When using MIDI keyboards that transmit a Note-Off value, this setting in Pianoteq works fine (as does the default Note-Off curve: 0=127, 127=127)--

https://i.imgur.com/aU2WIOu.png

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Thanks using these note velocity settings 25-64 makes a big difference.
Combined with piano condition set to 0.2 and up the impedance a bit (1.1-1.2) and sympathetic resonance (1-1.5), every piano I tried sounds so good now.

FWIW my guess is that the intended "default" duration is what you hear at a 127 velocity... because why else would they make that the default value?

I would agree. Surely if there were some fixed value that better reflected reality, Pianoteq would default to that...?

My keyboard transmits variable note-off velocity but my DAW does not record it and always transmits 64. As a result, I haven't experimented a lot, but I can't imagine there's a massive difference between 64 and 62. If there were, it would be difficult for a mere mortal performer like me to control the effect.

EDIT: After experimenting a bit, I have to revise my response. I still think there's very little difference between a fixed 64 and a fixed 62, but a fixed 127 is definitely unpleasant. I long ago changed the Note Off curve to pass the full range of 0-127 so Pianoteq gets the full range when I play it standalone, but in my DAW it always gets 64. I think I did that so soon after getting it that I never really experienced the fixed 127 value. So I tried it, and... yuck! It produces a very unpleasantly abrupt damping for anything other than very staccato notes.

So now I have to agree with the OP, if you don't have a keyboard that transmits variable Note Off velocity and have the curve set to pass the full range, by all means set the fixed value to something more moderate.

https://i.imgur.com/aU2WIOu.png

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For me the default note-off pianoteq value is a flat 127 for each incoming midi velocity value, not 57 - and my incoming velocity is 64 (not that it matters because all values are getting mapped back to 127). If I change the flat level to 62, I find that the key and damper noises are sounding slightly later and the damping duration is increased.

I'm not sure that the later noise components are an improvement because they no longer match the key/damper returns timings of my (acoustic grand) action - but I guess that depends on what I'm playing. The change in damping duration I can appreciate as a change of the sound design, but why not just change the damping duration slider directly?

FWIW my guess is that the intended "default" duration is what you hear at a 127 velocity... because why else would they make that the default value?

Or maybe I completely misunderstand the tweak so please enlighten me

This gives pianoteq a slightly more realistic sound. Its more solid and gives it more of a "bounce" to the ends of notes like a real piano.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ppfph0...zOnR4/view
Note Off Velocity = 57 (0 in the midi)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vpwKOj...sp=sharing
Note Off Velocity = 62