Topic by dalrmi

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Topic: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

I recently bought and has been installed on my vertical acoustic piano (Burger-Jacobi) a silent system PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star, it has also the MIDI IN-OUT-THRU connections and so I connected it to my iMac where I've a demo version of Pianoteq 4.2.0 version.

The result (sound output) via my external speakers (but it's the same with headphones!) BOSE Companion 2 Series II is very poor, the sound is flat and very low in contrast to what I can hear when using the mouse over the virtual keyboard on Pianoteq interface, this last one is very outstanding!

I'm reading a lot about Pianoteq and it seems that I need to adjust it to obtain a good sound (velocity curve, etc.), as I'm very new to this world (MIDI, VST, etc.) and interested on buying Pianoteq please could you help me on various settings and tell me some best practies to start with ?

The MIDI Implementation Chart of my system (an extract and only the Transmitted features) is as follows:
M I D I C h a n n e l s 1 - 1 6
M o d e X
N o t e N u m b e r 2 1 - 1 0 8
V e l o c i t y
N o t e O n 9 n , V = 1 2 7 9 n
N o t e O f f 9 n , V = 0 8 n
K e y A f t e r t o u c h X
C h a n n e l A f t e r t o u c h X
P i t c h b e n d X
C o n t r o l C h a n g e
0 , 3 2 X Blank Select
1 X Modulation
6 , 3 8 X Data entry
7 X M a i n V o l u m e
1 0 X P a n
1 1 X E x p r e s s i o n
6 4 O D a m p e r p e d a l
6 7 O S o f t p e d a l
9 1 X R e v e r b D e p t h
9 3 X C h o r u s D e p t h
9 8 X N R P N L S B
9 9 X N R P N M S B
1 0 0 X R P N L S B
1 0 1 X R P N M S B
1 2 0 X A l l S o u n d O f f
1 2 1 X R e s e t A l l C o n t r o l l e r s
1 2 3 X A l l N o t e O f f
P r o g r a m m C h a n g e X O
Note: 1. Default Pitch Bend = 1 Semitone
2. Mode 1 : OMNI ON, POLY
3. Mode 2 : OMNI OFF, POLY

Looking at Pianoteq interface while pressing the keys on my piano it seems that the MIDI information transimtted (velocity ?) is almost the same in value terms, it ranges from 40 to 70-75 also if I press very soflty and very hardly on the keys, the velocity shouldn't be in a range from 0 to 127 ?

Thanks a lot, regards.

Roberto.

Pianoteq Stage 5.0.1/20140527 - Pianodisc Quiettime Magic Star V. 4.0S - iMac Late 2009 - OSX Mavericks 10.9.3 - 12GB RAM - Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz - SSD OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G 240GB

Reply by varpa

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

You definiately have a problem if your midi sensors only output in the velocity range 40-70.   You should be able to get the 0-127 (well, going completely to zero might not be possible - my keyboard will only go down to about 5, but can reach 127).   To me, your limited velocity range indicates some kind of problem with the midi sensors - either they are defective or not installed properly.  I would contact the manufacturer or installer and determine what the problem is.

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Reply by dalrmi

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

Thanks varpa, I changed some sensitivity of keys and now the output in terms of velocity is better.

Question:  playing on velocity curve and other parameters on pianoteq could help me to produce a piano and forte on my keys more simpler ?

Pianoteq Stage 5.0.1/20140527 - Pianodisc Quiettime Magic Star V. 4.0S - iMac Late 2009 - OSX Mavericks 10.9.3 - 12GB RAM - Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz - SSD OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G 240GB

Reply by varpa

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

You can edit the velocity curve on Pianoteq to change the repsonse of Pianoteq to you keyboard.  Just click on the velocity curve and create points which you can move with you mouse.  When you have something you like save the settings as a preset (by right-clicking on the velocity map).   There are already some pre-defined velocity maps.

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Reply by Jake Johnson

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

Did you try the calibration procedure outlined on page 20 of this manual for the PianoDisc QuieTtime magin star system: http://www.pianodisc.eu/en/support/down...0Guide.pdf

The manual says that calibration is required and may be required for individual keys. I would use the hardware's velocity calibration before making adjustments to the Pianoteq velocity curve. Or work with both at the same time.

Let us know how it works out. I would like to hear recordings, if you make a few.

Reply by dalrmi

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

Thanks Jake, the calibration has been accomplished by the installer, however I've checked it and the sensitivity value is almost the same for every key (116-120), I noticed that for black keys it's more low (94-98).

When I play with headphones with my QuietTime it sounds good (naturally in its limits of sampled sound!).

Someone could tell me if I raise up the sensitivity value what should I obtain from ?

Other question: this is a working process...I hear a better sound whan I play through software and with speakers than when I play with piano and headphones, maybe the headphones are of poor quality ? What kind of speakers and headphones do you use ? What should I look for about the technical specifications on buying those products ?

Regards, Roberto.

Pianoteq Stage 5.0.1/20140527 - Pianodisc Quiettime Magic Star V. 4.0S - iMac Late 2009 - OSX Mavericks 10.9.3 - 12GB RAM - Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz - SSD OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G 240GB

Reply by Jake Johnson

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

You should be able to register velocities from 0-127, although it would not be unusual if some low velocities and very high velocities were skipped. In other words, I'm not familiar with this system and the terminology the developers use, but you want to lower the lowest velocity to as close to 0 as you can and raise the highest velocity to as close to 127 as you can.

The word "sensitivity" can be tricky. The sensors may already be set to be too sensitive--thus they register soft strikes as hard strikes. On the other hand, if the term "sensitivity" refers to being sensitive to the actual velocity value, then the sensors may not be sensitive enough. But there's no need to get tangled up in the term. Just set the system so that you can very low lower velocities and very high higher velocities.

Last edited by Jake Johnson (20-02-2013 17:18)

Reply by tractor_music

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Re: PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star

dalrmi wrote:

I recently bought and has been installed on my vertical acoustic piano (Burger-Jacobi) a silent system PianoDisc QuietTime Magic Star, it has also the MIDI IN-OUT-THRU connections and so I connected it to my iMac where I've a demo version of Pianoteq 4.2.0 version.

The result (sound output) via my external speakers (but it's the same with headphones!) BOSE Companion 2 Series II is very poor, the sound is flat and very low in contrast to what I can hear when using the mouse over the virtual keyboard on Pianoteq interface, this last one is very outstanding!

I'm reading a lot about Pianoteq and it seems that I need to adjust it to obtain a good sound (velocity curve, etc.), as I'm very new to this world (MIDI, VST, etc.) and interested on buying Pianoteq please could you help me on various settings and tell me some best practies to start with ?

The MIDI Implementation Chart of my system (an extract and only the Transmitted features) is as follows:
M I D I C h a n n e l s 1 - 1 6
M o d e X
N o t e N u m b e r 2 1 - 1 0 8
V e l o c i t y
N o t e O n 9 n , V = 1 2 7 9 n
N o t e O f f 9 n , V = 0 8 n
K e y A f t e r t o u c h X
C h a n n e l A f t e r t o u c h X
P i t c h b e n d X
C o n t r o l C h a n g e
0 , 3 2 X Blank Select
1 X Modulation
6 , 3 8 X Data entry
7 X M a i n V o l u m e
1 0 X P a n
1 1 X E x p r e s s i o n
6 4 O D a m p e r p e d a l
6 7 O S o f t p e d a l
9 1 X R e v e r b D e p t h
9 3 X C h o r u s D e p t h
9 8 X N R P N L S B
9 9 X N R P N M S B
1 0 0 X R P N L S B
1 0 1 X R P N M S B
1 2 0 X A l l S o u n d O f f
1 2 1 X R e s e t A l l C o n t r o l l e r s
1 2 3 X A l l N o t e O f f
P r o g r a m m C h a n g e X O
Note: 1. Default Pitch Bend = 1 Semitone
2. Mode 1 : OMNI ON, POLY
3. Mode 2 : OMNI OFF, POLY

Looking at Pianoteq interface while pressing the keys on my piano it seems that the MIDI information transimtted (velocity ?) is almost the same in value terms, it ranges from 40 to 70-75 also if I press very soflty and very hardly on the keys, the velocity shouldn't be in a range from 0 to 127 ?

Thanks a lot, regards.

Roberto.

I take this;
"The result (sound output) via my external speakers (but it's the same with headphones!) BOSE Companion 2 Series II is very poor, the sound is flat and very low in contrast to what I can hear when using the mouse over the virtual keyboard on Pianoteq interface, this last one is very outstanding!"
as being the critical issue.

The quality of the audio path from pianoteq via your speakers (or headphones) seems to be the issue.
It isn't clear from your post that you are using the same "instrument" for your testing as is used in the demo, or that you are using the same audio path.

Velocity curves and PianoDisc set up may become important, but I think sorting out any audio issues FIRST is more important.