A method for operating a casting device for casting under pressure, in particular a counter-pressure ingot casting device or a low-pressure ingot casting device, comprising: - a furnace , in which a receiving space for receiving melt is formed, wherein the receiving space can be acted upon by compressed air; - a valve block for admitting compressed air into the receiving space of the furnace in a controlled manner; - a pressure sensor , which is configured for detecting the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace ; - a mold forming a mold cavity ; - an intermediate plate , which is arranged between the furnace and the mold , wherein the mold is fastened to the intermediate plate ; - at least one riser tube , by means of which the receiving space of the furnace is fluidically connected to the mold ; wherein the valve block comprises at least four individual valves , which are suitable for admitting, in parallel to each other, compressed air into the receiving space of the furnace , wherein at least two of the four individual valves have different specifications, wherein the individual valves are coupled with an electronic digital computer , from which they are controlled, wherein the electronic digital computer is coupled with the pressure sensor , wherein the individual valves can be opened independently of each other, individually or simultaneously, so that different flow rates can be adjusted, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: - detecting the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace ; - controlling the at least four individual valves of the valve block by means of the electronic digital computer , wherein the control of the individual valves takes place on the basis of the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace detected by the pressure sensor and on the basis of a mathematical model of the casting device , wherein the specifications of all of the individual valves of the valve block are stored in the mathematical model of the casting device , and wherein the individual valves let compressed air flow into the receiving space of the furnace in a parallel manner, characterized in that the individual valves of the valve block are controlled such that one of the individual valves is opened while another one of the individual valves is closed, and thereby the temporal behavior of the air flow rates in the individual valves during the opening operation and during the closing operation is utilized to achieve a certain total flow rate of the valve block . - a furnace , in which a receiving space for receiving melt is formed, wherein the receiving space can be acted upon by compressed air; - a valve block for admitting compressed air into the receiving space of the furnace in a controlled manner; - a pressure sensor , which is configured for detecting the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace ; - a mold forming a mold cavity ; - an intermediate plate , which is arranged between the furnace and the mold , wherein the mold is fastened to the intermediate plate ; - at least one riser tube , by means of which the receiving space of the furnace is fluidically connected to the mold ; - detecting the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace ; - controlling the at least four individual valves of the valve block by means of the electronic digital computer , wherein the control of the individual valves takes place on the basis of the pressure in the receiving space of the furnace detected by the pressure sensor and on the basis of a mathematical model of the casting device , wherein the specifications of all of the individual valves of the valve block are stored in the mathematical model of the casting device , and wherein the individual valves let compressed air flow into the receiving space of the furnace in a parallel manner, <EOS>