Is the main output-volume generally low on the MX:s or is it just my unit?

Volume is a subjective measurement - and depends in whole on the sound system you are attached to. Technically speaking the MX makes no sound without a sound system, be it headphones (which will depend on the impedance rating), or a pair of powered monitors, or a keyboard amp or a Sound Reinforcement system.

That said, match the audio outputs to a device that can accept LINE LEVEL input - the volume you get will be based on the output of that sound system. Set the input sensitivity of the device you are plugging into to receive a signal of +4

I compare to my KORG micro x that I used as “topsynth” before the MX.  When I used the micro together with my main noard, a Nord Stage 2 I could set the same gain and output on the mixer for both boards and keep both boards to 3/4 on their main volume. I have to use much higher gain on the mixer for the MX to match the Nord.

I agree with you. The output level for the MX is lower than average. I have to compensate for it by upping the volume on the sound system it is plugged into.

I think the output is lower as well. I compensated by using the common e.q. settings and picking the best velocity setting for my playing style.

3/4 of the way toward maximum is not a scientific measurement…

MX61 audio output level is definitely lower than expected, at least when used with headphones and external audio amplifier. With headphones, you have to turn MX volume almost to its maximum level and still you have the feeling that you need some more. When used with external amp with line input, you have to turn on the volume of the amp almost to 0db in a log scale from -75db to +15db (which is a lot) and then you get a real satisfactory sound level.

MX 49 is a great little synth but have to agree at least for the headphone output. I use a pretty efficient headset and I normally need to be careful and back down the output for most sources. For some voices on the MX49 I need to max out the volume just to hear at a decent level, other voices I can back it off a bit to about 80%. Would prefer to have a bit more headroom.

I’ve only had it a few days and haven’t played out yet so I don’t know about the line out. I sometimes gig at small clubs going thru a modest PA and I hope there will be enough juice.

Maybe some kind of firmware update down the road?

I will agree that it is low but only on the default settings. I did what was mentioned in another post on here and increased the gain for all frequency ranges in the master eq for the part I was working with. This did the trick and I get nice output now. Before, I couldn’t peak above -19.9dB when I was testing with the concert grand and playing full velocity notes. After eq gain adjustment, I can easily enter the land of clipping.

I also noticed that when importing some XS series voices to MX, by using John Melas MX tools, the level of those voices was much higher than the original MX voices (so high that maybe also some clipping was present).

Learning how to turn up a VOICE is a part of learning to use your MX. The PART Volume is quite a different parameter from the VOICE Volume.

I’ll give you an analogy (which will work for you if you understand the relationship in play - which requires just being a musician who has played in a band):

The PART Volume is like the channel on a band’s mixer. Each individual channel has the incoming signal of a different member of the band. How you set this fader will affect the audio output. If you turn this up to maximum (127) you have made the PART Volume maximum. Part volume is used to create a balance between the ensemble of instruments.

The VOICE Volume is like the individual players own volume control. Say one of the members of the band is playing an Electric Piano. If the VOICE Volume is 0, it does not matter how loud you make the PART Volume. You would spend you time scratching your head wondering why you don’t have any signal. The individual musician typically has control of their own individual Volume (this is within the MX Voice) - it is this Volume that determines just how LOUD the PART Volume is when you turn it up - they are separate parameters. Trust me on this.

If you only are working with the “PART Volume” then you are missing the individual Volume of the VOICE.

Let’s dig in and take a look:
The thing about the MELAS MX TOOLS is they let you get in and work with editing - something you want to do if you plan on using the MX for serious music production.

Call up the acoustic guitar VOICE: “Classical” - this acoustic guitar sound has a VOICE Volume of 75 on a scale of 1-127. So if you are attempting to drown out the rest of the band with the acoustic guitar, you’d better know how to go to the VOICE and adjust its individual Voice Volume.

If you are in the STUDIO (your sequencer) and one of the musician’s signal (any Voice) coming into your console is “too low” in signal strength… and you’ve already pushed the fader to the maximum. As an engineer, you would simply ask the musician to give you more signal or you would adjust your microphone or whatever - bottomline, you would get more signal from the SOURCE. This is the same thing!!!

Below is a screen shot of the John Melas VOICE EDITOR showing the Classical Voice’s information. Changing that 75 to 100 or more will give you significantly more output level, actually plenty of level for your audio recording… in general you should increase it so that your ‘fader’ (controlling PART VOLUME) has enough headroom to increase and decrease within your mix.

Not enough level? - adjust the VOICE volume. I tend to feel if this was analog gear in a real world situation, most of you would figure this out without reaching to scratch your head. I say that because once you equate the PART VOLUME with what happens at the band’s mixer and the VOICE VOLUME as your individual instrument’s own Volume… it becomes clear what to do. TURN UP!!!

Hope that helps. We will be posting additional articles to help folks get the most out of this powerful little synth. There is much more than meets the eye. Don’t have the Melas Voice Editor yet, good reason to get it.

Thanks for the info Bad Mister. Upping the voice common volume was the key here. I was able to drop all eq gains back down to 0 by changing this and get a perfect level.

I was messing with the vycro mx editor and on the Velocity range tab I adjusted the depth. This gave me a VERY noticeable increase in volume.

So in MX Voice Editor if you change the Volume from 75 to for example 100 - all voices will have higher volume? Or do you need to do it individually per voice or category?

The “Voice Editor” edits the Voice. Make sense?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSYpADuayIg