Which MIDI CC Controls the Sustain Pedal?

In MIDI production and digital music performance, standard Control Change (CC) messages govern various expressive parameters. This guide identifies the standard MIDI CC number assigned to the sustain pedal, explains how its data values trigger note hold and release, and details how continuous sustain (half-pedaling) works across hardware and software instruments.

The Standard MIDI CC for Sustain

The standard MIDI Control Change number for the sustain pedal (often referred to as the damper pedal) is MIDI CC 64.

Defined by the MIDI Manufacturers Association under the General MIDI specification, CC 64 is universally mapped by default across nearly all digital audio workstations (DAWs), virtual instruments (VSTs), synthesizers, and MIDI keyboards to mimic the acoustic piano's damper mechanism.

How MIDI CC 64 Values Work

A standard MIDI message carries a value range from 0 to 127. For CC 64, this data is interpreted in two primary ways depending on the type of pedal and instrument being used.

1. Binary Switching (Standard On/Off)

Most basic sustain pedals act as momentary switches. They send only two states:

• Values 0 to 63 (Off): The pedal is released. Notes decay according to the instrument patch's standard release envelope.
• Values 64 to 127 (On): The pedal is depressed. Notes are sustained indefinitely or until their natural acoustic decay finishes.

In most cases, pressing the pedal sends an immediate value of 127, and releasing it sends a value of 0.

2. Continuous Control (Half-Pedaling)

Advanced digital pianos and high-end sample libraries (such as dedicated concert grand piano plugins) support continuous sustain. In this mode, CC 64 transmits the entire range from 0 to 127:

• 0: Fully open / dampers resting on strings.
• 1–126: Partial damping, allowing nuanced control over note resonance and decay times.
• 127: Fully sustained / dampers completely lifted.

To use half-pedaling, you must have both a continuous (expression-style or potentiometer-based) damper pedal and a virtual instrument that explicitly supports continuous CC 64 input.

Common Issues: Inverted Sustain Polarity

If an instrument sustains when the pedal is released and cuts off when the pedal is pressed, the pedal polarity is reversed. This typically occurs because different manufacturers (such as Roland and Yamaha) use opposite electrical polarities for their foot switches.

To fix this:

• Check for a physical polarity switch on the bottom or side of the pedal.
• Power cycle the MIDI keyboard while keeping your foot completely off the pedal, as many keyboards auto-detect polarity upon startup.
• Invert the CC 64 curve directly inside your DAW's MIDI control settings.