diff --git a/src/sample_selection.cc b/src/sample_selection.cc
index 1c35c87..fc2862a 100644
--- a/src/sample_selection.cc
+++ b/src/sample_selection.cc
@@ -162,9 +162,8 @@ const Sample* SampleSelection::getObjective(level_t level, std::size_t pos)
    float power_span = power_max - power_min;

    float mean = level - .5f/127.f; // XXX: this should actually be done when reading the events
-   float stddev = settings.enable_velocity_modifier.load() ?
-       settings.velocity_stddev.load()/127.0f : 0.;
-   float lvl = power_min + rand.normalDistribution(mean, stddev)*power_span;
+   float stddev = settings.velocity_stddev.load();
+   float lvl = power_min + rand.normalDistribution(mean, stddev / 20.0f) * power_span;

    std::size_t index_opt = 0;
    float power_opt{0.f};