Topic: Pedal calibration question

Hello,

I use Pianoteq with my Roland HP-507.
This concerns the use of the right pedal.
I was expecting that the max value (127) is obtained when the pedal is 100% down. But I see on Pianoteq (on the pedal velocity curve) that the maximum level is already attained when the pedal is at the middle of its course. So in facts the pedal is not usable on the totality of its course. 100% pedal effect is obtained at 50% pedal down.

So, is that normal?
Can you share your experience with your pianos?
Is there a way for me to set the pedal in Pianoteq in a way that allows the use of all the distance from up to down?

Re: Pedal calibration question

Hi,

stamkorg wrote:

I use Pianoteq with my Roland HP-507.
This concerns the use of the right pedal.
I was expecting that the max value (127) is obtained when the pedal is 100% down. But I see on Pianoteq (on the pedal velocity curve) that the maximum level is already attained when the pedal is at the middle of its course. So in facts the pedal is not usable on the totality of its course. 100% pedal effect is obtained at 50% pedal down.

So, is that normal?
Can you share your experience with your pianos?
Is there a way for me to set the pedal in Pianoteq in a way that allows the use of all the distance from up to down?

on first glance that sounds like a bug or defect of the Roland. The inverse scenario can be corrected in Pianoteq, i.e. the pedal not reaching the maximum value of 127 even when it is completely pressed, but this does not seem to be the case here.

If I understand you correctly, the piano already sends CC#64=127 when the pedal is pressed just halfway. (You can verify this also in the MIDI view of Pianoteq, there you see the raw events the software receives.) The problem here is that it seems the piano sends either multiple CC#64=127 events in the 'lower half' or no changes at all; unfortunately in both cases there is absolutely nothing Pianoteq can do about it, since it just does not get the information from the piano.

As I don't know the Roland HP-507, I see three possibilities: (1) maybe the pedal can be calibrated inside the piano's settings; (2) it could be a known problem of the HP-507's MIDI implementation; (3) it could be a broken pedal. I can only suggest to contact Roland support and see if they can help.

I am pretty sure my old Kawai MP6 did have a similar problem. I am also pretty sure in that case it was a design problem, since the MP6's pedal uses an optical sensor if I recall correctly.

Last edited by kalessin (25-06-2014 13:26)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Pedal calibration question

Or another possibility:

. . . The Roland pedal is designed to work like the pedal on a acoustic piano.

When you play an acoustic, the dampers start to lift when the pedal starts to move downward.

But the dampers are _completely off the strings_ before the pedal is at the bottom of its movement.

That "dampers off the strings" is the physical equivalent of "127".   And it _should_ occur before the Roland's pedal is all the way down.

.          Charles

Re: Pedal calibration question

kalessin wrote:

If I understand you correctly, the piano already sends CC#64=127 when the pedal is pressed just halfway. (You can verify this also in the MIDI view of Pianoteq, there you see the raw events the software receives.)

This is exact,
I can see the vertical events on Pianoteq's screen in the pedal velocity curve. These events are progressive and continuous but the events come on the right border (max) while my pedal is only half depressed.

Re: Pedal calibration question

cpcohen wrote:

Or another possibility:

. . . The Roland pedal is designed to work like the pedal on a acoustic piano.

When you play an acoustic, the dampers start to lift when the pedal starts to move downward.

But the dampers are _completely off the strings_ before the pedal is at the bottom of its movement.

That "dampers off the strings" is the physical equivalent of "127".   And it _should_ occur before the Roland's pedal is all the way down.

.          Charles


It is interesting.

Does that mean that on an acoustic piano the fine pedal game concerns only the first half of the pedal course and that the 2nd half has no effect on the sound since the pedal action is already made after the half depression?

Thanks for your interest

SK

Re: Pedal calibration question

I will visit my local piano shop, and see how it works for myself.   

.             Charles

Re: Pedal calibration question

Someone should make a three-piano pedal programmable device that plugs into the USB port of a computer.

MIDI Solutions make an F1 and F10 footswitch controller that you could plug 1 or up to 10 footpedals into, but they're kind of costly. The advantage is you can get the graduated 1/2 damper setting even if your keyboard doesn't have it.

Good luck.

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.

Re: Pedal calibration question

Actually, a product like this did exist: the CME GPP-3. However, unfortunately it is seemingly no longer available, and I never saw something like it again. I wouldn't mind having one around myself.

Edit: there is a newer interface that might do the trick, at least for a single half-pedal: http://www.midiexpression.com/

Last edited by kalessin (26-06-2014 16:24)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Pedal calibration question

I heard the CME-GPP-3 didn't work well. Great idea.

The MIDI Expression device looks great. My Casio PX-350 has a three pedal board, but I only seem to use the damper. The damper only emits three parameters: 0, 64, 127. So, there's only one half pedal setting.

Does anyone think that a continuous damper significantly improves playing enjoyment?

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.

Re: Pedal calibration question

Hi,

personally I think "half-pedalling" in the sense of continuously or repeatedly pressing the pedal halfway is very rare. However, the possibility to lift the dampers slowly is something I actually use in certain pieces, and this requires a continuous pedal; the Casio PX implementation would be useless for that.

Last edited by kalessin (26-06-2014 19:57)
Pianoteq 6 Standard (Steinway D&B, Grotrian, Petrof, Steingraeber, Bechstein, Blüthner, K2, YC5, U4, Kremsegg 1&2, Karsten, Electric, Hohner)

Re: Pedal calibration question

beakybird wrote:

The damper only emits three parameters: 0, 64, 127.

beakybird,

Is it needed to press the pedal entirely down to get the 127 value on your system?

Thanks for your interest

SK

Re: Pedal calibration question

stamkorg wrote:
beakybird wrote:

The damper only emits three parameters: 0, 64, 127.

beakybird,

Is it needed to press the pedal entirely down to get the 127 value on your system?

Thanks for your interest

SK

No. You press it down a little bit and you get the half pedal effect. You press it down a little more than half way, and it gives the 127 value. It feels like a regular piano, and I don't really notice that I'm not getting the continuous damper.

This is the proprietary 3 pedal board that is an optional accessory with the Casio Privia PX-150 and 350. I'm hoping that Casio comes out with the successor to this line-up, and that it has an improved piano key mechanism (It's great for the price already), variable note-off MIDI messaging, and variable 1/2 damper messaging. I want filet mignon on a MacDonald's budget.

Pianoteq 6 Std, Bluthner, Model B, Grotian, YC5, Hohner, Kremsegg #1, Electric Pianos. Roland FP-90, Windows 10 quad core, Xenyx Q802USB, Yamaha HS8 monitors, Audio Technica
ATH-M50x headphones.

Re: Pedal calibration question

beakybird wrote:
stamkorg wrote:
beakybird wrote:

The damper only emits three parameters: 0, 64, 127.

beakybird,

Is it needed to press the pedal entirely down to get the 127 value on your system?

Thanks for your interest

SK

No. You press it down a little bit and you get the half pedal effect. You press it down a little more than half way, and it gives the 127 value. It feels like a regular piano, and I don't really notice that I'm not getting the continuous damper.

This is the proprietary 3 pedal board that is an optional accessory with the Casio Privia PX-150 and 350. I'm hoping that Casio comes out with the successor to this line-up, and that it has an improved piano key mechanism (It's great for the price already), variable note-off MIDI messaging, and variable 1/2 damper messaging. I want filet mignon on a MacDonald's budget.

Thank you,
So ok it is normal for me to get the 127 at 3/4 of pedal course (not 1/2, I was wrong, I tested carefully this evening).
I am sure that Casio will come with this kind of features in the futur. It becomes a standard.