diff --git a/src/engine/dispatch.h b/src/engine/dispatch.h
index 6dcb6171e..5860a3736 100644
--- a/src/engine/dispatch.h
+++ b/src/engine/dispatch.h
@@ -594,10 +594,10 @@ class DivDispatch {
     /**
      * map MIDI velocity (from 0 to 127) to chip volume.
      * @param ch the chip channel. -1 means N/A.
-     * @param vel input velocity.
+     * @param vel input velocity, from 0.0 to 1.0.
      * @return output volume.
      */
-    virtual int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    virtual int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
 
     /**
      * get the lowest note in a portamento.
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.cpp b/src/engine/engine.cpp
index fc999fcd9..f8af13d80 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/engine.cpp
@@ -3385,6 +3385,10 @@ void DivEngine::setMidiDirect(bool value) {
   midiIsDirect=value;
 }
 
+void DivEngine::setMidiVolExp(float value) {
+  midiVolExp=value;
+}
+
 void DivEngine::setMidiCallback(std::function<int(const TAMidiMessage&)> what) {
   midiCallback=what;
 }
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.h b/src/engine/engine.h
index db8cb7b34..fe0cd0991 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine/engine.h
@@ -423,6 +423,7 @@ class DivEngine {
   bool midiOutProgramChange;
   int midiOutMode;
   int midiOutTimeRate;
+  float midiVolExp;
   int softLockCount;
   int subticks, ticks, curRow, curOrder, prevRow, prevOrder, remainingLoops, totalLoops, lastLoopPos, exportLoopCount, nextSpeed, elapsedBars, elapsedBeats, curSpeed;
   size_t curSubSongIndex;
@@ -1184,6 +1185,9 @@ class DivEngine {
     // set MIDI direct channel map
     void setMidiDirect(bool value);
 
+    // set MIDI volume curve exponent
+    void setMidiVolExp(float value);
+
     // set MIDI input callback
     // if the specified function returns -2, note feedback will be inhibited.
     void setMidiCallback(std::function<int(const TAMidiMessage&)> what);
@@ -1261,6 +1265,7 @@ class DivEngine {
       midiOutProgramChange(false),
       midiOutMode(DIV_MIDI_MODE_NOTE),
       midiOutTimeRate(0),
+      midiVolExp(2.0f), // General MIDI standard
       softLockCount(0),
       subticks(0),
       ticks(0),
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp b/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
index aaa27a494..9886dae37 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/abstract.cpp
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ bool DivDispatch::isVolGlobal() {
   return false;
 }
 
-int DivDispatch::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
+int DivDispatch::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
   const int volMax=MAX(1,dispatch(DivCommand(DIV_CMD_GET_VOLMAX,MAX(ch,0))));
-  return (vel*volMax)/127;
+  return round(vel*volMax);
 }
 
 int DivDispatch::getPortaFloor(int ch) {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp b/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
index faf5b7a04..f8c5bde9e 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay.cpp
@@ -719,8 +719,8 @@ DivDispatchOscBuffer* DivPlatformAY8910::getOscBuffer(int ch) {
   return oscBuf[ch];
 }
 
-int DivPlatformAY8910::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
-  return round(15.0*pow(((double)vel/127.0),0.33));
+int DivPlatformAY8910::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
+  return round(15.0*pow(vel,0.33));
 }
 
 unsigned char* DivPlatformAY8910::getRegisterPool() {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay.h b/src/engine/platform/ay.h
index 86d527947..642ae59cf 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay.h
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class DivPlatformAY8910: public DivDispatch {
     int dispatch(DivCommand c);
     void* getChanState(int chan);
     DivDispatchOscBuffer* getOscBuffer(int chan);
-    int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
     unsigned char* getRegisterPool();
     int getRegisterPoolSize();
     void flushWrites();
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
index 022b36412..2199d5ccd 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.cpp
@@ -718,8 +718,8 @@ DivDispatchOscBuffer* DivPlatformAY8930::getOscBuffer(int ch) {
   return oscBuf[ch];
 }
 
-int DivPlatformAY8930::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
-  return round(31.0*pow(((double)vel/127.0),0.22));
+int DivPlatformAY8930::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
+  return round(31.0*pow(vel,0.22));
 }
 
 unsigned char* DivPlatformAY8930::getRegisterPool() {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.h b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.h
index c8b0f724a..64f8e9318 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/ay8930.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/ay8930.h
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class DivPlatformAY8930: public DivDispatch {
     int dispatch(DivCommand c);
     void* getChanState(int chan);
     DivDispatchOscBuffer* getOscBuffer(int chan);
-    int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
     unsigned char* getRegisterPool();
     int getRegisterPoolSize();
     void reset();
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/fmsharedbase.h b/src/engine/platform/fmsharedbase.h
index db420b408..3a12f96e6 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/fmsharedbase.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/fmsharedbase.h
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class DivPlatformFMBase: public DivDispatch {
       }
     }
     
-    virtual int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
+    virtual int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
       // -0.75dB per step
       // -6: 64: 8
       // -12: 32: 16
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class DivPlatformFMBase: public DivDispatch {
       // -42: 1: 56
       if (vel==0) return 0;
       if (vel==127) return 127;
-      return CLAMP(round(128.0-(56.0-log2(vel)*8.0)),0,127);
+      return CLAMP(round(128.0-(56.0-log2(vel*127.0)*8.0)),0,127);
     }
 
     friend void putDispatchChan(void*,int,int);
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp b/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
index d2e0ca6d7..1cff48278 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/pce.cpp
@@ -539,8 +539,8 @@ DivDispatchOscBuffer* DivPlatformPCE::getOscBuffer(int ch) {
   return oscBuf[ch];
 }
 
-int DivPlatformPCE::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
-  return round(31.0*pow(((double)vel/127.0),0.22));
+int DivPlatformPCE::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
+  return round(31.0*pow(vel,0.22));
 }
 
 unsigned char* DivPlatformPCE::getRegisterPool() {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/pce.h b/src/engine/platform/pce.h
index 26e13adda..591c94cef 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/pce.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/pce.h
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class DivPlatformPCE: public DivDispatch {
     DivChannelModeHints getModeHints(int chan);
     DivSamplePos getSamplePos(int ch);
     DivDispatchOscBuffer* getOscBuffer(int chan);
-    int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
     unsigned char* getRegisterPool();
     int getRegisterPoolSize();
     void reset();
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp b/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
index db18055fe..0b5e6183e 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/sms.cpp
@@ -462,8 +462,8 @@ DivDispatchOscBuffer* DivPlatformSMS::getOscBuffer(int ch) {
   return oscBuf[ch];
 }
 
-int DivPlatformSMS::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
-  return round(15.0*pow(((double)vel/127.0),0.33));
+int DivPlatformSMS::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
+  return round(15.0*pow(vel,0.33));
 }
 
 unsigned char* DivPlatformSMS::getRegisterPool() {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/sms.h b/src/engine/platform/sms.h
index d89658462..092010a56 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/sms.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/sms.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class DivPlatformSMS: public DivDispatch {
     DivMacroInt* getChanMacroInt(int ch);
     unsigned short getPan(int chan);
     DivDispatchOscBuffer* getOscBuffer(int chan);
-    int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
     unsigned char* getRegisterPool();
     int getRegisterPoolSize();
     void reset();
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/t6w28.cpp b/src/engine/platform/t6w28.cpp
index 7460c2ecc..8fd0cb2ee 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/t6w28.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/platform/t6w28.cpp
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ DivDispatchOscBuffer* DivPlatformT6W28::getOscBuffer(int ch) {
   return oscBuf[ch];
 }
 
-int DivPlatformT6W28::mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel) {
-  return round(15.0*pow(((double)vel/127.0),0.33));
+int DivPlatformT6W28::mapVelocity(int ch, float vel) {
+  return round(15.0*pow(vel,0.33));
 }
 
 unsigned char* DivPlatformT6W28::getRegisterPool() {
diff --git a/src/engine/platform/t6w28.h b/src/engine/platform/t6w28.h
index ccb89b76d..eae0f92f9 100644
--- a/src/engine/platform/t6w28.h
+++ b/src/engine/platform/t6w28.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class DivPlatformT6W28: public DivDispatch {
     DivMacroInt* getChanMacroInt(int ch);
     unsigned short getPan(int chan);
     DivDispatchOscBuffer* getOscBuffer(int chan);
-    int mapVelocity(int ch, unsigned char vel);
+    int mapVelocity(int ch, float vel);
     unsigned char* getRegisterPool();
     int getRegisterPoolSize();
     void reset();
diff --git a/src/engine/playback.cpp b/src/engine/playback.cpp
index 0c024d78d..19fedebe4 100644
--- a/src/engine/playback.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/playback.cpp
@@ -1373,7 +1373,8 @@ bool DivEngine::nextTick(bool noAccum, bool inhibitLowLat) {
     if (note.on) {
       dispatchCmd(DivCommand(DIV_CMD_INSTRUMENT,note.channel,note.ins,1));
       if (note.volume>=0 && !disCont[dispatchOfChan[note.channel]].dispatch->isVolGlobal()) {
-        int mappedVol=disCont[dispatchOfChan[note.channel]].dispatch->mapVelocity(dispatchChanOfChan[note.channel],note.volume);
+        float curvedVol=pow((float)note.volume/127.0f,midiVolExp);
+        int mappedVol=disCont[dispatchOfChan[note.channel]].dispatch->mapVelocity(dispatchChanOfChan[note.channel],curvedVol);
         logV("dispatching volume (%d -> %d)",note.volume,mappedVol);
         dispatchCmd(DivCommand(DIV_CMD_VOLUME,note.channel,mappedVol));
       }
diff --git a/src/gui/gui.h b/src/gui/gui.h
index b379ee743..f754a073d 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.h
+++ b/src/gui/gui.h
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ struct MIDIMap {
     valueInputControlMSB(0),
     valueInputControlLSB(0),
     valueInputControlSingle(0),
-    volExp(1.0f),
+    volExp(2.0f),
     valueInputCurMSB(0),
     valueInputCurLSB(0),
     valueInputCurSingle(0) {
diff --git a/src/gui/settings.cpp b/src/gui/settings.cpp
index 381c2eb9e..dbf1a9661 100644
--- a/src/gui/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/settings.cpp
@@ -1139,7 +1139,10 @@ void FurnaceGUI::drawSettings() {
         // TODO
         //ImGui::Checkbox("Use raw velocity value (don't map from linear to log)",&midiMap.rawVolume);
         //ImGui::Checkbox("Polyphonic/chord input",&midiMap.polyInput);
-        if (ImGui::Checkbox("Map MIDI channels to direct channels",&midiMap.directChannel)) settingsChanged=true;
+        if (ImGui::Checkbox("Map MIDI channels to direct channels",&midiMap.directChannel)) {
+          e->setMidiDirect(midiMap.directChannel);
+          settingsChanged=true;
+        }
         if (ImGui::Checkbox("Map Yamaha FM voice data to instruments",&midiMap.yamahaFMResponse)) settingsChanged=true;
         if (ImGui::Checkbox("Program change is instrument selection",&midiMap.programChange)) settingsChanged=true;
         //ImGui::Checkbox("Listen to MIDI clock",&midiMap.midiClock);
@@ -1198,6 +1201,7 @@ void FurnaceGUI::drawSettings() {
         if (ImGui::SliderFloat("Volume curve",&midiMap.volExp,0.01,8.0,"%.2f")) {
           if (midiMap.volExp<0.01) midiMap.volExp=0.01;
           if (midiMap.volExp>8.0) midiMap.volExp=8.0;
+          e->setMidiVolExp(midiMap.volExp);
           settingsChanged=true;
         } rightClickable
         float curve[128];
@@ -4025,6 +4029,7 @@ void FurnaceGUI::syncSettings() {
   midiMap.compile();
 
   e->setMidiDirect(midiMap.directChannel);
+  e->setMidiVolExp(midiMap.volExp);
   e->setMetronomeVol(((float)settings.metroVol)/100.0f);
   e->setSamplePreviewVol(((float)settings.sampleVol)/100.0f);
 }