linuxaudio.org

On Thursday 13 April 2006 08:33, tim hall wrote:

quoted text
> Christoph Eckert wrote:

> >>Computers count from zero.  Always have, always will.

> >

> > yes, of course, I know.

> >

> > But it is possible to hide this in user interfaces. IMHO the

> > machines have to serve the humans, not the other way around.

> >

> > How many mails are you reading right now, 0 or 1 ;-) ?

>

> It's not a question of number, it's a question of counter position.

> Yes it does my head in too, but when was the last time you counted

> from 1 on a ruler?

>

> This thread has explained to me why I'm constantly confused as to the

> location of 'middle C'. I would also like to point out to anyone

> writing software that uses a MIDI keyboard that, while A=440 is a

> sane default, there are musically appropriate reasons for variations

> in the range of A=415 to A=446+ - allowing a slightly greater range

> of variation (say 400 - 450Hz) could also be useful. I tend not to

> use software that does not allow this.

>

> cheers,

>

> tim hall

Some basic thoughts on note numbering.
a Note  is  a Frequency;  ie A440 
A880  is the A note an octave above A440 ie frequency doubles
On a piano, the lowest note is an A; often piano players call it A1

In that case, A1 (name) is A55 (frequency). 
Notice that the frequency description of a note sounded is not

arbitrary; a plucked string has a fundamental frequency, which

we use to describe the sound.
Western music notation is based on the idea of note names; ABCDEFG

A1, A2, ... are octaves apart.  Note that 1 2 3 ... in these names

are arbitrarily assigned.  We could (and I think some do) call

A440 A0. In that case the A an octive below would be called A-1, and

it would make prefect sense as long as folks knew what A0 was.
In brief, the numbers in note names are arbitrary and based on a

logarithmic scale of frequencies.  Where the zero point is on that

scale is where the midi note numbering confusion arises.  And the

confusion exist for instrument players in general. 
> sane default, there are musically appropriate reasons for variations

quoted text
> in the range of A=415 to A=446+ - allowing a slightly greater range

> of variation (say 400 - 450Hz) could also be useful. I tend not to

> use software that does not allow this.

I strongly agree.  Isn't that just saying that an instrument should be

tune-able.  Horns have tuning slides; guitars have pegs.  My soundcard

has the capability; software that claims to support it should have a

tuning slider, peg, widgit, command or something.  
Marv   in Lexington, KY  with blue skys, trees in bloom,  mid 70s F.