Fans of Roland Chord Intelligence and others missing three fingers on your left hand, rejoice! After seven (7) long years Roland has released a new OS update for the venerable E-A7, it's only current fully-featured arranger.

Don't get too excited. The only thing mentioned in the release notes is a change to the auto power off parameter. Womp, womp. However, it does show that someone at Roland is aware that these boards are sitting in retail inventory around the world. Honestly, I wonder if they released this update after seven years to somehow protect their intellectual property rights. Is there an I.P. attorney in the house!?

So who wants to brush away the cobwebs and be first to risk bricking their machine by installing the 2.02 update! If you do, post here!

I had two of them and sold both, then prices went through the roof I couldn't understand the effects and very hard learning curve, I wish they would not have abandoned the arranger market I always liked the Roland sound.

Maybe a sign (although timid) of a comeback to the market...?

Hi.

Maybe it has something to do with 'powersave' and EU rules?

Similiar update was just released for Genos2 as well.

Roland EA7:
[ Ver.2.02 ] SEP 2024
Change the specification
The default value for Auto Off has been changed to 10 minutes.
* For information on the Auto Off function, please refer to the Owner's Manuals.


Yamaha Genos2:
V1.04 to V1.10 - Sep 12.2024
Changed the default setting value of the Auto Power Off function from 30 min to 15 min.
Removed the function to automatically set the time via wireless LAN.

Rolands owners manuals were always a complicated learning curve
(at least for me).I have the E80 version 2 and a EM 2000 in mint condition and I doubt if I scratched the surface of what`s under the hood on either of them.

I’ve always been a fan of Roland’s effects architecture. To have two insert effects for KBD sounds and three for the style/SMF Parts was very ahead of its time on the BK9.

Sadly, as with so much with Roland’s during its last few years, there was virtually no use of this in the BK9 ROM styles. They used it a BIT on the EA7 styles, and made a slight use of the multiple Drum Track feature also available (so you could mix and match kits, or have perc on one track and drums on the other) but these features AND the synced audio loops feature were completely missing from the BK9’s ROM.

As I’ve said so many times, the BK9 was a decade ahead of its rivals with its basic features, but Roland didn’t make use of them at all, and missed out on some obvious OS additions, like allowing the Performance to call up saved chord sequences and saved graphics (for sheet music or lyrics), and for the want of a nail, the battle was lost.

I really think this late OS change for the EA7 is probably a nod to EU energy saving regulations to keep legal the sale of the remaining stock. But once again, the EA7 was doomed by almost zero use of its new features (the sampler and the multipads).

It just goes to show, putting a successful arranger together is more than slapping some features on it and saying ‘Here you go, do all the work yourself!’. The arranger market lives and dies by its CONTENT.

If the BK7m was made to be able to add a few samples or even make your own styles it would have been one of the best, another disappointment because of that for me, I had many Roland arrangers in my time and I still think they have killer drums right out of the box.

The small display and compact form factor of the BK-7m would make style creation a challenge. It was bundled with software that allowed users to create styles on a PC. But the software was clunky, it looked like Windows 3.1. And it also didn't permit addition of the "Alteration Mode" parameter that was added with G-70 OS v2 (and this parameter does contribute meaningfully to the overall style quality.) Bottom line, the E-A7 does everything you mentioned, although the sammpler has limited memory.

I think the BK-7m is great for what it is. I might go caroling this winter with a keytar, and wear one on my hip! Wouldn't want to do THAT with an RA-800 or Ketron Audya!!

Any chance anyone would have that software that came with the BK-7m? it would help me out a lot maybe I can make a few styles.

Honestly, unless you're absolutely desperate, I wouldn't waste your time with Roland's "Style Converter." Even with the software, it's a very crude manual process. The graphical interface looks like Windows 3.1! The deal-breaker for me is that there's no provision to insert the "Alteration Mode" messages which tell the arranger whether to transpose a pattern by scale degree or with close voicing. This was a subtle enhancement added with the G-70 version 2, and in some cases it really improves how the style sounds!

I *think* the lack of Alteration Mode messages is because the Style Converter software was originally developed for the GW-8 and Prelude. Although they came out circa 2009, these two synth/arranger hybrids strangely lacked the "Adaptive Chord Voicing" feature introduced on the G- and E-series. Thanks a lot Roland!!

Bottom line, if you want to create styles for the BK-7m, get yourself a G-70, E-50, E-60, E-80, BK-5, BK-9, or E-A7. The BK-5s especially are often available on eBay or Reverb.com in the $400-$600 price range. And for that price I would recommend them over a GO:KEYS 5 or any current entry level keyboard! My $.02.