Recheck note-on velocity after rebooting the keyboard

You rebooted your MIDI keyboard and now its keys seem to send softer or less consistent notes. A quick comparison can show whether the note-on velocity values actually changed, or whether your touch, a keyboard setting, or the connection is behind the difference.

Use the MIDI Test to look at the messages sent by each key. It runs in your browser, so you can compare the keyboard before and after restarting it without installing software.

Compare velocity before and after the reboot

1. Open the MIDI Test in a browser that supports Web MIDI. It does not work in Safari. Connect the keyboard, then follow any browser prompt to allow MIDI access.
2. Press one key several times with a light touch, then with a firm touch. Watch the incoming MIDI messages and note the velocity values for the key's Note On events. If you are checking after the reboot, write down the values you get now and compare them with any notes you made beforehand.
3. Use the same key for each comparison. Try a few presses at each touch level, since small changes in how hard you press can change the reading.
4. Restart the keyboard, reconnect it if needed, and repeat the same presses. Keep the browser, key, and playing technique the same. Do not restore factory settings just to restart the keyboard.

If the keyboard has not been rebooted yet and the change is already bothering you, test it now, restart it, then test again. A brief note of the soft, medium, and firm readings is more useful than relying on memory.

What the result means

The readings are similar before and after

The keyboard is sending roughly the same velocity values. Differences you hear may come from the sound-producing software, a changed instrument or volume setting, or normal variation in how you play. MIDI velocity is an input value, not a direct measurement of sound volume. A virtual instrument can respond to it in its own way.

Firm presses now give lower values

The keyboard may have changed its velocity curve, touch sensitivity, or fixed-velocity setting. A velocity curve changes how strongly a key press is translated into a MIDI value. Check the keyboard's own settings, especially if it has different user presets or performance modes.

Every press has the same velocity

A fixed-velocity mode may be enabled, or the keyboard may not be sending pressure-sensitive values. Some keyboards do not support velocity sensitivity on every key or operating mode. Check the manual and the keyboard's touch settings before assuming the keys are faulty.

Some presses do not appear, or messages arrive inconsistently

This points to a connection, browser access, or key-input issue rather than just a different velocity curve. Try another key and check whether the problem follows one key or affects the whole keyboard. Then work through the fixes below.

MIDI velocity normally uses values from 1 to 127 for a Note On message. A Note On message with velocity 0 is commonly used to signal that a note has ended, so compare the velocity on Note On events rather than treating every message value as a strike strength.

How to fix a velocity change

1. Repeat the comparison with a steady touch. Use the same key and make several gentle and firm presses. One press is not enough to distinguish a setting change from ordinary differences in playing force.
2. Check the keyboard's touch settings. Look for settings called velocity, touch sensitivity, touch curve, or fixed velocity. The name and location depend on the model. Select the same curve or sensitivity you used before the reboot, if you know it.
3. Check the active preset or performance mode. Some keyboards store touch settings with a sound, scene, or user preset. Switch back to the preset you normally use and test the same key again. Avoid loading a factory preset unless you understand which settings it will replace.
4. Reconnect the MIDI device. For USB, unplug the cable and reconnect it directly to the computer, then try another USB port if needed. For Bluetooth MIDI, check the connection in Windows 11 at Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Devices or on macOS at System Settings › Bluetooth.
5. Check that the browser can see the keyboard. In Chrome or Edge, open the site controls next to the address bar and check the site's MIDI access. Reload the page after changing access. If you are using Safari, switch to a browser that supports Web MIDI.
6. Check whether the computer recognizes the keyboard. On Windows 11, right-click Start and open Device Manager. On macOS, open Applications › Utilities › Audio MIDI Setup, then choose Window › Show MIDI Studio. If the device is missing there too, reconnect it or check the cable, adapter, and keyboard connection settings.
7. Restart the keyboard and computer separately. Turn the keyboard off and on, then retest. If it still fails, restart the computer and test again. Changing one thing at a time helps show which step made a difference.

When the keyboard may need repair

If the same key repeatedly sends no Note On message, or sends erratic values while other keys behave consistently, the key or its sensor may be worn or damaged. Test the keyboard on another computer with a browser that supports Web MIDI. If the problem follows the keyboard, check its warranty or ask a repair shop to inspect it. If the problem stays with one computer, focus on that computer's connection or browser access instead.

Why the velocity number may not match the sound

A velocity value describes how the keyboard reports a press, not how loud the note must sound. A sound program can map a small change in velocity to a big volume jump, or use velocity to change the tone rather than the volume. To isolate the keyboard, compare the MIDI values first. If those are steady but the sound has changed, check the instrument or app settings separately.