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#506362 - 08/21/22 09:27 PM
Re: BK5 and BK7m
[Re: Bill Lewis]
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Member
Registered: 04/28/06
Posts: 828
Loc: North Texas, USA
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I have a BK-7m, and it's an amazing module. The display could be bigger, but it occupies a unique space in the market. In that sense it's amazing piece of gear that was well worth its street price when it went out of production.
I also briefly owned a BK-5. It was nice, but IMO not as nice as the E-50 that preceded it, so I kept my E-50 and have no regrets. The biggest plusses of the BK-5 vs. the BK-7m are a larger screen, and an on-board Style Composer.
The BK-7m does have Roland's Makeup Tools for revoicing, etc. But there isn't a built-in way to create styles from scratch. A primitive "Style Converter" software was bundled with the -7m. As I recall, it didn't have a way to insert the "Alteration Mode" messages which establish the upper and lower note limits (aka "wrap range") for each style part. These alteration mode events also determine whether a Roland style part transposes "in parallel" or uses a "close" voicing, which makes a lot of difference in the resulting sound! Trivial to most here, but if you're into style editing, you'll prefer the BK-5.
You don't mention the E-A7, which is a couple of years newer and probably the last true Roland arranger. Compared to the BK-5, it has two non-touch displays and the possibility of multipads (you have to develop your own sequences for the pads.) However, the BK-5 is still available new from major online retailers at a slightly lower cost.
Roland is my preferred brand. The styles are highly playable and their chord fingering is easier than any other brand, without penalizing highly skilled players. It's a shame that they have pretty well abandoned the arranger market. IMO the BK-7m, BK-5, and E-A7 are all good instruments and worth owning.
Edited by TedS (08/21/22 09:40 PM) Edit Reason: clarity
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#506367 - 08/22/22 12:57 PM
Re: BK5 and BK7m
[Re: Bill Lewis]
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14245
Loc: NW Florida
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I also have a BK9 and a BK7M, and have done a fair amount of time on a BK5 that a friend owned.
To be quite frank, I was deeply unimpressed with the BK5, I felt it’s action was cheap and plasticky, the buttons felt fairly cheap, and it’s overall sound felt a bit thinner than my personal Roland’s.
Personally, I do not think that the BK5 would make a strong master controller for a module. And it has no sliders or definable buttons, so it isn’t much use there either.
I am a little confused, though… With a BK9 being only 20 pounds weight, why would you want to use something far less capable, far less good sounding, and with a much inferior action? Yes, it is a hair longer, but still plenty compact, and the weight difference is negligible.
I use my module exclusively as a sound module for my keytar rig, and even there I badly miss the chord sequencer, VK organ section and SuperNatural guitars. I’m not seeing a compelling use for a BK5 if you already have a BK9…
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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#506375 - 08/24/22 12:21 PM
Re: BK5 and BK7m
[Re: Bill Lewis]
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Registered: 04/25/05
Posts: 14245
Loc: NW Florida
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I have an early version of this hard case - iSeries 5014-6 Narrow 76-note Keyboard Case from SKB, and although it looks like on paper it won’t fit, you take out the padding and it just squeezes in. If you have an oversized case, maybe this is something to try.
Yes, it weighs as much as the keyboard, but it is a hard case, ATA legal (although without the padding, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable letting baggage handlers throw it around!), and a soft case weighs very little less (SKB’s soft 76 weighs almost the same!). Bottom line, unless you are comfortable putting your BK9 in a garbage bag, you are not going to save yourself much weight at the cost of losing almost all worthwhile protection.
A BK5 only weighs 3.5lbs less than the BK9, and by saving so little, you lose so much. The microphone in (now you need to carry a mixer with effects), the pro action (other than the lack of aftertouch, I’m of the opinion the action is easily as good as a PA4x), you lose the expression pedal input (only one input, so either sustain or expression, not both), no SN sounds, no VK organ, no chord sequencer, no key audio stuff (the BK9’s answer to multipads), no independent mastering section for keyboard and style/song sections (so playing loudly doesn’t duck the backing), no FC7 input, the list goes on and on and on…
It just sounds like an enormous step back to save yourself maybe 10lbs at the kerb. And yes, without a sub, I would never inflict those speakers on anyone! So between the sub and a mixer, I bet you end up carrying more than you are already…
I have a backup BK9. I honestly don’t think I will ever buy another keyboard to gig with. This is as good as it gets at the weight point..!
The minute I find myself looking at something else, I make myself learn a new tune. Now my time is actually productive!
_________________________
An arranger is just a tool. What matters is what you build with it..!
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