BK-9: Backing Keyboard
76-note premium accompaniment keyboard with professional sounds
The BK-9 is a powerful performance keyboard for solo performers and also hobbyists who appreciate sophistication. Combining professional sounds with a powerful accompaniment section and USB recording, the easy-to-use BK-9 provides everything you need for great-sounding performances.
If you gig regularly, you’ll appreciate the BK-9’s pro-quality 76-note keyboard yet it’s also easy to transport, weighing less than 21 pounds (9.4kg). With over 1,700 versatile sounds onboard and 70 drum kits, you have more than enough sounds to tackle the most demanding set list. The updated onboard sounds are incredibly realistic too, and include 22 SuperNATURAL sounds along with 500 new sounds from Roland’s acclaimed sound library.
With twin screens and a logical, intuitive layout, you can easily direct your virtual band while powerful effects and assignable real-time controls quickly let you edit your sounds. With a number of other highlights such as USB song playback/recording, an onboard 16-track sequencer, Rhythm Composer, and much more, the BK-9 is a powerhouse music machine for professional performing, song composition, and casual enjoyment at home.
Built for live performance, and easy to carry
The BK-9 weighs less than 21 pounds (9.4 kg) so it’s easy to carry wherever you want to play – a real plus as professional-quality 76-note keyboards are usually heavy and difficult to transport.
Some performance keyboards are weighed down by hundreds of unnecessary functions, making them confusing, cluttered and complicated. The BK-9 is designed around simplicity, and is very easy to use when performing, with two screens showing just the essentials, a logical front panel layout, and many dedicated and user-assignable controls.
When playing live, there’s nothing worse than reaching the end of the song and realising you can’t find the sounds for the next song. The BK-9 lets you quickly recall your ten favourite tones for each real-time part, so you can concentrate on playing rather than worrying about finding your trusted, favourite sounds. You also get 1000 onboard Music Assistants which provide instant setups for every musical style, and you can save an unlimited number of custom setups to USB memory giving peace of mind and protection from data loss.
Versatile sounds for every occasion – and lots of them
A performance keyboard needs to deliver across a wide variety of musical situations, especially when demanding audiences are involved. And because you never know what songs the audience will request, it’s reassuring to know that the BK-9 is crammed with over 1,700 sounds covering just about any musical genre. You’ve got quality as well as quantity too, since Roland’s SuperNATURAL technology powers 22 of the sounds, for incredibly natural expression.
You also get 500 all-new tones from Roland’s acclaimed sound library, selected especially for the BK-9. When the gig kicks up a gear, the Virtual Tone Wheel sound engine puts legendary organ tones at your fingers, with front-panel harmonic bars and a rotary effect for authentic organ performance. The BK-9 is also equipped for future expansion, with a User Tone area dedicated for upcoming BK-series sound collections.
Remastered rhythms
The rhythm section is the backbone of any performance, and the BK-9 is brimming with full-ensemble accompaniments in almost every musical style imaginable. This means you get to lead the world’s most versatile backing band as you play, but without the tantrums or egos. The 540 built-in rhythms have all been remastered with the BK-9’s superior sounds and powerful new effects processing for impressive audio quality straight from the recording studio. You can also add unlimited additional rhythms via USB, and you can play along with MP3, WAV, and SMF files as well, so you don’t need to plug in a separate audio player.
Adapt your sound to the venue, with powerful effects and onboard mixing
If you play gigs at different venues, you never know what you’ll find upon arrival. Some venues sound fine, but others leave a lot to be desired acoustically. The BK-9 includes two mastering processors so you can adapt the sound of the rhythm and real-time sections to suit the acoustics of the venue. They’re also great when used with the global reverb and chorus for adding that final polish, ready for recording.
In total, there are five independent multi-effects engines (MFX) offering an enormous range of sound processing possibilities, with three MFX dedicated to rhythms and two MFX dedicated to real-time parts. You can instantly adjust the levels of the rhythm and real-time parts, MFX parameters, and more simply by using the harmonic bars on the front panel.
Powerful tools for creativity
A built-in 16-track sequencer provides a professional platform for composing and editing SMF data, while the Rhythm Composer lets you create and customise your own rhythms with ease. The convenient Chord Loop feature instantly captures rhythm backings as WAV audio loops, and also makes it simple to build chord sequences from rhythms to use for composing in the sequencer.
If you’re playing along with audio files stored on USB key, up to seven files can be assigned to the top seven keyboard keys for quick-access playback while performing – meaning that the next song in your set list is cued up and ready to go. You can record your performance for posterity directly to USB memory and since the BK-9 records in high-quality WAV format, you can then copy the files to a computer and burn your performance straight to CD.
Extra ability to entertain
If you sing or work with a vocalist, you’ll appreciate the BK-9’s convenient XLR microphone input, which features phantom power, a dedicated reverb effect, and easily accessible front-panel controls. You’ll be able to set up faster and start the sound check without having to worry about extra leads and effects processors.
If your repertoire includes Karaoke, a composite Video Out jack is also provided, which displays embedded MP3/SMF lyrics and chord symbols on an external video monitor. For more casual performances at home, you can display photo slideshows, so your audience can enjoy watching images while listening to your music.
Roland Wireless Connect and Free iOS Apps
The BK-9 works with Roland Wireless Connect, which provides cable-free communication with Apple’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via Roland’s optional WNA1100-RL Wireless USB Adapter. An iPad can also be connected directly to the BK-9 with a USB cable using Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit. Many free iOS apps are available to enhance your BK-9 experience, including Air Recorder for jamming and capturing performances (iPhone/iPad), BK Partner for selecting tones and rhythms (iPad), Lyrics Viewer for displaying SMF lyrics (iPad), and a number of others.
Hear, Try and Compare the Roland BK9 Backing Keyboard in our showroom
Located in Leicester in the central Midlands and close to Coventry, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham and Warwick we promise you that a visit to our specialist Digital Piano and Keyboard showroom will not disappoint. Try the full Roland range including the BK9 Backing Keyboard and compare it with
Yamaha, Casio and Korg all under one roof. Whatever your playing standard our knowledgeable and friendly experts will help guide you through the Keyboard buying process and make sure that you are buying the right instrument for your needs. As ex teachers we are ideally placed to advise and answer any questions you may have. Lifetime support and product tuition with ALL digital pianos.
We sell Digital Pianos and Keyboards. That's it. Nothing else. No distractions and nothing to steal our focus.
Display Type
Display
2 Displays 160 X 160 Pixels, Graphic LCD (Backlit)
Keyboard
Keyboard Type
76 Velocity Sensitive Keys Key Touch: High, Medium, Low, Fixed
Keyboard Modes
Organ, Piano
Sound Generator
Max. Polyphony
128 Voices (GM2/GS/XGlite Compatible)
Tones
1,718 (Included 22 SuperNATURAL) + User Tone.
Favorite Tone
Possibility to create four lists (UPPER1, UPPER2, LOWER, M. BASS) of 10 frequently used sounds and recall them instantly.
Drum Sets
77
Multitimbral parts
4 keyboard parts (UPPER1, UPPER2, LOWER, M. BASS) + MELODY INTELLIGENT + 16 song parts
Master Tuning
415.3 to 466.2 Hz
Key Control (Transpose)
–6 to +5 in semitones (for rhythm, SMF, mp3/WAVE)
Organ Section
Harmonic Bar
16’, 5-1/3’, 8’, 4’, 2-2/3’, 2’, 1-3/5’, 1-1/3’, 1’ + LEVEL
Vibrato/Chorus
V-1/V-2/V-3/C-1/C-2/C-3
Percussion
2nd/3rd, Soft, Slow
Rotary Sound
Slow/Fast, Brake, Level
Tone Wheel Type
50/60/70
Amplifier Type
TYPE 1/TYPE 2/TYPE 3/TYPE 4/ TYPE 5
Effects
Real Time Parts (UPPER1, UPPER2, LOWER, M. BASS)
Reverb and Chorus: selectable via Tone Part effects 2 Mfx (84 Mfx Editable Macro) (selectable via Tone Part effects) Part EQ
Rhythms/SMF section
Reverb: 8 types (selectable via Makeup Tools) Chorus: 8 types (selectable via Makeup Tools) 3 Mfx (84 Mfx Editable Macro) (selectable via Makeup Tools) Part EQ
MIC
2-band EQ +gain for each band , Reverb
Backing Section
Rhythms
Over 500 in 10 “Rhythm” families
Real-time player
Rhythms (STL), SMF (Format 0/1), KAR, mp3, WAVE
Tempo Change
20 to 250 BPM for SMF and rhythms
Time Stretch
75 to 125% for mp3 and WAVE
One Touch memories
4 suitable tones for each rhythm (Programmable)
Track Mute
For Rhythms/SMF
Center Cancel
For mp3/WAVE
Rhythm Composer
Internal Rhythm Composer
Rhythm and SMF Makeup Tools
Instrument-oriented editing
Audio Recording
Media
USB Flash memory
Save format
Audio files (WAVE 44.1 kHz, 16-bit linear), MIDI files (SMF)
Sequencers
16 tracks sequencer
Internal 16 tracks MIDI sequencer with microscope and macro editing functions
Chord Loop
Loop/Sequencer Mode
Metronome
Time Signature
1 to 32/16, 1 to 32/8,, 1 to 32/4, 1 to 32/2
Mode
Always, Play, Rec
Count In
Off, 1 bar, 2 bars
Volume
Internal and external by METRONOME OUT jack
Performance Memories
Performance Lists
Unlimited number (storage on USB memory) Over 1000 “Music Assistant” memories (internal memory) 5 “Factory Song” memories (internal memory)
Performance memories per List
Max. 999
Other
Search Function
Quick location of Rhythms, and Songs on the connected USB memory
Demo
Yes
Lyrics
SMF, mp3/WAVE, mp3+CDG (mp3+CDG on video output socket only)
Slide Shows
Picture folder linked to songs (recommended resolution: 512 x 384 or 1024 x 768 pixels)
Panel Controls
Rotary encoder: Data dial with push switching function VOLUME: 1 Knob AUDIO IN: 1 Knob MIC VOLUME: 1 Knob MIC REVERB: 1 Knob BALANCE (Backing/Keyboard): 1 Knob Pitch Bend/Modulation Lever: 1 Mixer/Harmonic bars section: 10 sliders D-BEAM controller: 1 Assign Switches: 4
Connectors
Audio OUTPUT jacks: (R, L/Mono) 1/4” phone type PHONES jack: Stereo 1/4” phone type Audio INPUT jack (R, L/Mono): 1/4” phone type MIC IN: 1/4” phone type/XLR type (Phantom power switch OFF/ON) METRONOME OUT: 1/4” phone type MIDI connectors: THRU, IN, OUT (Visual Control function) USB ports: USB COMPUTER connector (Type B, reception and transmission of MIDI data), USB MEMORY (Type A, data storage devices) Foot pedal jacks: HOLD, EXPRESSION , CONTROL (assignable) FC-7 PEDAL: 1 socket (assignable) VIDEO OUTPUT jack RCA-type (CVBS, PAL or NTSC – selectable)
Power supply
AC adaptor
Current Draw
1,100 mA
Auto Off function
Off, 10 min, 30 min, 240 min
Accessories
Owner’s Manual AC adaptor Power cord (for connecting the AC adaptor) Music rest
Options (sold separately)
USB: USB flash memory (M-UF2G), Wireless USB Adaptor (WNA1100-RL) Pedal Switch: DP-series Footswitch: BOSS FS-5U Expression Pedal: EV-5, EV-7 Footswitch: FC-7 Microphone: Roland DR Series Headphone: Roland RH Series Vocal Performer: VE-5, VE-20 Amplifier: CM-110, CM-220 Stand: KS-12
Size and Weight (Without Music Rest)
Width
1251 mm
49-5/16 inches
Depth
345 mm
13-10/16 inches
Height
345 mm
13-10/16 inches
Weight
9.4 kg
20 lbs. 12 oz.
Size and Weight (Including Music Rest)
Width
1251 mm
49-5/16 inches
Depth
445 mm
17-9/16 inches
Height
308 mm
12-3/16 inches
Excluding AC Adaptor and Music Rest
Roland BK9 Keyboard reviews
Roland Pre-Owned BK9 Keyboard
This was a used keyboard but you could not tell it from new, and was a big saving on a new one. It is a great keyboard with everything built in to impress all kinds of players and performers.
Roland BK9 Keyboard
GREAT SOUNDS AND RYTHEMS-/VERY EASY TO OPERATE,BUT I AM STILL LEARNING-/BUT ANYWAY I AM A ROLAND MAN AND WOULD NOT THINK ANYTHING ELSE
Roland BK9 Keyboard
Best musical instrument I have ever owned.
Thank you Terry Durand
Boss BK9 Keyboard
Exactly as described from a knowledgeable team.