diff --git a/packages/webaudio/webaudio.mjs b/packages/webaudio/webaudio.mjs
index d94f264f..ffcdd1a2 100644
--- a/packages/webaudio/webaudio.mjs
+++ b/packages/webaudio/webaudio.mjs
@@ -100,12 +100,8 @@ const getSoundfontKey = (s) => {
 
 const getSampleBufferSource = async (s, n, note, speed) => {
   let transpose = 0;
-  let midi;
-
-  if (note !== undefined) {
-    midi = typeof note === 'string' ? toMidi(note) : note;
-    transpose = midi - 36; // C3 is middle C
-  }
+  let midi = typeof note === 'string' ? toMidi(note) : note || 36;
+  transpose = midi - 36; // C3 is middle C
 
   const ac = getAudioContext();
   // is sample from loaded samples(..)
@@ -128,9 +124,6 @@ const getSampleBufferSource = async (s, n, note, speed) => {
   if (Array.isArray(bank)) {
     sampleUrl = bank[n % bank.length];
   } else {
-    if (!note) {
-      throw new Error('no note(...) set for sound', s);
-    }
     const midiDiff = (noteA) => toMidi(noteA) - midi;
     // object format will expect keys as notes
     const closest = Object.keys(bank)