Kawai NV10 Key Velocity curves

Replying to my own post again:

New Velocity curves:
When Pianoteq 9 came out, I noticed that a lot of the presets I had made power-curve type (exponential) velocity curves for had changed substantially in their response. I don't recall Modartt saying anything about it but it looks as though they linearised the velocity response in quite a few of their presets. This seems to have bypassed the need to find carefully optimised power-curves and replaced it with just the need to fit an (almost) straight line. I don't know if this applies to other keyboards but it is certainly true for the NV10.

I have had a long play around with finding ways to deal with the NV10's notorious, erratic MIDI output for values lower than about 70’ish and decided that using a “shelf” is probably the best option. This is just a horizontal line of fixed dynamic from roughly MIDI input 20 to about 67 and then the actual “curve” takes place. You will also note that the upward diagonal “curve” has one kink in it about half way up – no, I don’t know why this is needed, but it is.

Anyway below are two very high-performing velocity curves that I have been using for several weeks / months. They give a really big acoustic-piano dynamic range without notes going awol because of exagerated sensitivity in adjacent Midi values. This used to be a big problem: If you cranked up the Dynamic slider anything above about 35 then it seemed to cause exaggerated volume differences in adjacent Midi values. I have now been able to use Dynamic slider settings up to nearly 80. The trick is to increase the volume as you increase the dynamic. Using these curves I have built several presets that give, frankly, the most realistic touch / dynamic response and feel I think you are likely to get.

(All these require the Kawai NV10 to use its "Normal" keyboard touch selection, not the diagonal straight line "User" one I was using before)

Bluthner model 1
Velocity = [0, 23, 67, 100, 121; 0, 19, 19, 63, 122]

Grotrian Player
Velocity = [0, 23, 67, 100, 121; 0, 19, 19, 63, 125]

The third curve here still uses a power-curve and gives very realistic acoustic-piano respose:

Steingraber E-272
Velocity = [1, 29, 51, 55, 66, 72, 79, 83, 85, 88, 90, 92, 95, 98, 100, 103, 109, 114, 116, 120, 123; 1, 4, 9, 10, 13, 15, 19, 22, 24, 27, 30, 33, 38, 45, 51, 60, 79, 98, 105, 120, 127]

I have uploaded the three presets I have for these.

HH_Steingraeber_E-272_2026_04_13_V44
HH_Grotrian_Player_Wide_2026_04_18_V44
HH_Blüthner_Model_One_2026_04_19_V44

(The HH reminds me that they are optimised for headphones.)

If you use them then please note the following:

1) Volume setting is absolutely critical to aural perception. That is why each preset has a Vnn number in its name - it means the Windows volume setting. This is usually 44 these days for me using my Sony MDR MV1Q 24 Ohm headphones with an 80 Ohm Faaeal earphone impedance matching resistor. If you have the volume too low or too high then these curves will basically not work for you.

2) The dynamic and timbre (Ie. "sound") of any preset you make with these curves will vary across the frequency range quite strongly (and usually unpleasantly) unless you are using linear-response headphones or monitors. These curves are optimised for my headphones and often need a tiny tweak to work with  my Yamaha HS8 monitors.

3) I tried some high end audio amplifier and HiFi speakers with Pianoteq and the result was bad. You REALLY do need linear response monitor headphones or speakers, NOT HiFi equipment.

4) As always, I remind readers that I am only concerned with getting an absolutely realistic acoustic-piano touch and feel. I am not interested in weird / wacky and I’m not too bothered about exact sound-matching for any given model. As long as the Bluthner preset (etc.) sounds roughly Bluthner'ish I'm happy. I am trying to create the equivalent of a moderate quality, modern domestic grand piano good enough for serious classical practise.