Topic by pianopenguin

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Topic: Change Soundcard

Bonjour,

J'utilise Pianoteq depuis longtemps avec une carte son ROLAND U1-AG (cf.paramètres ci-dessous). Je souhaiterais savoir si avec une carte plus récente (par exemple MOTU M2)  j'entendrai une amélioration du rendu sonore, moins de latence ou si la différence ne serait pas perceptible (cela ne sert à rien de changer si l'amélioration n'est pas importante).

Christophe

Hello,

I have been using Pianoteq for a long time with a Roland U1-AG audio interface (see settings below). I would like to know if switching to a more modern interface (such as the MOTU M2) would result in better sound quality or lower latency, or if the difference would be imperceptible (there is no point in upgrading if the improvement isn't significant).



https://i.ibb.co/sdMfJYQ2/pianoteq.png

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Reply by VicVer

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Re: Change Soundcard

Your Roland U1-AG could be a bit outdated.
A newer interface could sound better depending on your other gear.
But when your latency is OK for now, save your money.
Otherwise go for the Motu or the cheaper and not bad Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD

Reply by jmanrique

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Re: Change Soundcard

What really makes it sound good or bad is your room and the speakers. The other components play a smaller, but still important, role.

pianopenguin wrote:

Bonjour,

J'utilise Pianoteq depuis longtemps avec une carte son ROLAND U1-AG (cf.paramètres ci-dessous). Je souhaiterais savoir si avec une carte plus récente (par exemple MOTU M2)  j'entendrai une amélioration du rendu sonore, moins de latence ou si la différence ne serait pas perceptible (cela ne sert à rien de changer si l'amélioration n'est pas importante).

Christophe

Hello,

I have been using Pianoteq for a long time with a Roland U1-AG audio interface (see settings below). I would like to know if switching to a more modern interface (such as the MOTU M2) would result in better sound quality or lower latency, or if the difference would be imperceptible (there is no point in upgrading if the improvement isn't significant).



https://i.ibb.co/sdMfJYQ2/pianoteq.png

Reply by Pianistically

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Re: Change Soundcard

pianopenguin wrote:

Bonjour,

J'utilise Pianoteq depuis longtemps avec une carte son ROLAND U1-AG (cf.paramètres ci-dessous). Je souhaiterais savoir si avec une carte plus récente (par exemple MOTU M2)  j'entendrai une amélioration du rendu sonore, moins de latence ou si la différence ne serait pas perceptible (cela ne sert à rien de changer si l'amélioration n'est pas importante).

Christophe

Hello,

I have been using Pianoteq for a long time with a Roland U1-AG audio interface (see settings below). I would like to know if switching to a more modern interface (such as the MOTU M2) would result in better sound quality or lower latency, or if the difference would be imperceptible (there is no point in upgrading if the improvement isn't significant).



https://i.ibb.co/sdMfJYQ2/pianoteq.png

with a more recent audio interface you will be able to reduce your latency . Your current latency is really high . Do the maths : add 1 to 2ms for midi transport and jitter + 14 ms audio latency =16 ms . If you listen to active speakers wiith DSP you will need to add 3ms DSP+ 3 ms from speakers to ear ( if speakers are 1m  from your ear ) which means you are above 20 ms real latency . The average latency on an acoustic grand piano is 10 ms . Much less for high dynamics ff fff , more low dynamics pp, ppp . The number one advantage of more recent audio interfaces is that it  will allow you to lower the buffer size and to get a much lower latency . Sound wise , more expensive audio interfaces produce a much better sound than your average audio card found in entry level audio interfaces , but to get a pro type of equipment thunderbolt + pro sound quality , you need to spend more than 2-3 k , it’s doesn’t come cheap as it is pro market made for studio as opposed to mass market devices for hobbyists .

Reply by dikrek

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Re: Change Soundcard

jmanrique wrote:

What really makes it sound good or bad is your room and the speakers. The other components play a smaller, but still important, role.

pianopenguin wrote:

Bonjour,

J'utilise Pianoteq depuis longtemps avec une carte son ROLAND U1-AG (cf.paramètres ci-dessous). Je souhaiterais savoir si avec une carte plus récente (par exemple MOTU M2)  j'entendrai une amélioration du rendu sonore, moins de latence ou si la différence ne serait pas perceptible (cela ne sert à rien de changer si l'amélioration n'est pas importante).

Christophe

Hello,

I have been using Pianoteq for a long time with a Roland U1-AG audio interface (see settings below). I would like to know if switching to a more modern interface (such as the MOTU M2) would result in better sound quality or lower latency, or if the difference would be imperceptible (there is no point in upgrading if the improvement isn't significant).



https://i.ibb.co/sdMfJYQ2/pianoteq.png

MOTU has the best low latency drivers for the money (the absolute best is RME for USB or Antelope if you’re using Thunderbolt but we’re talking serious money for that).

You’ll see a drastic reduction with the M2.

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Change Soundcard

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to latency, your PC's specs (RAM, CPU, etc.) probably play just as big a role as your sound card, don't you think so ?

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by pianopenguin

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Re: Change Soundcard

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

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Reply by dikrek

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Re: Change Soundcard

pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

Do yourself a favor and get MOTU

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Change Soundcard

dikrek wrote:
pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

Do yourself a favor and get MOTU

+1

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by pianopenguin

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Re: Change Soundcard

dikrek wrote:
pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

Do yourself a favor and get MOTU

I will buy the MOTU M2 for my birthday. Youpi !
I'm a noob and I want to know if I'll can record my upright piano with the M2 and mic like SUPERLUX S502. I don't need professional sound but better recording than with my Smartphone.

Last edited by pianopenguin (20-09-2026 11:44)

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Reply by dikrek

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Re: Change Soundcard

pianopenguin wrote:
dikrek wrote:
pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

Do yourself a favor and get MOTU

I will buy the MOTU M2 for my birthday. Youpi !
I'm a noob and I want to know if I'll can record my upright piano with the M2 and mic like SUPERLUX S502. I don't need professional sound but better recording than with my Smartphone.

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques...ight-piano

Last edited by dikrek (20-09-2026 19:35)

Reply by Borealis

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Re: Change Soundcard

Hello Pianopenguin,

Yes, you can. If you are not satisfied this way, you can always record with separate mics.

Reply by dikrek

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Re: Change Soundcard

pianopenguin wrote:
dikrek wrote:
pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks a lot all for your answers.
The settings on sceen capture are optimal with my equipment (DELL Laptop with i5 ROLAND U1-AG and SENNHEISER SD 599) without cracks or latency issue.
I think I'll buy the MOTU M2 or the BEHRINGER UMC 202HD.

Thanks

Do yourself a favor and get MOTU

I will buy the MOTU M2 for my birthday. Youpi !
I'm a noob and I want to know if I'll can record my upright piano with the M2 and mic like SUPERLUX S502. I don't need professional sound but better recording than with my Smartphone.

Pull the piano perhaps 40–60 cm away from the wall if you can. Put the microphones between the piano and wall, facing the soundboard, so the rear of each mic points towards the wall.

Start with the mics roughly 20–30 cm from the soundboard, one covering the bass/mid area and the other the mid/treble area, perhaps 50–70 cm apart. Don’t put them right at the extreme ends of the piano. Keep them approximately the same distance from the soundboard and move them around while someone plays across the whole keyboard. Sound On Sound’s test recordings used rear mics 20 cm from the soundboard and also compared 50 cm and 1 m distances, increasing distance brings progressively more room sound into the recording.

Shure also has some pointers: https://www.shure.com/damfiles/default/...e3ff01.pdf

If you don’t already have the S502 you may want to simply use 2 separate mics for an upright since you have more control that way.

If you cannot pull the piano away from the wall, the S502 is OK: open the upright’s top and put it perhaps 20–40 cm above the opening, centred roughly across the instrument and looking down.

Put some thick soft material like a blanket behind the piano and side walls if they’re close.

Pan the two microphones perhaps 60–80% left/right initially, rather than assuming hard-left/right sounds most natural.

Some cost effective options if you don’t already own the mic:

https://www.thomann.co.uk/the_tbone_sc140_stereoset.htm

After that the sky is the limit, some other good matched pairs:

https://www.thomann.co.uk/rode_m5_mp.htm

https://www.thomann.co.uk/lewitt_lct_040_mp.htm

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Change Soundcard

The S502 offers amazing value for the money. I recently recorded a small classical ensemble using both the S502 and a pair of KM184s. I couldn't decide which of the two sounded better…
When it comes to the piano, however, I'd be a little hesitant; in any case, in my opinion, you should avoid placing them too close to the instrument.

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by pianopenguin

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Re: Change Soundcard

Thanks all. Finally I've bought the MOTU M2 and a bundle of 2 SC 140 (second hand for 60 €). I'm in hurry to test all these stuff with Scriabin preludes I'm working on.

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Reply by dikrek

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Re: Change Soundcard

pianopenguin wrote:

Thanks all. Finally I've bought the MOTU M2 and a bundle of 2 SC 140 (second hand for 60 €). I'm in hurry to test all these stuff with Scriabin preludes I'm working on.

Great! Make sure you update the M2 firmware and install and use the latest ASIO drivers from MOTU