The Tone Generator plays a pure audio tone through your speakers or headphones at whatever frequency you choose. Drag the frequency slider between 20Hz and 20,000Hz — or type a value directly — pick a waveform type (sine, square, triangle, or sawtooth), set your volume, and click Play; the tone runs continuously until you click Stop. You can also use sweep mode to glide automatically through a frequency range, which makes it easy to hear how your speakers respond across the full spectrum. A free microphone test catches mic faults before they turn into recording problems.
Using the tone generator takes a few seconds. Follow these steps to play a precise audio frequency directly in your browser:
Use the Preset Frequencies section to jump instantly to standard musical notes (A4 = 440 Hz) or common test tones like 1 kHz and 10 kHz.
A tone generator is a tool that produces a continuous audio signal at a precise frequency. Frequency determines pitch — lower numbers produce bass, higher numbers produce treble. The unit of measurement is the hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz equals one complete sound cycle per second. Run an audio latency test to confirm your audio chain meets latency requirements for live performance.
This online tone generator uses the Web Audio API built into modern browsers to synthesise a mathematically exact audio signal — no recordings, no samples. The result is a stable, locked frequency ideal for any task requiring precision: speaker testing, instrument tuning, tinnitus assessment, or acoustic experiments.
Traditional hardware signal generators and function generators serve the same purpose in studio and lab settings. This free online frequency generator delivers equivalent accuracy in your browser with no downloads or installation required.
Each waveform produces a different sound character at the same frequency. Understanding the differences helps you pick the right signal for your test.
The sine wave is the purest audio tone — a single frequency with zero harmonics or overtones. It sounds smooth and clear, like a tuning fork or a flute. Use it for precision speaker testing, tinnitus pitch matching, and any task requiring an exact single-frequency signal. Sine is the default waveform in most professional tone generators.
The square wave contains the fundamental frequency plus all odd harmonics, giving it a harsh, buzzy, electronic character similar to classic 8-bit game audio. It is useful for testing how a speaker handles complex harmonic content and for diagnosing audio equipment response.
The sawtooth wave contains both odd and even harmonics, producing a bright, raspy sound similar to a bowed string instrument. It carries the richest harmonic content of the four standard waveforms and is commonly used for synthesiser-style audio tests and speaker stress testing.
The triangle wave sits between sine and square: it has odd harmonics like the square wave but they decay much faster, resulting in a softer, mellower tone. It is a good choice when you need some harmonic content without the harshness of a square or sawtooth signal.
White noise plays all audible frequencies simultaneously at equal energy — it sounds bright and hissy, like radio static. Pink noise also covers the full audible spectrum but rolls off at higher frequencies to match how human hearing perceives loudness, making it the industry-standard signal for speaker calibration, room acoustics measurement, and audio system equalisation.
Sweep through frequencies to expose weaknesses in your speaker or subwoofer. Play a 60 Hz sine wave to check bass extension, 1 kHz for midrange clarity, and 10–16 kHz for high-frequency response. If the tone distorts, rattles, or disappears at a specific frequency, your speaker has a measurable problem at that range. This is the most common professional application for an online frequency generator.
Use the preset musical notes to generate a stable reference pitch. Play A4 at 440 Hz — the international tuning standard — and tune your guitar, violin, or wind instrument to match. A pure sine wave from a tone generator is easier to tune against than a physical tuning fork because it sustains indefinitely with no decay.
Test your personal frequency hearing limit. Start at 1,000 Hz and slowly increase. Most adults can hear up to 15,000–18,000 Hz; the upper range declines with age. If you want per-ear results and a systematic frequency threshold assessment, use the dedicated hearing test online — it steps through frequencies and records your exact hearing range.
If you have ringing in the ears (tinnitus), you can adjust the tone generator frequency until the generated tone matches your tinnitus sound. This technique — called tinnitus pitch matching — helps audiologists recommend targeted masking sounds and notched audio therapy. Start around 4,000–8,000 Hz, the most common tinnitus range, and fine-tune from there using a sine wave. Run a stereo test if your audio sounds flat or identical in both ears.
Demonstrate resonance, standing waves, and acoustic physics without lab equipment. Show how different frequencies affect a speaker cone, compare waveforms on an oscilloscope app, or illustrate the relationship between Hz and musical pitch. The instant, no-install nature of this audio frequency generator makes it practical for classroom and home experiments.
Run through several key frequencies for a complete speaker test: 40–80 Hz for subwoofer/bass response, 200–500 Hz for lower midrange, 1–4 kHz for vocal presence, and 8–16 kHz for high-frequency extension. Distortion, rattling, or silence at a particular frequency indicates a weakness in that range.
Human hearing spans roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but most adults hear only up to 15,000–17,000 Hz, and the upper limit decreases with age. Very low frequencies (below 40 Hz) may be felt as vibration rather than heard as pitch. If you cannot hear above 12,000 Hz, consider a full hearing test online to assess your audible range.
440 Hz (A4) is the international standard tuning reference established by ISO in 1955. Musicians tune instruments relative to this pitch. When you select A4 in the preset section, you get the exact reference used by orchestras, recording studios, and electronic tuners worldwide.
Yes — audiologists use tone generators for tinnitus pitch matching, adjusting the frequency until it matches the patient's perceived ringing. Knowing the tinnitus frequency helps guide masking therapy and sound desensitisation treatments. Use a sine wave for the most accurate pitch comparison.
White noise has equal energy at all frequencies — it sounds bright and hissy, like static. Pink noise has equal energy per octave, rolling off at higher frequencies in a way that matches human perception — it sounds fuller and more balanced. Pink noise is the professional standard for speaker measurement and room acoustic testing.
Yes. Select the desired musical note from the Preset Frequencies section (C4, D4, A4, etc.) and play alongside your instrument using a sine wave. You will hear beating — a rhythmic pulsing — when the pitches are close but not matched. When the beating stops, the instrument is in tune with the reference frequency.
No — always start at a low volume and raise gradually. High-frequency tones at high volume concentrate energy at a single Hz and can cause permanent hearing damage faster than broadband audio. Bass tones at high volume can physically over-excite speakers and subwoofers. Keep sessions short and never exceed a comfortable listening level.
Start with low volume. High frequencies at high volume can cause hearing damage. If testing bass frequencies, be careful with speaker/subwoofer limits.
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