Description
Roland is a brand that has been synonymous with electronic instruments for over four decades. Their BK series of keyboards is designed to cater to a wide range of musicians, from hobbyists to professionals. One of the most popular models in the BK series is the Roland BK-5 keyboard.
The BK-5 is a versatile keyboard that offers a wide range of sounds and styles. It has a total of 1176 sounds, including a variety of pianos, organs, strings, brass, and more. The sounds are all high-quality, and many of them are derived from Roland’s flagship instruments. Additionally, the BK-5 has 305 different styles, making it easy to find the perfect accompaniment for your performance.
One of the standout features of the BK-5 is its automatic accompaniment function. With just a few simple button presses, you can have a full band backing up your performance. The accompaniment is customizable, so you can change the tempo, key, and style to suit your needs. This feature is especially useful for solo performers who want to add some depth to their performances.
The BK-5 also has a variety of connectivity options. It has a USB port, allowing you to connect it to a computer for recording or playback. It also has an audio input and output, making it easy to connect to a PA system or amplifier. Additionally, it has a MIDI input and output, allowing you to use it as a controller for other MIDI devices.
One of the drawbacks of the BK-5 is its relatively small display screen. While it’s not a major issue, those who prefer a larger display might find it to be a bit of a hindrance. However, this is a minor point, and overall the BK-5 is an excellent keyboard that offers a wide range of features and sounds.
In conclusion, the Roland BK-5 keyboard is a fantastic instrument for musicians of all levels. Its wide range of sounds and styles, automatic accompaniment function, and connectivity options make it a versatile and practical choice for live performances, recording, and practice. If you’re in the market for a new keyboard, the BK-5 is definitely worth considering.
Roland BK-5 properties
| Product name | BK-5 |
| Brand | Roland |
| Type | Keyboard Instruments |
| Keyboard Instrument | Keyboard |
| Rotary Controls | Yes |
Sniper –
I believe that this instrument can be easily compared to the Roland E-80. I have had it since February 2012 as one of the first ones in the US right after the 2012 fair. The advantage is really beautiful sounds. I am quite demanding in this respect and I was thinking about buying the E-80, only this weight put me off (the price of the new E-80 is also much higher). The BK-5 is a very universal instrument. In addition, you can load him accompaniments from other Rolands, e.g. from the E-80 🙂 – and use them instantly. In my opinion, the accompaniments sound very natural – just like the sounds. The downside for me is the lack of battery power, which makes it impossible to perform where there is no 220V power supply, e.g. on the street. A huge advantage is the ability to record on any pen-drive formatted by this Roland and play mp3 from any USB 1.1 and 2.0 flash drive even without formatting (reads from mp3). With mp3 you can quickly cut vocals with one button – but of course to remove the voice completely you must have good mp3 quality and the voice centrally placed – hence the name Center Cancel). Generally, you can record your songs, ideas for new melodies, accompaniment on the external memory … The downside is, compared to the E-80, the lack of an internal processor with effects to which you can connect a microphone. But for $ 400, you can buy the BOSS VE-20 which the South American visitor uses in his YouTube presentation. (Latina), which is presenting the BK-5 at the NAMM 2012 fair, or another, for example, TC Helicon (there is also a special version of TC Helicon for keyboardists). The BK-5’s advantage, however, is the line-in socket through which you can connect, for example, mp3, but also other sound sources (small jack input). The built-in sound system is of good quality. Video output – this is another plus – you connect the projector with a typical video cable (I have a 20 m long / vivanco / digital cable) and it is displayed immediately, automatically on the screen or wall, without any waiting, the text of the running song, the image assigned to it can also be displayed songs). To get to this text on the BK-5 display, you have to enter the menu and press a bit (which is troublesome as there is not much time during the performance), while connecting a video receiver, you immediately have the text on the screen.
Blake Weeks –
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe someone would actually praise the Roland BK-5 after all these years! As if the lack of battery power and inability to connect a microphone weren’t enough drawbacks, they also had the audacity to compare it unfavorably to the E-80. I mean, who needs an internal processor with effects when you can just plug in your own MP3 player and hope for the best? And don’t even get me started on how convenient it is to have a video output that requires connecting a separate 20-meter long cable just so you can display the text of the running song. It’s like they forgot we live in the age of wireless technology. But hey, at least the built-in sound system is good quality, right? And let’s not forget about the line-in socket – it’s absolutely essential for connecting your mp3 player or small jack input device. Just imagine how much fun you could have if only you had the BK-5!