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I have finally got around to trying to do something about the difference in volume between midi and RT tracks and have been looking at the options in the RT preferences window.

At the top of the window is a box "Global Volume Adjust" with a db figure to be entered. At the bottom of the window "reduce volume of RT to match MIDI" This second box doesn't seem to do anything on it's own but the db box has an effect on volume.

Has anyone else has played with these settings? Can you could explain how it is supposed to work. perhaps there is a better way to match MIDI/RT volumes other than using a mixer.

Thanks
Tony

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I haven't used those settings since the GUI was redesigned last year and we got the two sliders at the bottom of the mixer. I have a hardware MIDI synth so this might not work for those using a software synth, but I just adjust the top slider and all the audio tracks are changed relative to the MIDI tracks. Then fine tuning levels is much easier.


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
I haven't used those settings since the GUI was redesigned last year and we got the two sliders at the bottom of the mixer. I have a hardware MIDI synth so this might not work for those using a software synth, but I just adjust the top slider and all the audio tracks are changed relative to the MIDI tracks. Then fine tuning levels is much easier.


I hadn't realized that these sliders effected RT's only. In fact the help file implies that they work on MIDI as well as RT's, see quote below.

"The Master Volume is a true Master Volume, in that it applies a decibel (dB) boost to the master signal, independent of the tracks volumes. So for example, if you want all Band-in-a-Box songs to be louder, you can simply set the "All Songs" Master volume slider (e.g. to +6 dB) and this boost will apply to audio output from all instruments (MIDI and audio) for all songs."

In spite of the above it clearly doesn't effect MIDI tracks and gives me what I am looking for.

The "All Songs" is a powerful slider. Once you move it and save for one song then every song you ever load is effected.

Thanks Matt
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You're welcome, Tony. I'm not saying this is the only way, just the one I use and I think it's the easiest way to get there.

Thanks for quoting that documentation - it does appear that something needs clarifying. To be clear, where did that description come from exactly? I would like to make a report to PG Music Support. EDIT Never mind, I found it in Help, Mixer Window

I was careful in my first answer not to overstate, since I don't know if the slider affects MIDI software synths; I only know it doesn't affect my hardware ones. Is that a bug, or as designed? If it's working as designed, then the documentation you mentioned needs fixing. Good work.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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The volume slider does affect softsynths, since the notes are processed by the softsynth, but then the softsynth sends the result as audio back to BIAB to be played through the computer sound system. I suspect it doesn't affect hardware synths, since you're sending out the MIDI note velocity and the hardware responds to that based on it's own volume setting, and then sends it on to whatever the output of the hardware synth is. I know when I use it on my computer using Softsynths, the sliders affect the overall volume of both MIDI and RTs.


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Thanks John, that makes perfect sense. It appears that Tony and I can use this trick and therefore I conclude Tony is not using a software synth.


BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Quite right!

I use a sd50 hardware synth so the midi volume is not changed by these two sliders. When I switch to a software synth these sliders now change both midi and RT. How the heck did we get to the end of 2015 without realizing the difference!!! Don't let PG know or we will find the feature disappears for 2017!

I have always preferred a hardware synth for all sorts of reasons, now there is another reason.

Tony

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