Topic by CelestialNikko

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Topic: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

This might just be me but I feel like the pedal noise sounds bright and almost "harsh" in the high end and somewhat mid end boosted compared to what say an actual grand would sound like in person.

(edit: it could be that I have only tried out a Yamaha C5X and a Steinway Model S in person)

Ive eliminated all possibilities of it being my hardware (ATH-R30X with correction) or other plugins

This seems to be most prevalent on the Kawai SK-EX and only a bit on the Steinway Model B, and out of all 3 pianos I own the Bosendorfer seems have the most realism out of the bunch but it still varies by preset.


This might be up to personal preference (likely) honestly but if you have any thoughts or ideas about this feel free to reply.

Last edited by CelestialNikko (03-08-2026 02:02)

Reply by Jake Johnson

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Re: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

CelestialNikko wrote:

This might just be me but I feel like the pedal noise sounds bright and almost "harsh" in the high end and somewhat mid end boosted compared to what say an actual grand would sound like in person.

(edit: it could be that I have only tried out a Yamaha C5X and a Steinway Model S in person)

Ive eliminated all possibilities of it being my hardware (ATH-R30X with correction) or other plugins

This seems to be most prevalent on the Kawai SK-EX and only a bit on the Steinway Model B, and out of all 3 pianos I own the Bosendorfer seems have the most realism out of the bunch but it still varies by preset.


This might be up to personal preference (likely) honestly but if you have any thoughts or ideas about this feel free to reply.


By "the pedal noise," do you mean the mechanical sound of the pedal being depressed, or the sound of the sustained notes?

Last edited by Jake Johnson (04-08-2026 20:26)

Reply by CelestialNikko

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Re: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

Jake Johnson wrote:
CelestialNikko wrote:

This might just be me but I feel like the pedal noise sounds bright and almost "harsh" in the high end and somewhat mid end boosted compared to what say an actual grand would sound like in person.

(edit: it could be that I have only tried out a Yamaha C5X and a Steinway Model S in person)

Ive eliminated all possibilities of it being my hardware (ATH-R30X with correction) or other plugins

This seems to be most prevalent on the Kawai SK-EX and only a bit on the Steinway Model B, and out of all 3 pianos I own the Bosendorfer seems have the most realism out of the bunch but it still varies by preset.


This might be up to personal preference (likely) honestly but if you have any thoughts or ideas about this feel free to reply.



By "the pedal noise," do you mean the mechanical sound of the pedal being depressed, or the sound of the sustained notes?

By the pedal noise i mean the mechanical sound of it when all the dampers leave the strings. (by contrast the sustained notes themselves sound lovely.)

Last edited by CelestialNikko (04-08-2026 22:23)

Reply by Jake Johnson

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Re: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

Ah, thanks! Wanted to be sure that I understood.

Reply by Chopin87

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Re: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

You tried out the "short" models, that's why it appears less prominent compared to your experience. If you depress the pedal on a Steinway D for example the sound will be much more prominent and high pitched than say a model S.

"And live to be the show and gaze o' the time."  (William Shakespeare)

Reply by CelestialNikko

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Re: Are the sustain pedal noises too "bright"?

Chopin87 wrote:

You tried out the "short" models, that's why it appears less prominent compared to your experience. If you depress the pedal on a Steinway D for example the sound will be much more prominent and high pitched than say a model S.

I will take this in mind the next time I go to one of my local Steinway Dealers nearby to try a model D or similar if they have one.

After some back and fourth with with the Kawai and Model B, with pedal noise set to +25db, you are correct, the "short" models do have a less prominent high pitched sound compared to the longer SK-EX.

Thanks for clarifying that up! (if anyone could explain the physics that would be nice, maybe its due to the treble strings having a longer speaking length?)

Last edited by CelestialNikko (Yesterday 02:32)