Topic: Changing volume causes zipping behavior

I've reported this a few times to MODARTT but have never heard back.

If I try to change the volume, either directly with the slider or through MIDI CC messages, I get the rather horrible zipping sound as the volume changes. Makes it quite impractical to change volume while actually playing.

I'm running on a Mac with Snow Leopard. Latest version of PianoTeq.

Anyone have any ideas why this might be happening? I do not have problems like this with any other plugin in my environment.

Re: Changing volume causes zipping behavior

Lots of the physical parameters for Pianoteq cause the audio to be rebuffered, but the volume adjusts smoothly on my system, so it shouldn't be rebuffering.

If you're running an external audio device, experiment with the built-in sound device to see if it acts differently. If you have drivers for the audio device, check that they're the latest version.

Have you varied your buffer size? I was able to drop my buffer down to 64 samples, and rapidly adjusting the volume caused a few static pops, but certainly not a zipping sound. Wonder if it's related though.

EDIT: Changing to 96kHz with a small buffer ("suboptimal" warning was shown) caused a little more static popping..

You say "any other plugin".. are you running Pianoteq standalone, or as a (edit) Audio Unit/VST plugin for another program?

That's about all I have. Play with every setting you can find and see if anything affects it.

Last edited by JerryKnight (21-02-2012 03:49)

Re: Changing volume causes zipping behavior

Thanks for the response --- I am using several MOTU 828 Mk3 interfaces. I'm using a buffer size of 128 but have tried 256 and 512, makes no difference. It's not a drop-out issue, it's a stepping problem, the volume amount does not increase or decrease smoothly, it jumps.

I'm using plugin (VST) with Max/MSP. I have tried the AU version with Apple MainStage and had exactly the same problem.

My other plugins include all the AAS plugins, NI Komplete, Omnisphere, all the Arturia plugins, some of the GForce plugins (VSM, M-TRON, ODDITY) among many others. Pianoteq is the only plugin giving me problems with volume.

Re: Changing volume causes zipping behavior

Okay, sorry. This goes beyond my expertise, if I even have any.

Could it be 64-bit vs 32-bit host/plugins? Hopefully someone more experienced with VST Pianoteq can chime in.

Re: Changing volume causes zipping behavior

Hmmm, as far as I know, my plugins are all 32-bit. I don't think one can mix them without using a bridge (and I'm not).