Online Tone Generator
Pick a frequency between 1 Hz and 22 kHz, choose a waveform, and press play. Use it to test speakers and headphones, tune by ear, check your hearing range or make a test tone file.
How it works
- 1Set a frequency with the slider, the number box or a preset.
- 2Choose a waveform and press Play. Start with the volume low.
- 3Optionally set a length and download the tone as WAV or MP3.
What a tone generator is for
A tone generator, sometimes called a frequency generator or signal generator, produces a steady sound at one exact pitch. Musicians use it as a tuning reference, audio engineers use it to check speakers, crossovers and room resonances, and teachers use it to show how pitch relates to frequency. It's also a quick way to see how high you can hear, though our hearing test is better suited to that.
How the slider works
The slider is logarithmic, the way we hear pitch. Each octave takes the same distance, so 100 to 200 Hz is as wide as 1,000 to 2,000 Hz. For an exact value, type it in the box. The readout shows the nearest musical note and how many cents sharp or flat the tone is, which helps when you want a specific pitch.
Use it safely
Pure tones are more tiring than music at the same level, and very high or very low tones can be loud enough to harm hearing or speakers before they seem loud. Start with your device volume low, and raise it slowly. Don't play long tones near the limits of your speakers: a tweeter can overheat on a loud high tone, and a small woofer can bottom out on a low one.
Downloading a test tone
Set the length up to 60 seconds and save the tone as a WAV or MP3 file. WAV is exact and the right choice for measurement or for tones above 16 kHz. MP3 is smaller and fine for audible reference tones. The file is made on your device.