Topic by vortex

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  • vortex
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  • Registered: 20-12-2022
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Topic: Pianoteq 8 on Macbook Air + Yamaha B2 SC2 silent + Samson Expedition

Hello all,

I am new here in this forum and recently bought the new version PT 8.

As an instrument, I currently use a Yamaha B2 SC2 Silent Piano. Sometimes I enjoy playing silent, due to the neighbors.
Since the pre-installed piano samples in Silent mode were too monotonous in the long run, I bought the stage version of PT 8.

Over headphones, the PT samples sounded really excellent!
Now I had the idea to play the PT samples (Steinway D etc.) through an active speaker.

Here's what I did:

- Pianoteq is running smoothly on a MacBook Air M1 2020.
- I connected the Macbook Air to the Yamaha SC2 silent via the USB MIDI port of the SC2.
- I connected an active PA system (Samson Expedition Express +) via an Aux cable to the Aux port of the Macbook Air.

This all works great, but the sound over the headphones is much better than through the Samson box.  Do I have to adjust anything else on the Samson box so that the sound sounds good? For example, I can adjust the bass and treble, and loudness. How should the volume be set on the Macbook Air or the PA box?
A) Macbook Air maximum volume and PA-Box minimum volume?
B) Macbook Air minimum volume and PA box maximum volume?

I also considered active studio monitors, but there is no space and I don't want to place them on the piano...

Thanks a lot for your help!

Best regards
vortex

Reply by joannchr

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  • joannchr
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  • Registered: 27-01-2022
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Re: Pianoteq 8 on Macbook Air + Yamaha B2 SC2 silent + Samson Expedition

vortex wrote:

Hello all,

I am new here in this forum and recently bought the new version PT 8.

As an instrument, I currently use a Yamaha B2 SC2 Silent Piano. Sometimes I enjoy playing silent, due to the neighbors.
Since the pre-installed piano samples in Silent mode were too monotonous in the long run, I bought the stage version of PT 8.

Over headphones, the PT samples sounded really excellent!
Now I had the idea to play the PT samples (Steinway D etc.) through an active speaker.

Here's what I did:

- Pianoteq is running smoothly on a MacBook Air M1 2020.
- I connected the Macbook Air to the Yamaha SC2 silent via the USB MIDI port of the SC2.
- I connected an active PA system (Samson Expedition Express +) via an Aux cable to the Aux port of the Macbook Air.

This all works great, but the sound over the headphones is much better than through the Samson box.  Do I have to adjust anything else on the Samson box so that the sound sounds good? For example, I can adjust the bass and treble, and loudness. How should the volume be set on the Macbook Air or the PA box?
A) Macbook Air maximum volume and PA-Box minimum volume?
B) Macbook Air minimum volume and PA box maximum volume?

I also considered active studio monitors, but there is no space and I don't want to place them on the piano...

Thanks a lot for your help!

Best regards
vortex

Unless you have saturation , adjusting the volume won't change that much the quality of the sound. It is preferable to have Mac volume not too high and to amplify on the active speaker.
These active systems are designed for gig and power is privileged vs HIFI qualities. Even more expensive active speakers from Yamaha for instance are nowhere near the internal quality of what you will hear on your mac book with headphones using the default sound card.

Reply by vortex

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Re: Pianoteq 8 on Macbook Air + Yamaha B2 SC2 silent + Samson Expedition

Hi,

thanks for your reply and help!
I will try your suggestions and will see if the sound gets better.

Best regards