Ableton Forum

Why are Live's midi notes numbered one octave lower?

i press midi-36, C2 and but it says C1

Middle C is MIDI note 60. When I play middle C, the note I hear does in fact correspond to MIDI note 60.

However, there does not seem to be universal agreement about whether to use C3 or C4 to refer to that note.

ark wrote: However, there does not seem to be universal agreement about whether to use C3 or C4 to refer to that note.

That is correct. The only rule is that note number 60 has to be the "middle C", but there is no rule in the MIDI specification to which octave number this "middle C" actually refers to.

FWIW, Sonar uses C5 as the middle C per default. That having said, you can change the middle C reference in Sonar, though.

However, C3 is used by most European software manufacturers.

Best,
Nico

Thanks for the clarification!

[nis] wrote:

ark wrote: However, there does not seem to be universal agreement about whether to use C3 or C4 to refer to that note.

That is correct. The only rule is that note number 60 has to be the "middle C", but there is no rule in the MIDI specification to which octave number this "middle C" actually refers to.

FWIW, Sonar uses C5 as the middle C per default. That having said, you can change the middle C reference in Sonar, though.

However, C3 is used by most European software manufacturers.

Best,
Nico

if live is one octave lower..is it using the not so common c4 standard than?

3phase wrote:if live is one octave lower..is it using the not so common c4 standard than?

No, Live uses the C3 standard.

And the C4 standard, also known as Scientific pitch notation, is only "not so common" in Europe. It's the standard for most scholarly writing and research in the area of acoustics.

The article linked above mentions MIDI hardware useing 'C3' or 'C5.

Here is a table that labels the midi notes starting at the first as "note 0, octave 0" and correlates to frequency that gives you an idea why:

http://utenzil.com/midi_note_table.htm

C3 is more "pianoistic" and so a little more familiar a label.

for the record...

god that turned out humongus

[nis] wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:19 pm

C3 is used by most European software manufacturers.

Best,
Nico

...and so what?

j/k found this thread, bump.

Hello I am looking for a reason why I can only hear sound starting at octave B0 which is key K on my computer keyboard. And the last note I can hear is A5. And that is key H on my computer keyboard. I am a lover of options and it upsets me when I can see the other notes light up but no sound. The Z & X keys move to the other octaves but only the ones in side of the range I described are audible. B0 - A5. Please advise of any reasons this may be and or a method for accessing the other notes.

Kindest Regards