Middle C question

So I'm taking an advanced class at Berklee and (yes I could ask the teacher, but I'd rather talk with my usual crowd :) ), and I have a question about middle C. 

According to a class I'm taking Middle C is C4. According to a Carnegie Hall frequency printout I have (from a master book), middle C's fundamental frequency is 261 hz (it doesn't say which octave it is though it's the 5th Octave up, which would mean C4).

So here is where Sonar comes into play. Part of a project is to analyze string samples with an RTA plugin and look at where the fundamental notes are and harmonies and such and I've got a cello patch I'm using through Kontakt. The C note that has a fundamental of 261 hz is C5 according to the piano roll!

Maybe Kontakt's library is just wrong, but I just wanted some of your thoughts on this topic.

Thanks!

It's probably pitched up an octave on the keyboard since it is a lower octave instrument and pitching it up would center it more in the keyboard.

What you all have said makes a lot of sense. It concerns me a little bit, because that means I have to be careful to be playing the correct notes!

Thanks all!

JoshWolfer


What you all have said makes a lot of sense. It concerns me a little bit, because that means I have to be careful to be playing the correct notes!

Thanks all!

I have this problem playing live constantly. ^_^

The note number for Middle C (60) is part of the MIDI spec, but the octave number has never been totally standardized. That's why SONAR has a "Base octave for pitches" setting (in 8.5.3 it's in Options > General) which you can set to follow whatever convention you want.

-Susan

Sonar is off one or two octaves from all my plug-ins, and they do not agree with one another.  (Sonar calls middle C C5.)  This is very confusing when using key switches with Kontakt and Vienna.  It is also goofy that the Note Properties box that pops up when right-clicking in Staff view gives all kinds of detail (including fret and string) but not MIDI note number.

konradh


Sonar is off one or two octaves from all my plug-ins, and they do not agree with one another.  (Sonar calls middle C C5.)  This is very confusing when using key switches with Kontakt and Vienna.  It is also goofy that the Note Properties box that pops up when right-clicking in Staff view gives all kinds of detail (including fret and string) but not MIDI note number.

Maybe all your plug-ins are off. 
 
Seriously, C5 is a logical choice from the standpoint that middle C is MIDI note 60.  That's 5 octaves above MIDI note 0.  Unfortunately this naming convention was never made a part of the MIDI spec, so chaos reigns.  Granted, C4 seems the more common choice, but I've even seen one synth (don't recall which) call middle C C3, because the key range extended only three octaves below middle C.  I always include MIDI note numbers when needing to communicate a specific note designation.  Also, if you ever do your own SFZ files, always use note numbers instead of C4 type names.  If you don't you're almost guaranteed that your sample sets will be off by an octive at some point or another.

Thanks for the good info everyone!

Hey, bitflipper.  That's good info, bro.  I think I will reset Sonar as you suggest.

Thanks for the info, Susan & Bit.

My keyboard has never been able to trigger a kick drum in BFD2 as I run out of notes!

Hopefully this might fix it.

Sorry, Susan.  I just missed that.