How to generate a tone at a specific frequency
- Set the frequency with the slider, type an exact value, or tap a preset such as 440 Hz or 1 kHz.
- Choose a waveform: sine, square, sawtooth or triangle, or pick white, pink or brown noise.
- Turn the volume down low, then press Play or Space. You can change the frequency while it plays.
- To save the sound, enter a length of up to 300 seconds, choose WAV or MP3 and click Export.
What you can do with Tone & Frequency Generator
- 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Covers the full range of human hearing with a logarithmic slider and 0.1 Hz precision in the number box.
- Four waveforms
- Sine for pure test tones, plus square, sawtooth and triangle waves, which add harmonics for a brighter sound.
- White, pink and brown noise
- Use noise for sleep, focus or sound masking, or pink noise for checking speakers and room acoustics.
- Octave jumps and presets
- Halve or double the frequency in one click, or jump to 50, 60 or 100 Hz, middle C, A440, 1k, 5k, 10k or 15k.
- Export audio files
- Save 1 to 300 seconds as WAV or MP3 at 44.1 kHz, with short fades so the file doesn't click at the start and end.
- Level-matched waveforms
- Starts at 30% volume, and each waveform is level-compensated so switching to square or sawtooth doesn't jump in loudness.
Test tone uses, hearing range and noise colors
Tone generators have plenty of practical uses. Low frequencies from 20 to 100 Hz test subwoofers and help find rattles in a car or room, and a 50 or 60 Hz tone matches mains hum. 440 Hz (A4) is the tuning reference for most music, and 1 kHz is the standard test tone for setting levels. Sweeping upward from 20 Hz shows where your speakers or headphones start producing sound. Some people also match a tone to the pitch of their tinnitus, which can be useful to share with an audiologist.
Most adults hear up to around 15 to 17 kHz, and the limit drops with age, so silence at 15 kHz is normal. Treat high-frequency checks as rough, since your speakers matter as much as your ears. White noise has equal energy per hertz and sounds hissy. Pink noise falls 3 dB per octave and sounds more balanced, which is why it's used for speaker calibration. Brown noise falls 6 dB per octave and has a deep rumble many people prefer for sleep. Always start at a low volume.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this tone generator for a hearing test?
Only as an informal check. You can sweep upward and note where the tone disappears, but results depend heavily on your speakers or headphones and the volume. The tool isn't calibrated, so see an audiologist for a real hearing test, and keep the volume low at high frequencies.
Which frequency should I use to test a subwoofer?
Start around 30 to 40 Hz with a sine wave and step up to 80 or 100 Hz. Listen for rattles and big jumps in loudness, which point to room resonances. Many small speakers produce little below 60 to 80 Hz, so silence at the bottom is normal for them.
Can I download the tone as an audio file?
Yes. Enter a length from 1 to 300 seconds, choose WAV or MP3, and click Export. Files are mono at 44.1 kHz and named after the waveform and frequency, such as sine-440Hz-10s.wav, so they're easy to find later.
Does the tone generator work on phones?
Yes, in Safari and Chrome on mobile. Phone speakers can't reproduce deep bass, so use headphones or external speakers for low-frequency tests. On iPhone, turn off silent mode if you hear nothing when you press Play.
What's the difference between white, pink and brown noise?
White noise has equal energy at every frequency and sounds like hiss. Pink noise has equal energy per octave, so it sounds more natural and is used for audio testing. Brown noise has even more low end, closer to a waterfall or a distant rumble.