Topic by concorde

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Topic: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

When I play my MIDI keyboard into Pianoteq (v7.5.4), on any piano type (default settings of Volume = 0dB; Dynamics = 40dB), the volume is just not high enough.

My setup:

• MIDI controller: Roland A-88 MKII
• DAC: Topping D90 (set to 44.1 kHz)
• ASIO4ALL v2 on default settings: Latency Compensation In 32 Samples, Out 32 Samples. Hardware Buffer off. Kernel Buffers: 2. ASIO Buffer Size: 512 samples
• Pianoteq Sample Rate: 44,100 Hz ; Maximum Polyphony: 256. Velocity curve: default. Diapason: 440Hz

Also note, my MIDI controller is posting high velocities without issue, so the MIDI velocities are not an issue.

My reference for loudness is music through iTunes for example, is very loud at the same volume setting on my Preamp that Pianoteq is much too quiet.

Any ideas on how to solve this?

EDIT1: I'm on Windows 10.

Last edited by concorde (25-09-2022 01:28)

Reply by concorde

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

It seems like when I play the Blues Demo on Pianoteq, it sounds more "full" than my playing, although it is still somewhat quiet. The Blues Demo sounds like each note has more "attack".

To me, it sounds like the output of each note is missing a considerable length of the starting duration input of each note on my A-88 MKII, ie the initial attack.

Note that when I first got my A-88 MKII, I updated the firmware correctly to the latest version as I thought this would fix this, which it did not.

Note my A-88 MKII is directly USB connected to my computer (standard USB port).

Last edited by concorde (25-09-2022 04:01)

Reply by Irmin

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

While Pianoteq is running. Right click on the windows speaker icon. Then open the volume mixer. If it has Pianoteq running under the apps, make sure that volume is maximized for PT.

Reply by concorde

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

Thanks but Pianoteq is not listed in Volume Mixer - also everything is on 100% volume in Volume Mixer.

I was on ASIO4ALL in Pianoteq, but now I'm on ASIO -> My DAC

This seems to have helped with the sound quality, but it's still very quiet.

Last edited by concorde (25-09-2022 07:33)

Reply by Key Fumbler

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

You might find this thread useful:
https://forum.modartt.com/viewtopic.php?id=9551

Reply by concorde

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

It's looking like I just have to turn my volume up tremendously to get it to a usable level.

Therefore, if I recorded for a performance, I would have to compress the recording a lot so people listening to it could actually hear it.

I feel the volume in Pianoteq is much too low. That or some serious problem is going on. But I love it once it's turned up.

I'm now trying the "Slow Keyboard" velocity preset on Pianoteq, which helps a little bit, but it will probably just hinder the dynamic range.

Reply by Fannon

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Re: Pianoteq Too Quiet - ASIO4ALL

If the volume level is way to low, it's probably an issue with the setup as well - maybe how your DAC is used as a sound card (I assume this is where you point Asio4All, or do you go to an internal sound card?).

However, you can't expect that Pianoteq alone will be as loud as a song on iTunes, where multiple instruments play together and are probably compressed a few times over + some mastering / limiting.

If you're looking for such a "compressed" sound, Pianoteq also has a compressor built in. You can enable it and add a lot of gain there (don't forget to adjust ratio, threshold etc. as well). This will cost you some dynamics (but differently than changing the velocity curves), but will give you more headroom for making your sound louder.

Last edited by Fannon (28-09-2022 06:23)