What note is MIDI note number 60?

MIDI 60 is middle C. In the scientific (and Yamaha) convention most DAWs use, that is written C4, at 261.63 Hz under A4 = 440 tuning. The chromatic scale steps up from there one semitone per number: 61 is C#4, 62 is D4, and so on. A4, the standard tuning pitch, is MIDI 69. The full usable range is 0 to 127, covering roughly C-1 (8.18 Hz) up to G9 (12543 Hz).

How do I turn a MIDI note number into a frequency?

Use the equal-temperament formula f = 440 × 2^((n − 69) / 12), where n is the MIDI number and 440 Hz is the pitch of A4 = MIDI 69. For example, MIDI 69 gives exactly 440 Hz, MIDI 60 gives 261.63 Hz, and MIDI 81 (an octave above A4) gives 880 Hz. Every step of 12 in the number doubles or halves the frequency, because 12 semitones make one octave.

Why does my DAW call MIDI 60 C3 instead of C4?

There is no single agreed octave numbering. The scientific convention, used by Logic, Cubase, MuseScore and most notation software, labels MIDI 60 as C4. The other common convention, used by Ableton Live, FL Studio and a lot of older Roland and Yamaha hardware, labels the same note C3. The MIDI number (60) and the pitch (261.63 Hz) are identical either way. Flip the C3/C4 toggle in this tool to match whatever your software prints.

What does the cents value mean when I enter a frequency?

Cents measure how far your input frequency sits from the nearest exact MIDI note, where 100 cents is one semitone. If you enter 445 Hz the tool snaps to A4 (MIDI 69, 440 Hz) and reports about +19.6 cents, meaning your tone is roughly a fifth of a semitone sharp. A reading of 0 cents means the frequency lands exactly on the note. Negative cents means flat, positive means sharp.

What is the full range of MIDI note numbers?

MIDI defines note numbers from 0 to 127, a span of 128 semitones, which is about ten and a half octaves. In the C4 convention that runs from C-1 (MIDI 0, around 8.18 Hz, below human hearing) to G9 (MIDI 127, around 12543 Hz). A 88-key piano covers MIDI 21 (A0) to 108 (C8), so the MIDI range comfortably contains every piano key plus headroom on both ends for synth and percussion mapping.

Does the converter handle sharps and flats?

Yes. Type the note with a sharp or a flat and it parses both spellings, plus the unicode symbols ♯ and ♭. C#4 and Db4 both return MIDI 61, because they are the same key on a 12-tone equal-tempered keyboard (enharmonic equivalents). Output always uses sharp spelling for consistency, so MIDI 61 reads back as C#4 rather than Db4. Casing and surrounding spaces are ignored, so a4 and A4 are read the same.

Map a synth or sampler key range

You are programming a sampler and the manual gives split points as MIDI numbers: a sample plays from note 48 to 59, the next from 60 up. Punch each number in and the tool tells you that is C3 to B3 then C4 in the C4 convention, so you can sanity-check the split against the keyboard in front of you instead of counting semitones in your head.

Match a tuner reading to a MIDI note

Your hardware tuner shows 329.6 Hz on a guitar string and you need the MIDI note to send from a controller. Switch to frequency mode, type the reading, and read back E4, MIDI 64, a couple of cents flat. Now you know both the note to play and that the string is very slightly under pitch.

Reconcile C3 and C4 between two DAWs

A collaborator works in Ableton, where middle C is C3, while you are in Logic, where it is C4. A part they call "the C3 bassline" is your C4. Set the toggle to their convention, confirm the MIDI number is 60 either way, and you stop arguing about an octave that was never actually different.

Build a quick MIDI note reference chart

Writing documentation or a cheat sheet for a class of music-tech students, you need the number, name and frequency for a handful of key notes. Step through 60, 69, 21 and 108, copy each line, and paste a clean "MIDI 60 · C4 · 261.63 Hz" row straight into your handout.

MIDI Note Number Converter — number ⇄ note ⇄ frequency

MIDI number ⇄ note name ⇄ frequency — note 60 is middle C, A4 = 440 Hz, cents off, C3/C4 toggle — browser-only

Runs locally
Category Format Converter
Best for Turning pasted content or local files into a handoff-friendly format.

Middle C convention

MIDI 60 is middle C. Most DAWs (Logic, Cubase) print it as C4; some (Ableton, older Roland) print C3. The number and pitch never change — only the octave label.

MIDI number (0–127)

C4261.63 Hz

MIDI number: 60
Note name: C4
Frequency: 261.63 Hz

A4 = 440 Hz · 12-TET

What this tool does

Convert between a MIDI note number (0 to 127), its note name in scientific pitch notation, and its frequency in hertz, in any of three directions. Type a MIDI number like 60 and read back C4 at 261.63 Hz. Type a note name like A4 and read back MIDI 69 at 440 Hz. Type a frequency like 329.63 and get the nearest MIDI number, its note name, and how many cents the pitch sits away from that note. The pitch math is the standard 12-tone equal temperament identity, anchored at MIDI 69 = A4 = 440 Hz, with the frequency computed as 440 times 2 to the power of (number minus 69) over 12. The one genuine source of confusion this tool fixes is the middle-C naming clash: most DAWs print MIDI 60 as C4, but some print C3. A single toggle relabels the octave without ever changing the number or the pitch, so you can match whatever your DAW shows on screen. Everything runs in your browser with one click copy and a shareable URL that reopens your exact conversion. No upload.

Tool details

Input: Numbers; The page exposes text boxes, numeric controls, file pickers, or structured inputs depending on the tool.
Output: Live result + Copy; The result area focuses on usable output, with copy, download, or preview actions when supported.
Privacy: Browser-side processing; The main tool logic does not call an external API, so inputs normally stay in the current tab.
Save / share: Shareable URL state; Key settings are encoded in the URL so another person can reopen the same setup.
Performance budget: Initial JS <= 9 KB; No WASM budget is declared, keeping the tool quick to open on mobile.
Best fit: Format Converter · Content Creator; Category and role tags drive related tools, internal links, and quick fit checks.

How to use

1. Input

Paste or drop your content into the tool panel.
2. Process

Click the button. All processing is local in your browser.
3. Copy / Download

Copy the result or download to disk in one click.

How MIDI Note Number Converter fits into your work

Use it when the main problem is getting content from one practical format into another.

Conversion jobs

Turning pasted content or local files into a handoff-friendly format.
Previewing a conversion before you use it in a larger workflow.
Cleaning small format mismatches without opening a full editor.

Conversion checks

Try a small sample first when the source format is messy.
Check character encoding, separators, and line endings after conversion.
Keep the source until the converted output has been reviewed.

Good next steps

These links move the current task into a more complete workflow.

Real-world use cases

Map a synth or sampler key range
You are programming a sampler and the manual gives split points as MIDI numbers: a sample plays from note 48 to 59, the next from 60 up. Punch each number in and the tool tells you that is C3 to B3 then C4 in the C4 convention, so you can sanity-check the split against the keyboard in front of you instead of counting semitones in your head.
Match a tuner reading to a MIDI note
Your hardware tuner shows 329.6 Hz on a guitar string and you need the MIDI note to send from a controller. Switch to frequency mode, type the reading, and read back E4, MIDI 64, a couple of cents flat. Now you know both the note to play and that the string is very slightly under pitch.
Reconcile C3 and C4 between two DAWs
A collaborator works in Ableton, where middle C is C3, while you are in Logic, where it is C4. A part they call "the C3 bassline" is your C4. Set the toggle to their convention, confirm the MIDI number is 60 either way, and you stop arguing about an octave that was never actually different.
Build a quick MIDI note reference chart
Writing documentation or a cheat sheet for a class of music-tech students, you need the number, name and frequency for a handful of key notes. Step through 60, 69, 21 and 108, copy each line, and paste a clean "MIDI 60 · C4 · 261.63 Hz" row straight into your handout.

Common pitfalls

Assuming MIDI 60 is always C4. It is always the number 60 and always middle C, but the printed octave depends on convention. Ableton and FL Studio show it as C3. If a chart from one program looks an octave off in another, the numbers are fine and only the labels differ.
Treating note numbers as frequencies. MIDI numbers are linear in semitones while frequency is exponential, so doubling the number does not double the pitch. Number 72 is not twice the Hz of 36. Always run the number through the formula rather than scaling it directly.
Forgetting MIDI tops out at 127. Note numbers above 127 or below 0 are not valid MIDI, so a frequency far above G9 or below C-1 has no MIDI note to map to. The tool clamps to the 0 to 127 range and will not invent a number outside it.

Privacy

Every conversion runs as plain JavaScript inside your browser tab: the number-to-frequency formula, the note-name parsing, the cents math, all of it. No note, frequency or MIDI value is ever sent to a server, and nothing is logged. The one thing to know is that the shareable URL encodes your current input and mode in the query string, so a link pasted into chat will record those values in the recipient server's access log. That is harmless for a note number, but worth knowing if you treat your link as private.

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MIDI Note Number Converter — number ⇄ note ⇄ frequency

What this tool does

Tool details

How to use

1. Input

2. Process

3. Copy / Download

How MIDI Note Number Converter fits into your work

Conversion jobs

Conversion checks

Good next steps

Real-world use cases

Map a synth or sampler key range

Match a tuner reading to a MIDI note

Reconcile C3 and C4 between two DAWs

Build a quick MIDI note reference chart

Common pitfalls

Privacy

FAQ

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