Test note-on velocity in a studio pedal setup

Your studio pedal setup may be producing notes that sound too soft, too loud, or uneven. Before changing your instrument or DAW settings, check what MIDI messages the keyboard and pedals actually send.

The MIDI Test can show incoming notes, velocity, pedal activity, and MIDI messages in your browser. One detail matters: a standard sustain pedal usually sends a switch message, not note-on velocity. Testing each control separately helps you see whether the behavior is expected.

Test note-on velocity and pedal messages

1. Open the MIDI Test in a browser other than Safari, connect your MIDI keyboard or controller, and allow MIDI access if the browser asks. Choose the connected device if the test offers a device list.
2. Press one key gently, then press it firmly. Watch the note and velocity information in the test. Repeat with the same key several times, then compare a few keys across the keyboard.
3. Release the keys and operate one pedal at a time. For a sustain pedal, press and release it while watching the pedal display and incoming MIDI messages. Repeat with an expression or other MIDI pedal if you have one.
4. Compare the messages from the keyboard and pedals. Note which device is selected, which control you moved, and whether the message changes when you press harder, hold, or release.

For a useful comparison, keep the setup still and use a few deliberate presses: light, medium, and firm. A browser test can show the messages received by the computer, but it does not measure how a key or pedal feels under your foot or hand.

What the result means

Notes arrive with different velocity values

The keyboard is sending note-on velocity, and the test is receiving it. In standard MIDI 1.0, note-on velocity is usually a value from 1 to 127. A higher value generally means a harder press, although the sound you hear also depends on the instrument and its velocity settings. If the values are consistent but the sound is not, check the instrument or DAW rather than the pedal.

Notes arrive, but velocity barely changes

The keyboard may be using a fixed-velocity setting, or its key response may be set to a curve that compresses the difference between soft and hard presses. Check the keyboard's settings or manual for terms such as Velocity, Touch, or Curve. For a focused check of key response, see how to check velocity sensitivity on MIDI keys.

The sustain pedal sends a control message

This is normal for a typical sustain pedal. It commonly sends MIDI Control Change 64, which tells an instrument to sustain or release notes. That message controls how long notes continue, not how hard a key was struck. Some controllers let you assign a pedal to a different message, so check your controller's configuration if you expected another result.

An expression pedal changes a control value

An expression pedal usually sends a changing control value, often assigned to a controller such as volume or expression. The number and message type depend on the pedal and its configuration. A changing value as you move the pedal through its travel is evidence that it is sending data, but it is not note-on velocity unless the controller has been deliberately configured to send notes.

Nothing appears when you use the pedal

The pedal may not be connected to a MIDI device, the wrong input may be selected, or the device may not send messages that the browser can access. Some pedals connect only to a keyboard's pedal jack and do not appear as separate MIDI devices. In that setup, test the pedal through the keyboard's MIDI output.

How to fix it

1. Check what the pedal is designed to send. A basic sustain pedal normally sends an on or off control message, not velocity. An expression pedal normally sends a changing control value. Check the pedal or keyboard manual before treating those messages as a fault.
2. Check the pedal connection and polarity. Push the plug fully into the correct pedal jack, then disconnect and reconnect it with the keyboard powered off if the manufacturer recommends that. If sustain is on when the pedal is released and off when pressed, check for a polarity switch or pedal polarity setting on the keyboard.
3. Allow MIDI access for the test page. If you blocked access, use the site controls beside the browser address bar to review the page's permissions, allow MIDI access if offered, and reload the page. Close other browser tabs or apps that may be using the controller, then test again.
4. Confirm the device is connected to the computer. On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Devices to check a paired Bluetooth controller, or open Device Manager from the Start menu to look for a USB device warning. On macOS, open System Settings › Bluetooth for a Bluetooth controller, or open Applications › Utilities › Audio MIDI Setup to inspect connected MIDI devices.
5. Check the keyboard's velocity setting. Look for a fixed-velocity mode or a touch-response curve on the keyboard. Try a normal or medium curve, then repeat the gentle and firm key presses in the test.
6. Reconnect and retest one device at a time. Unplug other MIDI devices, reconnect the keyboard directly to the computer rather than through a hub, and reload the test. If it works now, add the other devices back one at a time to find the connection or routing problem.

When the pedal or keyboard may be faulty

Test the pedal on another compatible keyboard, or test a known-working pedal with yours. If the same pedal fails on multiple compatible devices, inspect its cable and plug for damage. If only one pedal jack fails while another works, the keyboard's jack or internal connection may need service.

For a keyboard key that sends the same velocity no matter how gently or firmly you press it, compare several keys and check the keyboard's velocity settings first. If one key remains far outside the others after those checks, its key sensor may be worn or damaged. Contact the manufacturer or a repair shop, especially if the keyboard is under warranty.

Why a pedal can affect notes without sending velocity

MIDI messages describe separate actions. A keyboard key can send a note-on message with a velocity value, while a sustain pedal sends a separate control message. The instrument combines them: the pedal can keep a note sounding after you lift your finger, but it does not change the velocity that was sent when you struck the key.

The MIDI Test does not work in Safari. If no MIDI devices appear there, switch to a supported browser before troubleshooting the hardware.