sound right. The acoustic grand(s) lack authenticity in my humble opinion. The organs he played were just so so. I tell it like I hear it and my ears are telling me the BK-9 doesn't have that wow factor. The styles seemed pretty good but the bass was over-compensated, drowning out the other instruments. The drums were pretty decent in some cases but nothing to write home about. There seems to be a significant amount of "aliasing" in the high end which degrades the realism of the instruments. All in all I'm not very impressed.

It seems to me Roland is stuck in rut and if you ask me they should go back to the drawing board to create a completely new (and hopefully breathtaking) sound set from the ground up. Many of the sounds are rehashed and a big letdown in my estimation. The BK-9 is a high-end priced keyboard that has MOTL sounds in many cases. Although online demos can be somewhat deceiving. But in this case I think what you hear is what you'll get when it arrives in stores. I would like to be proven wrong about that of course.

Once it arrives at GC I'll get give a good workout and make a final analysis. I still can't see myself buying one presently because of the low resolution LCD's and the lack of speakers and also the lack of a harmonizer and obviously the less than stellar sounds I've heard thus far. Too bad. I had high hopes but so far it's somewhat of a disappointment.

To each his own. Donny and Fran are probably ecstatic which is fine and dandy. Somebody needs to keep Roland afloat financially and it's nice to know some people like it. If they happen to sell a boatload I'll be very surprised though I must admit. Although stranger things have happened. 2,500 smackaroos is a lot of money but if you purchase one from a reputable source they'll likely have a 30 day money back guarantee. Which is good to know because you might need to take advantage of it.

All the best, Mike

ok guys it has been brought to my attention by good sources that the Bk-9 for the most part will have the bk-5 sound set with a few super natural sounds as I hear the Demos being a BK-5 owner I can hear it and it not just a bad player the sax sounds is bad horn sounds are not good maybe the tone wheel stuff will be good for organ sounds pianos are nice on BK-5 as for pad and strings very nice as well but it is what it is it will not have the thickness we want that is upsetting to me Roland has the abilty to put much better sounds in those areas the integra and G series synths have much better sounds pianos and el pianos, organs, strings good but the other stuff not good my Tyros 4 will fill in where the Bk-5 -9 falls short SAX sounds for sure I was hopeful Roland would of put a much full sound set in like there top of the line sound set and not the past BK sound set bad move for them . sadly this will make it a MOTL unit 76 keys will make me want one but for the price they are asking better sound set should of been added so the demos are what you hear BK- 5 type of sounds because that is what it is

Mike, if I don't like something..even from Roland I will pass on it, and comment why I don't like it

The BK series sounds great and the drums are near the best (Audyia ?)..There is no reason to think the BK9 is going to sound any less quality....

Recently I posted a Roland sax that most (even Tyros owners) claimed was the best they heard from current models..one of the guys was a great sax player to boot..

Personally..I like new keyboards...I like to put them thru their paces...and if they don't fit my needs..I move on...Yes I may try the BK9 and not keep it...although I doubt it.I do like the concept of 76 keys with mic input and 21 pounds..

But keep in mind I already have what I am happy with..G70 and my laptop..unbeatable combination..period.
If I were doing 2 or 3 senior gigs a day like some folks...maybe I would need a light keyboard..even at a compromise...but I don't and would only do one a day..I can still handle 46 pounds..

I can assure you, despite Roland themselves not knowing how to pick and tune the best voices for styles, you CAN get some scarily good electric guitars out of the BK series. Their amp simulators have improved drastically since the G/E series. Check out my two BK-7m/KX-5 keytar demos.

And, although I give the G70 GrandX a slight nod, the pianos in the BK-7 still shine. Once again, I believe that it boils down to the controller... It's hard to modulate your playing strength on an action as light as the BK5/9. Mind you, they are still a bit stiffer than the PSR series. If you want to get the most dynamics out of a keyboard, setting the touch strength to it's minimum (the most force needed to get fff) is usually the best bet, but most arrangers set middle strength as default, and most early demonstrators tend to not fiddle with the factory defaults.

Saxes are still a toss up for me. The BEST SA2 demos make the Yamaha's saxes sound wonderful, but again, it's rare to find a user demo that comes even close. Roland is just in its infancy with SA style voices, and overall, I'd give them a slight nod. But it is still 99% the player that is going to make the difference. In the hands of a good horn player emulator, I think you would find the Roland adequate, at least.

Again, as I still class the BK9 as a MOTL arranger, not the 'flagship' that comparison with a T4 or PA3x would expect, it has much that other MOTL offerings don't have. 76 notes, key triggered audio loops (little buzz so far about this quite handy feature), a Chord Sequencer of some sort, ultra light weight, etc..

Roland at least can't be accused of having a 'me too' arranger here!

Have you ever considered punctuation and paragraphs..? amazingly useful for getting your point across!

I agree the G70 is a classic keyboard I miss mine we will see how it sounds but I got good info that it is a bigger version of bk-5 with a few added things I was hoping for more here in this offering I will prob get a chance to play one in the next couple of weeks so I will update you. Ron

What the heck are people actually looking for in an arranger KB....Imo if you cant make great music with what is on the market today there's something wrong with the players abilities NOT the keyboards sounds styles & features.....there is more then adequate gear out there to do anything with at this time.
Improving ones chops should be the not the silly nitpicking of sax sounds, a few features, what's better then what?..
How you play is what's important & what it sounds like..

"I saw and heard BK9, talked to Roland producer...
Even if you read carefully in roland connect there are these words:
The BK-9 is also equipped for future expansion, with a User Tone area dedicated for upcoming BK-series sound collections."
More news to come"

Deja Morrison

Source:..Roland Arranger Forums.

Ok, here's a couple of demos with examples of Yamaha SA2 Voices, specifically the Breathy Tenor Sax. I have not found a better sax voice and the SA and Sa2 voices are the only reason I keep the Tyros 3. Those voices are very expressive and as someone who played Tenor Sax for many years it responds exactly the same way as the real thing. The examples are my compositions with Drums, Pads and bass from the Motif XF and leads from the Tyros 3.

Dreams of You (SA2 Jazz Trumpet and Tenor Sax)
https://www.box.com/s/gc4p2frx9vt0f4o5ge8l

It's Over Now (SA2 Jazz Trumpet, Classical Guitar and Tenor Sax)
https://www.box.com/s/tbl7myn6mmv05cnk5xfm

Candelight (SA2 Jazz Trumpet and Tenor Sax
https://www.box.com/s/q6a1y2o5lh63up1ghpkd

I prefer Ketron's tenor sax...

Ketron Tenor Sax

Sparky:

The Ketron Sax is very good. I could live with that one too but IMO it is still second to the SA2 Yamaha. There is something about it's harmonics in the lower-mid range that says "Keyboard Sax" to me. But again it is very good and much better than Roland and Korg. I would like to hear a more extended sample of it.

Joe

Of course, this is ALL about opinions and no one can say that one is wrong and another is right, especially since we cannot hear what another person is actually hearing ...
personally, I think I liked the Ketron better, but then, what do I know ??? ...

Tony:

Of course you are correct. It is very subjective. With music that's really all it can ever be. Plus each of us is more sensitive to certain instrument sounds.

http://www.roland.com/products/en/BK-9/

click on sound examples for extra demos...

Direct Link...enjoy Wow!!

Roland BK-9 demos

I got to say those Demo's sound very good so we will see how it sound in our hands soon I hope to get a sneek peak soon I will update all soon.

Funny thing is I have the Ketron's tenor sax sample in my PA600 and does sound good. That's why it is great to have a sample option to add sounds you like instead of only factory sounds.

These roland samples sound excellent but are they not set styles but simply sequenced tracks ?

Very good. Very alive and nice.
The sound is too compressed though.
These demos are really meant to sound good - can not blame Roland for that, right? And yes, they sound like tracks not styles.
Sounds fresh and tempting.

This is the reason why I don't post it because people like you who feel a need to put someone down because of there shot comings .

I HOPE THAT LAST COMMENT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

thanks for making my morning DIKI.

Nothing wrong with caring enough about your intended audience to bother writing in a style that's readable. Take it as a sincere effort to help you communicate effectively. Or take it however you like. It certainly doesn't make me feel good to have to comment about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcmfiok4OeE

The noise in the background is terrible, but if you can follow, it's a demo from Messe...

The audio files are directly recorded from BK-9 styles (intro + variation + ending) using internal audio recorder...

You know this or you guess?
If true, it confirms that Rolans styles are really good.
Sounds - more subjective matter.

I know...

The main demo instead is a MIDI file playing in BK-9

Most of Roland's main demos are done like pretty much every other manufacturers'...

They take the basic style output, then do the solos afterwards, and then polish the whole thing off in a sequencer, tidy things up, maybe add a counter-line, etc.. In other words, not 100% style, but not 100% sequenced either.

BK-9 demo by Ralf Schink (showing also the audio loop function):

BK-9 demo

(The audio loop demo starts at 3:34)

OK... I noticed something during the Chord Sequencer demonstration (towards the end of the video at 4:00).

In the middle of the loop, there was a fill, and I noticed the Variation buttons' lights changing, which if the CS was an audio looper (as the Roland information has so far said), you would think would not change. So there is still hope that Roland's marketing got it wrong, and the CS is still a MIDI function, not audio. Yay!

Mind you, I hope they didn't forget, older Roland's with CS's allowed you the choice of recording ONLY the chords, or the chords with the Variation and Fill changes. So far, we've only seen it recording Variations and Fill changes (unless Ralph had an FC-7 tucked away under there and was kicking it himself). But I am encouraged somewhat...

I am also happy to see that Roland understand that audio loops need to LOOP! Yamaha's audio multipad function is simply one shot playback, nowhere near as useful. Mind you, those loops you use on the Roland better be trimmed to perfection, otherwise they will drift off sync if used over more than 16 bars or so! Although the machines are synced together, if it is a proper loop, and not just re-triggering the audio file on the 'one', if the loop is off a tiny hair (you'd be surprised how many commercial libraries have loops that say 120bpm, but are really 119.995bpm or 120.006bpm, etc.!) after a chorus or so, they drift away from each other a tad.

But this feature is quite a game changer, IMO. The icing on the cake would be to be able to put the loop through a filter or MFX, something common in the techno world. Let's hope.

But my main hope is that an update can get the loops off the keyboard (I dread the thought of accidentally triggering them on or off as I play close to the note/loop boundary!) and put the on/off to an FC-7 option. Hard to think why this couldn't be done.

BTW, anyone notice that at 1:30 he does an amazing chord strum with melody one handed on Sweet Georgia Brown? I don't think I've heard anything else pull that off. Interesting. I think we are only just starting to get a peek at some very unique features for the BK9, and my appetite is starting to get whetted!

I have to confess also, the Leslie sim seems FAR better than my G70 (one of my pet peeves).

It just keeps getting better!

I am seeing an Audio loop feature...and a chord loop feature..Could it be a midi loop for chord sequencing, and an audio looper as found on other products..

Since the arranger style play can be synced to the audio loop..a lot of versatility..

Common boyz just ORDER ONE ASAP!!

A friend has already ordered one. I'll review it ASAP...

Fran will probably have one soon also....can't wait!!!

Get ready to dump some G70's.....

Another nice BK 9 demo

Roland for sure has the best styles by far.

chocolate is WAY better than vanilla!

You need to understand Logic 101...

The G70 has no chance ...being dumped is out of the question..

Here is the short list why: G70 isn't a plastic instrument..it is made to stay..It has the best keybed in the business...it has a great harmonizer..it has a great touch screen..it has aftertouch...

The BK9 first has to prove it will have a home here...let alone replacing the best keyboard I have seen to date..

I know Korg and Yamaha folks can't understand this...weight alone chases most people away



I may love the BK9..I will like it for sure, as I like the BK5..but it is silly to think this MOTL design wise keyboard will replace the TOTL G70

I also like to mention, after side by side playing of the E50 and BK5....I actually favor the E50 in many ways..especially dedicated buttons and touchscreen, lacking on the BK5....and will be lacking on the BK9

I'm waiting for the BK-11...

I honestly think the CS and the audio loops, if I don't find any serious 'gotchas', will determine this to be my next gigging arranger.

TBH, I doubt it will replace my G70 for work with live bands, the superb action and ease of use of the touchscreen based OS is very important to me, but as a solo or duo keyboard, the CS is the best thing an arranger could have. I have little patience having to play repeated chord patterns over and over again, tying up my LH for no real reason, and the loop player allows me to finally start to get some of that breakbeat flava into my work. That's a pretty potent combination.

And yes, being a mere 21 lbs. is nice, too! An HK Nano and this, I might be able to WALK into a gig carrying not just my keyboard, but the PA too! Sweet!

look at these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwVfOBw0B7U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_whOVCFHWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXWYzs9lvk

enjoy!!!

Finally it's like the Audya........

Thanks Phantom, very impressive, I enjoyed your demonstration. BTW, is that you in the videos?
I like what I see with this new BK9.
Are there some other demos coming - I mean demos of the features/possibilities to modify sound and styles...
Nice!

no it's not me...I cannot play actually....
but I know him

Thanx for the demos.....so many more variations with these loop features........don't think The NEW Yamaha R&D aren't watching these tends for their Next TOTL Release..
Now what do all you people in the past that have "shunned" the fact that people do use SMF, MP3's or any other method of playing "besides styles" feel about incorporating all this new Looping technology into arranger playing or is it really playing anymore or Dj'ing? etc..? or faking, or whatever you want to call it,....it was inevitable that all this "new" technology would catch up and somehow be part of the so called "LIVE" music making process which is now universally ACCEPTED? Jump onboard the Loop railroad my friends its leaving the station NOW!!!

Interesting demos. The loop feature has been present for years in Korg arrangers, like my PA2X-Pro, but compared with the Roland approach there are some differences. The BK-9 apparently streams the loop from an external source (like a pendrive), while in the PA they reside in memory (RAM), and this means that you have to load them beforehand. Advantage of the Roland approach: you don't need to load anything, but just assign each loop to a key in the upper octave of the keyboard. Advantage of the Korg approach: you are not limited to one loop at the time: since they are assigned to the multipads, you can play up to four of them together.
Of course the final result will depend on the kind of music you play and, consequently, on the kind of loops you choose. In these demos the loops are so complex that one of them is more than enough. On the other hand on my PA2X-Pro I use audio loops in a more "subtle" way; for example, in a latin style I can use percussions like congas, triangle, shakers, cabasa, guiro and so on, adding them during the song to create a rhythmic progression, and this approach works well also with ballads. Frankly, for the kind of music I play, I almost never use loops like those shown in these three videos, but if you are into disco, dance and so on they work fine. Anyway, choosing and creating a good loop is not easy and it's a little art in itself.

Yes... I'm sorry the guy chose such a 'karaoke' (or let's be kind and call it 'remix'!) style loop. One can imagine SO many truly musical uses for these loop features, and this guy trots out Gangnam Style! Cliche...

I noticed the 'one loop at a time' limitation, but given that there are 7 of them available, you could always think of it as '4 loops and 3 combinations' if you mixed the loops together in an audio editor (very easy to do) in different combinations. Yes, not QUITE as good as having four loops you could layer, but closer than you realize.

I still hope that we can get some pressure put on Roland to allow the FC-7 to trigger them. One hates to have ponied up for a 76, then have the top 7 keys (more like 9 or 10, because you really don't want to be playing anywhere NEAR where you might accidentally hit a loop key!) unavailable for your RH sound...

This could be a serious mistake for sure!! instead of keys there certainly as Diki says be a pedal Trigger or even on deck loop BUTTONS to allow a full playing 76 keys.

Nothing new here...Roland used sequences played back on the XP80 keys...No one complained then...

Besides, the only folks that will miss a few keys are the 76 key fans..you 61 'ers have nothing to worry about..

Audya has this. You first press a button to enable the keys to trigger loops. If you don't put it in that mode, you can use the keys as normal.
DonM

It's exactly the same with BK9.

Too late to add audio pad buttons to the BK9! Plus that ups the cost.

But the FC-7 is perfect as an alternative to triggering them.

7 loops, 7 switches on the FC-7... coincidence? You be the judge!