A4 reference
Use a 440 Hz sine wave for a simple A4 reference in standard equal-tempered tuning.
A reference tone you control
Selected frequency440 Hz
Start with low device volume. The amplitude setting does not measure sound pressure or calibrate speakers.
Preview and export use the same generated samples, with 10 ms fades at both ends. WAV is mono, 44,100 Hz, 16-bit PCM. Non-sine waveforms contain harmonics and may alias, especially at high frequencies.
Audio stops when the page is hidden. No microphone is needed. This is not a hearing test or speaker calibration instrument.
Your inputs and generated files are processed locally in your browser. No input is uploaded to an audio or text-processing service.
How to use the Tone Generator
- 01
Enter a frequency between 20 and 20,000 Hz and choose a waveform.
- 02
Set a duration from 0.1 to 30 seconds and keep device volume low before listening.
- 03
Press Play tone or download the mono, 44,100 Hz, 16-bit PCM WAV.
Examples
Compare timbre
Keep 220 Hz fixed and switch between sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth. The fundamental stays the same while the added harmonics change the sound.
Frequency and waveform
Frequency describes cycles per second. A sine wave has one ideal frequency component. Triangle, square, and sawtooth shapes contain additional harmonics, changing their timbre even at the same fundamental frequency.
Amplitude is not loudness calibration
The percentage sets digital sample amplitude, capped at 50%. Actual acoustic output depends on system volume, headphones, speakers, and hearing. Begin with a quiet device setting; the tool is not a calibrated sound-level source or hearing test.
Generated sample format
The tool calculates mono samples at 44,100 Hz and applies a 10 ms fade at each end to soften starts and stops. Both preview and download use these samples. Simple non-sine synthesis is not band-limited, so harmonics may alias above the sampling limit.
What to know
- 20–20,000 Hz and 0.1–30 seconds; amplitude is not a calibrated sound-pressure level.
- Non-sine waveforms are not band-limited and can alias.
Common questions
Does the tool play automatically?
No. Audio starts only after you press Play tone. It ends after the selected duration, or sooner if you press Stop or hide the page.
What is the download format?
The file is a genuine RIFF/WAVE container holding mono, 44,100 Hz, signed 16-bit PCM samples.
Can it test my hearing?
No. Output levels and equipment response are not calibrated, and a missing audible tone does not establish a hearing threshold.
Why do high square-wave tones sound unusual?
A square wave contains harmonics above its fundamental. In this simple sampled implementation, harmonics above the Nyquist frequency can fold back as aliasing artifacts.