SonicSenses

SonicSenses Lab

Frequency and oscillator demo

A single oscillator, one frequency at a time. Move the slider to hear pitch change, and switch waveform to hear how added harmonics change the character at the same pitch.

Evidence rating: Established science

440 Hz

Very low and very high settings can be inaudible on small speakers while still producing real output. Keep the level low, especially above about 4 kHz.

Pitch perception is not linear: doubling the frequency raises the tone by one octave, so the step from 100 to 200 Hz sounds like the same distance as 1,000 to 2,000 Hz. High frequencies also get harder to hear with age, which is normal.

Every Lab demo is generated by your own browser and stops when you leave the page. Start quiet, raise slowly, and see our listening safety guidance. Nothing here is medical advice or a treatment.

Back to the Lab index