Topic by klaberte

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  • klaberte
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  • Registered: 03-04-2018
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Topic: Automating Velocity on existing MIDI file

Long-time PTq user with a VPC1 controller. Currently v8 Stage. Works great for live playing and practicing.  However, I have a new use case:

I want to use PTq, or a VST version of PTq to play a midi file where existing velocities are all the same. I'd like to change PTq volume using variations in velocity of the key attack, not just raising or lowering the overall volume.  This is how PianoTeq works for live playing.  However, ideally I'd use an automation track in my DAW to adjust the velocities for various measures in the MIDI file.  I can adjust volumes directly using Controller 7, but again, I want to automate velocities, not just volume.

Actual scenario: I want to download MIDI files of accompaniments for various solo instruments. I want to use PianoTeq for playing those MIDI files while I'm singing/playing my French horn.  There are a huge number of parameters that can be controlled via MIDI mappings (Options-MIDI-Insert, or see .png image available from my Google Drive, link below), but none for modifying velocity.

Any suggestions?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wd0xRXPJUmAZSjAbyMu-IwkmgTwUKnWA/view?usp=sharing
Last edited by klaberte (26-09-2025 18:53)

Reply by Coises

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  • Coises
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  • Registered: 06-12-2019
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Re: Automating Velocity on existing MIDI file

klaberte wrote:

ideally I'd use an automation track in my DAW to adjust the velocities for various measures in the MIDI file.

Which DAW? Reaper will let you edit a MIDI track to change the velocities, and I presume most other DAWs do as well, but the details will vary from program to program.

If you specifically want an automation track as opposed to editing the MIDI, in Reaper I believe you could do that by adding the “JS: MIDI Velocity Control” effect before Pianoteq; in that effect, you would then click the “Velocity Add” slider, then click the “Param” button and choose “Show track envelope.” I couldn’t say how to do it in a different DAW.