Browser audio tool

Online Tone Generator

Generate precise audio tones at custom frequencies directly in your browser for speaker checks, headphone tests, tuning, troubleshooting, and audio experiments.

Playback

Starts the current tone; plays until stopped.

Exact frequency Hz Custom 20 Hz–20 kHzA4+0.0¢

Musical note

Choose a note to replace the current Hz value.

Waveform Changes the tone’s sound and harmonics.

Frequency range440.00 Hz

Frequency-aware illustrative trace · not microphone input or sound moving through air

Step frequency Fine-tune without typing.

Output level24% Sets digital volume, not loudness at your ears. Stereo panCenter Choose left, right, or both at center.

Presets Choose one to replace the current Hz value

Generated frequency and level describe a digital signal. Understand accuracy and limitations →

How to Use the Tone Generator

Choose a sound, listen briefly at a comfortable level, then adjust or save it.

1
Choose the signal
Type a custom frequency in Hz or select a preset or note; then choose its waveform.
2
Play and adjust
Press Play, then use output level for digital volume and stereo pan for the left or right channel.
3
Fine-tune or reuse
Use the step and octave buttons, copy a settings link, or export a WAV reference.

Keyboard shortcuts

KeyActionWhen it works

SpacePlay or stop the main toneWhen focus is not inside a control.

EscStop audioStops an active tone, sweep or multi-tone session.

What each control changes

Choose a frequency to set the pitch, then press Play. You can type your own Hz value, choose a preset or musical note, change the waveform, adjust volume, and send the tone left or right. Each choice updates the same main tone.

The number you set describes the digital tone the browser generates. What reaches your ears also depends on your device, browser, Bluetooth connection or codec, audio processing, speakers or headphones, and your hearing. This is not calibrated acoustic equipment or a medical hearing test.

Frequency (Hz): The pitch. Type a custom number, select a preset, or choose a note. These all set the same tone.
Waveform: The shape of each repeat. It changes how smooth, buzzy, or bright the tone sounds.
Output level: The tone’s digital volume. Your device volume also affects how loud it sounds.
Channel selection: Stereo pan sends the tone toward the left or right speaker or headphone, or both at center.

How to useSelect a note, octave and A4 reference.

Useful forTuning references and seeing the nearest note and cents offset.

Note Octave A4 referenceHz

Nearest noteA4 Cents offset0.00 cents Reference system12-TET

How to useSet the endpoints, duration and curve, then start.

Useful forHearing broad response changes and demonstrating frequency ranges.

StartHz EndHz Durationsec

Curve

How to useAdd tones, set each voice, then use Play all.

Useful forBeats, intervals, chords and stereo placement comparisons.

Set

Generated model

Waveform & Harmonic Inspector

Compare the generated shape with its theoretical harmonic recipe.

How to useChoose any standard or custom waveform.

Useful forUnderstanding timbre. This is illustrative source math, not measured spectrum data.

Inspect waveform

Mathematical waveform

Theoretical relative harmonics

The ideal sine source contains one fundamental frequency.

Local rendering

WAV Export & Share

Save the current tone or sweep, or copy the full setup as a link.

How to useChoose a source and duration, then download or copy.

Useful forRepeatable reference files and sharing settings. Audio stays in your browser.

Source Duration

Ready to render locally.

Maximum 30 seconds · stereo PCM · no microphone data · Privacy Policy

Frequency & Hz Explained

Frequency is the pitch of the tone. Higher Hz usually sounds higher; lower Hz sounds deeper. Hertz counts cycles per second: 440 Hz means 440 repeats each second. Type a custom Hz value when a preset does not match the pitch you need.

1 Hz1 cycle per second

440 Hz440 cycles per second

1 kHz1,000 cycles per second

These sketches show more repeats across the same space as Hz rises. They are illustrative; the labels show the cycles per second.

Musical Notes & A4 = 440 Hz

Musical notes map pitch names to frequencies. Moving up one octave doubles frequency; moving down one octave halves it.

A3220 Hz

A4440 Hz

A5880 Hz

100 cents=1 semitone

The A4 reference is adjustable in the tuning tool.

Period and Wavelength

Period is the time for one repeat of the sound wave. Wavelength is the distance one repeat would span in air. The display estimates it using a room-temperature sound speed of about 343 m/s. Actual sound speed depends on environmental conditions, including temperature.

Lower frequencies have longer cycles and wavelengths because they oscillate less often—not because sound travels more slowly.

PeriodT = 1 / f

Wavelength in airλ ≈ 343 / f

Frequency: 440.00 Hz
Period: 2.27 ms
Wavelength: ≈ 0.78 m

Lower frequencyLonger wavelength

Higher frequencyShorter wavelength

At the same approximate sound speed in air, a deeper tone spreads each cycle across a longer distance. These shapes illustrate the relationship; they are not acoustic measurements.

How Waveform Shape Changes the Sound

Waveform means the shape of the repeating signal. Choose Sine for a simple sine wave generator; the other shapes add different kinds of brightness. The harmonic detail shows why. These are generated source models, not speaker measurements.

WaveformIdeal source spectrumUseful for

SineSmooth and pure; the clearest single-pitch reference.One fundamental in the ideal generated sourcePitch comparisons and resonance or rattle checks.

SquareSharp and buzzy.Odd harmonics; ideal amplitudes fall roughly as 1/nBright synthesis demonstrations.

TriangleSofter and rounder than square.Odd harmonics; ideal amplitudes fall roughly as 1/n²Gentle harmonic comparisons.

SawtoothBright and rich.All integer harmonics; ideal amplitudes fall roughly as 1/nDense synthesis and timbre comparisons.

Pulse 25%A thin, nasal pulse sound.Custom periodic wave with odd and even harmonicsPulse-width and harmonic comparisons.

Soft harmonicsA sine-like tone with gentle extra color.A strong fundamental with quickly fading added harmonicsComparing a pure tone with a mildly colored one.

Odd harmonicsA mellow, hollow variation.Only odd harmonics in a custom periodic waveComparing odd-harmonic balances.

Rich harmonicsA fuller, brighter layered tone.Ten gradually fading harmonics in a custom periodic waveComparing a dense harmonic recipe.

Useful Frequency Range Reference

These familiar audio-band names are practical descriptions, not rigid scientific boundaries.

20–60 HzSub-bassDeep weight and vibration

60–250 HzBassBody, kick and low fundamentals

250–500 HzLow midsWarmth and fullness

500 Hz–2 kHzMidrangeCore pitch and intelligibility

2–4 kHzUpper midsAttack and definition

4–8 kHzPresence / trebleClarity and edge

8–20 kHzHigh treble / airFine detail when reproduced

Frequency Sweeps: Linear vs Logarithmic

A sweep generates a moving test signal; it does not measure frequency response by itself.

Linear sweepEqual Hz change over time

Useful for examining a narrow range with a constant hertz-per-second rate.

Log sweepEqual ratio / octave progression

Useful across a wide range because each octave receives more comparable time.

Multi-Tone Generation and Beat Frequencies

Multi-Tone combines up to three oscillators for intervals, chords, stereo placement and beat demonstrations.

440 Hz+444 Hz→4 Hz beat

Two close frequencies combine into a slowly changing amplitude envelope in the same channel.

Intervals
Chords
Stereo placement
Beat demonstrations

Stereo Pan and Channel Testing

Stereo pan moves the generated signal from full left through center to full right on supported stereo outputs. It is useful for quick routing comparisons and controlled left/right demonstrations.

For a guided channel, phase or balance workflow, use the dedicated Speaker Test or Headphone Test. This page generates signals; it does not replace those diagnostic sequences.

Open Speaker Test Open Headphone Test

LeftCenterRight

How to useMove Stereo pan in the main generator while a tone plays.

Useful forQuick channel routing and balance comparisons.

What Can You Use a Tone Generator For?

Use this test tone generator for a chosen pitch, then move to a dedicated tool when you need a guided check.

Instrument tuning and pitch reference

Play A4, Middle C or any chromatic note as a stable reference with an adjustable A4 standard.

Speaker and headphone troubleshooting

Reproduce a dropout or imbalance, then continue with the dedicated Speaker Test or Headphone Test.

Speaker Test Headphone Test

Finding rattles or resonances

Hold a steady frequency or move slowly until a cabinet, desk or fixture begins to vibrate.

Exploring room resonance

Compare low-frequency positions and then use the dedicated Bass Test for a guided workflow.

Bass Test

Audio education and waveform comparison

Demonstrate cycles, octaves, harmonics, beating and waveform shape in the browser.

Signal-path and channel testing

Pan a tone or layer signals to confirm left/right routing through a playback chain.

Synth and sound-design experiments

Compare oscillator timbres, intervals and harmonic recipes before using them in a production.

What This Generator Can — and Cannot — Tell You

It can

Generate a chosen digital oscillator frequency and standard waveform
Pan a signal left or right and layer multiple controlled tones
Run linear or logarithmic sweeps
Show generated waveform and theoretical harmonic information
Export a digital reference file locally

It cannot

Measure the acoustic frequency response of speakers or headphones
Measure sound pressure level at your ears
Certify a playback device or signal chain
Diagnose hearing or identify why a tone is not audible
Guarantee physical output frequency or level after every processing stage

Accuracy and Browser Limitations

The browser requests the selected digital frequency. Speakers, headphones, Bluetooth or codecs, device processing, the room and your hearing can limit what you hear, especially at very low or high frequencies.

Web Audio oscillator
Browser
Operating system
DAC / audio interface
Amplifier
Speaker / headphones
What you hear

The generator sets the source frequency; later steps affect what you hear. A missing low or high tone can be limited by speakers or headphones, Bluetooth or codecs, your device, browser, or hearing. It does not measure hearing or calibrated acoustic output. Read our methodology, accuracy and limitations, validation notes, and disclaimer.

Safe Listening with Pure Tones

The output percentage is digital gain, not a measurement of sound level at your ears.

Start low

Begin with low physical device volume.

Don’t chase inaudible tones

Not hearing an extreme frequency is not a reason to sharply increase volume.

Limit exposure

Keep continuous tone checks brief and stop if the sound is uncomfortable.

What does a tone generator do?

It creates a steady audio signal at a frequency you choose. This page generates that signal locally in your browser.

Is a tone generator the same as a frequency generator?

For browser audio, yes: both let you choose the pitch in hertz. An Hz generator here makes audible test tones; laboratory frequency generators can also produce electrical signals outside hearing.

What frequency range can I generate?

The main generator covers 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Your playback device may not reproduce the full range.

Why is A4 set to 440 Hz?

A4 at 440 Hz is the standard reference used by most modern tuning systems. You can change the reference in the tuning tool.

Can I generate 432 Hz?

Yes. Enter 432 Hz directly or set A4 to 432 Hz. The tool makes no health or therapeutic claims about that tuning.

What does the cents value mean?

Cents show the pitch difference from the nearest note. One semitone equals 100 cents.

How do the waveforms differ?

Sine is the simplest reference. Square, triangle, sawtooth and custom waves add different harmonic patterns and therefore sound different.

What is the difference between linear and logarithmic sweeps?

Linear sweeps change by equal numbers of hertz. Logarithmic sweeps change by equal ratios, so octaves receive more comparable time.

Can I generate several tones together?

Yes. Multi-Tone runs two or three oscillators with separate frequency, waveform, level, pan and mute controls.

Can I export a WAV file?

Yes. The current tone or sweep is rendered locally as a short stereo WAV file; no audio is uploaded.

How accurate is the generator?

The browser can request the displayed digital frequency precisely. The operating system, DAC, amplifier and transducer can still affect what reaches the air.

Why might a tone be inaudible?

Your speakers or headphones, Bluetooth or codec, device, browser, or hearing may limit very low or high frequencies. Do not sharply raise the volume to chase it.

What is a safe volume?

There is no universal safe slider percentage. Start with low physical device volume, listen briefly and stop if the tone feels uncomfortable.

Can I use this with speakers or headphones?

Yes, at conservative levels. Use the dedicated Speaker Test or Headphone Test for guided channel, phase and balance checks.