how to tweak for fuller sound?

Heya Jan,

the good news is, it's bound to be something trivial, albeit boring to figure out maybe

If it's just EQ, there are nice tools for that in Pianoteq (check out the presets, sure to be some to give you more oomph) - but I suspect a driver scuffle from what you mention.

For longer than I'd like to admit, I was flummoxed by the OS always trying to font-load the incorrect audio driver for the job. Now, I make a rule of disabling other audio devices, to allow the right ones to load up when I plug in and run Pianoteq, DAWs or other VSTs.

Your Options/devices panel has a button to "Show this device's panel" - maybe head in there and un-check any errant audio devices which may be lit up, and make sure only the right one is lit (solves a lot of pop/crackle issues often a main cause).

Optionally, in the OS (depending on your OS, right-click the volume icon in system tray or via control panel for example) and disable any audio devices from "playback" and "recording" devices shown, except for the correct ones (esp. the case if using an external audio device, until that's plugged in, those devices may not be there yet).

Also, if you know what you're doing and are happy to have more than one driver alive, experiment with un-checking "allow this device to take exclusive control" in the drivers you want running, instead of just disabling. But, I find less ongoing twiddling-fest if I just disable system fluff when loading into audio work mode.

I use an external audio device, so now when I plug that in, the right audio devices are loaded without the guff interfering or already being loaded first - and any other lesser system ones are not getting side-loaded by force or stealth by the OS.

If it's not that, maybe something to do with your pinao keyboard forcing some "transpose" or "EQ" extraneous other data over your USB to USB MIDI cable? (I use old style MIDI plugs to USB to PC to avoid - but that's just my pref). To fix, maybe there's some kind of "Local MIDI" OFF in the Nord settings, or a button like it.

Maybe you do want your Nord to be the audio (speakers plugged into keys?) but - there should still be a proper chanel between audio driver, keyboard MIDI and output chain.. to me, seems like something might be a bit tangled off the top of my head (I don't use that config - so not so up on doing that the best way).

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure lots of other tricks are contained in old threads going back before my time - plenty of way smarter folks will have some other info I'm sure. I'd try search terms like:

"USB MIDI" "audio driver problem" (substitute problem/issue/glitch etc.)

If no luck after this, def. post back with more info about how things are connected up, OS etc.. maybe it's a more interesting edge case thing.. hoping it's simple of course.

[EDIT to add link]

Here's a current thread, someone using their keyboard internals for audio:

https://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=6645

Cheers.

Yes, poifect Amen, that's probably the best way to tell if your audio is janked and definitely the first thing to try.

I don't mean to hijack your thread, but you may want to try setting the two small diaphragm mics,the DPA 4011's, in an xy pattern. You may be very sensitive to slight aliasing and comb filtering, and the XY setup is designed to reduce those problems by reducing the distance between the mic heads while still capturing a fairly wide sound. More info and some fxp's here:

https://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=6649

Be sure to listen to everything first, to be sure that the sound is better to your ears. It may not be what you want. In any case, you will doubtless want to make adjustments to the fxps, moving the mics a bit, adjusting the dynamics and volume, etc. Let me know if this works out, please.

New Phil Best YT video, may be of some interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4SEgi5pADA&t=0s

Try setting :
Steinway D
[OUTPUT] [ACTION] [Damper position 1/10.0] [Damper duration: 1.20]
I saw this damper setting in Synthogy Ivory.

Edit *Incorrect info removed*

Even Stage has a wealth of adjustments. Standard takes it to another level with the microphone positioning though.

euh.... I must really be overlooking that option. I clearly have Pianoteq 6 STAGE, as that's shown at the bottom of my screen. When I go to Output -> Action, I have 3 sliders, one for Mute, one for Key release noise and one for Sustain pedal noise. But I don't see Damper position and Damper duration. I cannot scroll the Action panel for any possible hidden sliders...

Is it a different Action panel you mean?

Well, at least in my Pianoteq STAGE, the option for changing damper position and damper duration is not accessible.