MIDI Tuning Standard ( MTS ) is a specification of precise musical pitch agreed to by the MIDI Manufacturers Association in the MIDI protocol. MTS allows for both a bulk tuning dump message, giving a tuning for each of 128 notes , and a tuning message for individual notes as they are played.
31-456: If f is a frequency in Hertz (Hz) , then the corresponding MIDI note number N MIDI is given by the formula where " log " in the second expression is any logarithm (e.g. either the common logarithm log 10 , the natural logarithm ln ≡ log e , or any other). The quantity log 2 ( f / 440 Hz ) is the number of octaves above
62-441: A specific range of frequencies . The audible frequency range for humans is typically given as being between about 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz), though the high frequency limit usually reduces with age. Other species have different hearing ranges. For example, some dog breeds can perceive vibrations up to 60,000 Hz. In many media, such as air, the speed of sound is approximately independent of frequency, so
93-411: A fractional error of Δ f f = 1 2 f T m {\textstyle {\frac {\Delta f}{f}}={\frac {1}{2fT_{\text{m}}}}} where T m {\displaystyle T_{\text{m}}} is the timing interval and f {\displaystyle f} is the measured frequency. This error decreases with frequency, so it
124-416: A known frequency near the unknown frequency is mixed with the unknown frequency in a nonlinear mixing device such as a diode . This creates a heterodyne or "beat" signal at the difference between the two frequencies. If the two signals are close together in frequency the heterodyne is low enough to be measured by a frequency counter. This process only measures the difference between the unknown frequency and
155-402: A repeating event is accomplished by counting the number of times that event occurs within a specific time period, then dividing the count by the period. For example, if 71 events occur within 15 seconds the frequency is: f = 71 15 s ≈ 4.73 Hz . {\displaystyle f={\frac {71}{15\,{\text{s}}}}\approx 4.73\,{\text{Hz}}.} If
186-479: A second (60 seconds divided by 120). For cyclical phenomena such as oscillations , waves , or for examples of simple harmonic motion , the term frequency is defined as the number of cycles or repetitions per unit of time. The conventional symbol for frequency is f or ν (the Greek letter nu ) is also used. The period T is the time taken to complete one cycle of an oscillation or rotation. The frequency and
217-495: Is called a radio wave . Likewise, an electromagnetic wave with a frequency higher than 8 × 10 Hz will also be invisible to the human eye; such waves are called ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Even higher-frequency waves are called X-rays , and higher still are gamma rays . All of these waves, from the lowest-frequency radio waves to the highest-frequency gamma rays, are fundamentally the same, and they are all called electromagnetic radiation . They all travel through vacuum at
248-405: Is equivalent to one hertz. As a matter of convenience, longer and slower waves, such as ocean surface waves , are more typically described by wave period rather than frequency. Short and fast waves, like audio and radio, are usually described by their frequency. Some commonly used conversions are listed below: For periodic waves in nondispersive media (that is, media in which the wave speed
279-411: Is generally a problem at low frequencies where the number of counts N is small. An old method of measuring the frequency of rotating or vibrating objects is to use a stroboscope . This is an intense repetitively flashing light ( strobe light ) whose frequency can be adjusted with a calibrated timing circuit. The strobe light is pointed at the rotating object and the frequency adjusted up and down. When
310-458: Is independent of frequency), frequency has an inverse relationship to the wavelength , λ ( lambda ). Even in dispersive media, the frequency f of a sinusoidal wave is equal to the phase velocity v of the wave divided by the wavelength λ of the wave: f = v λ . {\displaystyle f={\frac {v}{\lambda }}.} In the special case of electromagnetic waves in vacuum , then v = c , where c
341-402: Is red light, 800 THz ( 8 × 10 Hz ) is violet light, and between these (in the range 400–800 THz) are all the other colors of the visible spectrum . An electromagnetic wave with a frequency less than 4 × 10 Hz will be invisible to the human eye; such waves are called infrared (IR) radiation. At even lower frequency, the wave is called a microwave , and at still lower frequencies it
SECTION 10
#1733093832743372-400: Is the speed of light in vacuum, and this expression becomes f = c λ . {\displaystyle f={\frac {c}{\lambda }}.} When monochromatic waves travel from one medium to another, their frequency remains the same—only their wavelength and speed change. Measurement of frequency can be done in the following ways: Calculating the frequency of
403-400: Is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time . It is also occasionally referred to as temporal frequency for clarity and to distinguish it from spatial frequency . Ordinary frequency is related to angular frequency (symbol ω , with SI unit radian per second) by a factor of 2 π . The period (symbol T ) is the interval of time between events, so the period is
434-516: The MIDI note number, N MIDI . Converting from MIDI note number ( N MIDI ) to frequency ( f ) is given by the following formula: The frequency data format allows for the precise notation of frequencies that differ from equal temperament . "Frequency data shall be defined in [units] which are fractions of a semitone. The frequency range starts at MIDI note 0, C = 8.1758 Hz, and extends above MIDI note 127, G = 12543.854 Hz. The first byte of
465-408: The reciprocal of the frequency: T = 1/ f . Frequency is an important parameter used in science and engineering to specify the rate of oscillatory and vibratory phenomena, such as mechanical vibrations, audio signals ( sound ), radio waves , and light . For example, if a heart beats at a frequency of 120 times per minute (2 hertz), the period—the time interval between beats—is half
496-398: The 440 Hz concert A , or A 4 , or a ′ . Multiplying it by 12 gives the number of semitones above 440 Hz (the value is negative if the frequency f is lower in pitch than 440 Hz). Adding 69 ( decimal , or 0x45 hexadecimal ) gives the number of semitones above the C five octaves below middle C . Not only is 440 Hz
527-547: The FMTS FM synthesizer, Ivor virtual analog synthesizer, and XenFont SoundFont sample player. Hardware instruments in current production which support MTS include: Dave Smith Instruments (DSI) Rev-2, Prophet-12, Prophet-6, Oberheim OB-6, Moog Sub37, Minitaur, Novation Bass Station II, Peak, Sonoclast Plastic Pitch Plus, and the Waldorf Kyra. Frequency Frequency (symbol f ), most often measured in hertz (symbol: Hz),
558-486: The alternating current in household electrical outlets is 60 Hz (between the tones B ♭ and B; that is, a minor third above the European frequency). The frequency of the ' hum ' in an audio recording can show in which of these general regions the recording was made. Aperiodic frequency is the rate of incidence or occurrence of non- cyclic phenomena, including random processes such as radioactive decay . It
589-407: The frequency data word specifies the highest equal-tempered semitone not exceeding the frequency. The next two bytes (14 bits) specify the fraction of 100 cents above the semitone at which the frequency lies. Effective resolution = 100 cents / 2 = .0061 cents." This higher resolution allows a logarithmic representation of pitch in which the semitone is divided into 128 = 2 = 16384 parts, which means
620-421: The frequency of the strobe equals the frequency of the rotating or vibrating object, the object completes one cycle of oscillation and returns to its original position between the flashes of light, so when illuminated by the strobe the object appears stationary. Then the frequency can be read from the calibrated readout on the stroboscope. A downside of this method is that an object rotating at an integer multiple of
651-545: The number of counts is not very large, it is more accurate to measure the time interval for a predetermined number of occurrences, rather than the number of occurrences within a specified time. The latter method introduces a random error into the count of between zero and one count, so on average half a count. This is called gating error and causes an average error in the calculated frequency of Δ f = 1 2 T m {\textstyle \Delta f={\frac {1}{2T_{\text{m}}}}} , or
SECTION 20
#1733093832743682-658: The octave is divided into 196608 (logarithmically) equal parts. These parts are exactly 100/16384 cents (approximately 0.0061 cents) in size, which is far below the threshold of human pitch perception and which therefore allows a very accurate representation of pitch. The precision pitch values may be used in microtonal music , just intonation , meantone temperament , or other alternative tunings. Software which supports MTS includes Scala , TiMidity++ , ZynAddSubFX and FluidSynth . Software plugin instruments which support MTS include Native Instruments FM8, Synthogy Ivory, and Xen-Arts' various xenharmonic VSTi plugins, including
713-581: The period are related by the equation f = 1 T . {\displaystyle f={\frac {1}{T}}.} The term temporal frequency is used to emphasise that the frequency is characterised by the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. The SI unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz), named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1930. It
744-410: The reference frequency. To convert higher frequencies, several stages of heterodyning can be used. Current research is extending this method to infrared and light frequencies ( optical heterodyne detection ). Visible light is an electromagnetic wave , consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling through space. The frequency of the wave determines its color: 400 THz ( 4 × 10 Hz)
775-560: The rotation rate of a shaft, mechanical vibrations, or sound waves , can be converted to a repetitive electronic signal by transducers and the signal applied to a frequency counter. As of 2018, frequency counters can cover the range up to about 100 GHz. This represents the limit of direct counting methods; frequencies above this must be measured by indirect methods. Above the range of frequency counters, frequencies of electromagnetic signals are often measured indirectly utilizing heterodyning ( frequency conversion ). A reference signal of
806-414: The same speed (the speed of light), giving them wavelengths inversely proportional to their frequencies. c = f λ , {\displaystyle \displaystyle c=f\lambda ,} where c is the speed of light ( c in vacuum or less in other media), f is the frequency and λ is the wavelength. In dispersive media , such as glass, the speed depends somewhat on frequency, so
837-438: The standard central pitch for MIDI , it is also widely used as the "concert A " standard pitch ( A 4 e.g. USA, UK), and since that is represented in MIDI signals by the integer 69 (nine semitones above middle C ( C 4 , c′ ), which is 60 decimal or 0x3C hexadecimal ), this gives a real number which expresses pitch in a manner consistent with MIDI and integer notation , known as
868-461: The strobing frequency will also appear stationary. Higher frequencies are usually measured with a frequency counter . This is an electronic instrument which measures the frequency of an applied repetitive electronic signal and displays the result in hertz on a digital display . It uses digital logic to count the number of cycles during a time interval established by a precision quartz time base. Cyclic processes that are not electrical, such as
899-419: The wavelength is not quite inversely proportional to frequency. Sound propagates as mechanical vibration waves of pressure and displacement, in air or other substances. In general, frequency components of a sound determine its "color", its timbre . When speaking about the frequency (in singular) of a sound, it means the property that most determines its pitch . The frequencies an ear can hear are limited to
930-455: The wavelength of the sound waves (distance between repetitions) is approximately inversely proportional to frequency. In Europe , Africa , Australia , southern South America , most of Asia , and Russia , the frequency of the alternating current in household electrical outlets is 50 Hz (close to the tone G), whereas in North America and northern South America, the frequency of
961-453: Was adopted by the CGPM (Conférence générale des poids et mesures) in 1960, officially replacing the previous name, cycle per second (cps). The SI unit for the period, as for all measurements of time, is the second . A traditional unit of frequency used with rotating mechanical devices, where it is termed rotational frequency , is revolution per minute , abbreviated r/min or rpm. 60 rpm