Abstract: A method for controlling a reciprocating-piston engine encompassing several cylinders, including generating a discrete-time signal by measuring a state variable of the reciprocating-piston sensor by way of a sensor and an associated evaluation circuit, superimposing onto the signal a summand signal obtained by time differentiation of the signal, or filtering the signal, in such a way that an amplitude of the signal is selectively made larger or smaller at useful frequencies of the signal, and further processing the superimposed signal by way of a user function related to at least one cylinder. A corresponding apparatus, a corresponding computer program, and a corresponding storage medium are also provided.