I recently contacted Roland Support asking for the steps to take to control the volume of my BK7M Styles in real time from my digital piano. Basically using my left hand chords to control the volume instead of a volume pedal. The manuel is incomplete but while going thru menus I see parameters to change midi channels, turn volume control on/off etc. I tried turning all parameters on and setting everything on the Bk and Piano to channel 1. Nothing, so I contacted customer support. Here's their reply:

Hi Bill,

There is not a way to access the volumes of all the parts in a style (drums, bass, accomp 1-6) externally via MIDI since they are controlled only by the internal arranger engine. You can use BALANCE control on the BK-7M to adjust the level of the arranger parts in real time, or you can use the Makeup Tools (pages 75-81 in the Owner's Manual) to change the overall level of a style (or a SMF song) and then re-save it to your USB key for playback.

I know about saving volumes to the USB but I want real time volume control as on my G1000. Are they correct????

Live volume control is a make or break for me on any keyboard

Can do it with a pedal but I prefer the keyboard. LH for the arranger and RH for the solo voices. Seems like a no brainer feature but maybe not. Wouldn't anyone using this unit want this feature ?

Bill, I think you are talking about "Dynamic" control on earlier Roland arrangers...Where velocity and sometimes aftertouch changes volume levels...following the way you play...

This was on E and G series, but no longer available on BK series..

It was velocity only, though. I doubt aftertouch would be very effective!

And yes, it is one more in a huge list of incredibly great Roland features they dropped.

I sometimes think the blame exists not so much on users not using the feature (which will tend to get a feature dropped), but Roland not really touting it as a big plus. Imagine, if you will, Roland, in every press release and every advertizement, trumpeting 'Now your arranger can follow YOUR dynamics!' and the next thing you know, everyone's buzzing with the idea.

Roland, on the other hand, barely mention it ANYWHERE, and it withers on the vine. This is exacerbated by NONE of the factory Performances using it. I fail to see the point of a feature that even the factory guys don't know is there!

The 'Dynamic Arranger' is one of my favorite features from the E/G series. Combined with the V-Drum kits and multi-velocity samples, it gives you not only an incredible sense of increase or decrease in Volume, but the timber radically changes, as you can really hear the drummer and other players 'digging in' as you do...

Make some noise. Let's get this one back. Faster than the CS would be nice!

Diki
You are correct. Roland needs to let people know more of the features in their instruments. Again my case for some in depth DVD's. Lots or wasted R&D if no one uses them.
I can control the dynamics of the solo voices from the keyboard so thats something. I just wanted to ditch the volume pedal for the arranger parts.

Overall I used the BK7M on a few jobs last week and the crowd response was terrific. No one of course knew why they liked the music better but I filled the dance floor and "I knew" it was the improved styles and especially the improved drums and bass. Lots of tweaking but I'm almost there.

The difference between a footpedal and the Dynamic Arranger was night and day, though... The footpedal only brings the VOLUME of the Style Parts up or down. Dynamic Arranger adjusted the VELOCITIES, so they moved into different areas of sound, rather than the same sound simply louder.

Makes you wonder what's good on the BK9 that no-one will ever know about (and will get dropped for the next arranger series!)...

What Roland dropped and shouldn't have, in my oppinion:

1. Dynamic arranger
2. CS
3. Morphing style function
4. Band Orchestrator
5. Touch screen

Yep, they be the biggies!!

Which Roland boards had Style Morphing? Does the style actually change in real time, or is this just creating a user style by copying tracks from existing styles?