Advanced Signal Generator

Create standard test signals for your audio circuits

Text-to-Speech Parameters

Sine Wave Parameters

Sweep Parameters

This signal uses a predefined set of frequencies (300Hz to 3150Hz) as specified by the ITU-T P.501 standard for telephony bands.

Generates white noise, with equal power spectral density across the entire frequency band.

Generates pink noise, with a power spectral density that decreases by 3dB per octave. It sounds more natural to the human ear.

Duration is determined by the text for TTS.

What each signal is for

Line-up tone: the numbers that matter in broadcast

A 1 kHz sine wave is the universal line-up tone, but the level it should sit at depends on where in the world you are working:

Send a 1 kHz tone at the correct level down the line, ask the far end what they are reading, and any discrepancy is a gain error you can measure instead of argue about. Thirty seconds of tone at the head of a tape or a file has resolved more disputes than any amount of listening.

How to check a loudspeaker or a control room

  1. Play pink noise at a comfortable level through one loudspeaker at a time.
  2. Listen for anything that changes character as you move your head: that is the room, not the speaker.
  3. Run a slow sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Rattles, buzzes and resonances announce themselves at a specific frequency, which tells you where to look.
  4. Compare left and right with the same signal at the same level. A difference you can hear is a difference worth measuring.

How to check headphones or a sound card

A sweep will tell you whether both sides are working across the whole range and whether anything is loose. A steady sine at a low frequency reveals distortion that music hides. Start quiet: a full-scale tone into headphones is unpleasant and can be harmful.

Testing a signal chain, not just a speaker

The same tones let you verify a whole path: generator, console, converter, distribution, monitor. Inject a known level at one end, measure at the other, and the difference is the answer. It is the simplest diagnostic in audio, and the one most often skipped.

In a broadcast plant the same logic applies to timing rather than level: you inject a known reference and check that every device agrees with it. That is the part we build hardware for.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between white noise and pink noise?

White noise has equal energy per hertz and sounds bright. Pink noise has equal energy per octave, which matches how human hearing is organised, and sounds balanced. Pink noise is the correct choice for setting up loudspeakers and measuring rooms; white noise is used for electrical measurements.

What level should a 1 kHz line-up tone be?

−18 dBFS in Europe, following EBU R68, and −20 dBFS in North America, following SMPTE practice. The difference is the amount of headroom left above the alignment level.

Why 1 kHz for line-up?

It sits in the middle of the audible range, it is easy for meters and ears to read, and it is unaffected by the low- and high-frequency roll-off at the edges of most equipment.

Can I use a sweep to test my loudspeakers?

Yes. A slow sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz reveals rattles, resonances and dropouts at the exact frequency where they occur, which points you at the cause. Start at a moderate level.

Is it safe to play test tones through headphones?

Only at low level. A full-scale sine wave is far louder than it sounds at first and can damage hearing and drivers. Start quiet and raise the level gradually.

Is this signal generator free?

Yes, with no registration. All signals are synthesised in your browser.