Modartt user forum » Pianoteq user forum » Can Pianoteq detect note velocity from non-touch response keyboard?
As I am a brand new member of these forums I apologise in advance if my query has either been answered before or carries a rather obvious answer, but does anyone know for certain, one way or another, if Pianoteq can detect the velocity/sensitivity of notes played when a keyboard (such as my Yamaha PSR-E223) does NOT have a touch-sensitivity function?
No. If the keyboard cannot transmit velocity information, Pianoteq cannot guess it, right?
Yeah, you're screwed with this dud of a keyboard -- really, I cannot believe that these fargin' companies are still making keyboards without velocity sensitivity...
As a (relatively) cheap, decent alternative, I could recommend the M Audio Keystation 88es (or the 61-key version, if you want to be cheaper and/or are worried about space). The semi-weighted action is pretty good, though still a mile or two from a nice piano feel. (It's about as good as cheap plastic crap can get. )
It is only a MIDI controller though, with no built-in sounds or amplification.
The term "touch-sensitivity" is somewhat misleading. There are different types of data that can be sent by MIDI keyboards/controllers.
The data type relevant for Pianoteq is usually called "velocity" and reflects the time it takes to press a key. The harder you strike it, the shorter the time, and the higher the velocity. Velocity is captured by many keyboards/controllers, but older or simpler devices just sense "Note On" and use a fixed velocity value that does not represent the real velocity, so there is no way Pianoteq could retrieve how hard you hit the key.
There is a second type of data called "Aftertouch" that tells how strong a key is pressed after its way down. On real pianos it doesn't have any effect to the sound what you do with an already pressed key (until you break it (-: ). Aftertouch is usually used for controlling vibrato on synthesizers without the need for additional control wheels or faders. You don't need Aftertouch sensitivity for Pianoteq.
As I understand it (where "it" is the MIDI spec) there is a distinction between "velocity" and "after touch".
One would have to get a definition of "touch sensitivity" to understand how this relates to the original question, but for now I will ASSUME that it is "after touch".
The only keyboards what would NOT transmit "velocity" would be those for use only as "organ" type instruments, i.e. no matter how hard or soft you press/hit a key you get the same result - organ volume being controlled by swell pedal, etc.
There is no pppp to ffff range available via individual key velocity.
The utility of "after touch" has been hotly debated and MOST piano players agree that once the key has been pressed/hit it makes no difference to the sound whether you vary the pressure on that key or not.
{Second order effects on the player's emotions and expressiveness notwithstanding}
Synth players argue all sorts of uses for after touch.
Computers can get too much midi traffic from after touch, so if you are playing synthesized "pianos" it can be worth switching it off.
The PSR-E223 is only a basic keyboard, but I thought it would surely have velocity sensitivity. It seems not, according to the Yamaha website (the next model up boasts 61-key touch sensitive keyboard). That sucks.
Sorry bboytomo, you really do need to acquire a new keyboard!
The PSR-E223 is only a basic keyboard, but I thought it would surely have velocity sensitivity. It seems not, according to the Yamaha website (the next model up boasts 61-key touch sensitive keyboard). That sucks.
Sorry bboytomo, you really do need to acquire a new keyboard!
VELOCITY or AFTER TOUCH ?
With a preset named "Portable Grand" I find it very hard to believe that it doesn't transmit VELOCITY !!!
Ooops, I guess it could USE velocity on it's built in voices, but not TRANSMIT it via midi ?
That would seem to be an unwise design (or marketing) decision.
I browsed around for specs, didn't find a midi implementation chart, though I didn't go to Yamaha.com and look for it in a user/owner manual.
I might buy something similar, just as a laptop toy, something to noodle around on at the lake - battery operated of course.
I don't know if I would also hook it up to a laptop computer to run PTQ, though that is possible.
{Battery life; think BATTERY LIFE}
according to this list:
http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/psre22...31d092.pdf
it does only transmit velocity when playing accompanist songs.. see note #2 on second page
OOPS
I read the wrong note myself... read note #6
transmitted velocity values from keyboard are fixed
playing songs or playing received midi thru will include velocity however
If you're going to upgrade, I'd make sure the keyboard you pick also has a sustain pedal input. Believe it or not, some inexpensive keyboards might not have that either.