HARMONIC SPECTRUM - niezależne źródła
EXPERIMENT STUDIO
FREQUENCY OBSERVATORY
Jak korzystać z laboratorium
Sprawdź pojedynczy ton - ustaw częstotliwość A i uruchom dźwięk.
Porównaj dwa źródła - włącz oscylator B. Możesz ustawić dokładną relację częstotliwości lub tryb binaural stereo.
Buduj widmo - w trybie eksperta dodawaj harmoniczne i obserwuj zmiany w Spectrum.
Obserwuj eksperyment - korzystaj z Observatory, Snapshotów, Sweep, Sequence Lab i własnej mapy częstotliwości.
Skróty: Spacja - start/stop · M - mute · R - reset · F - pełny ekran
Online frequency generator, oscillator, and sound analysis tool
The itSound Frequency Lab is an interactive environment for generating, visualizing, and comparing audio signals. Going beyond a simple tone generator, this tool allows you to observe the signal waveform over time, analyze its frequency spectrum, work with harmonics, and explore the relationships between two sources.
Sound is generated locally within the browser. Parameter changes are instantly reflected in both the audio output and the visualizations. This makes the Lab an excellent tool for education, experimentation, and learning the fundamentals of acoustics, signal analysis, and sound synthesis.
Hear the frequency. See the wave. Analyze the relationships.
Online frequency generator
The frequency generator creates a periodic signal at a specific frequency (measured in Hertz). You can enter a specific value, use a preset, or smoothly adjust the frequency using a controller.
The basic experiment is simple: select a frequency, start the signal, and observe its waveform. The next step involves comparing different values and seeing how changing the frequency affects the signal’s period and visual representation.
Online oscillator and wave types
The oscillator generates a periodic signal with properties determined by the frequency and the selected waveform. The laboratory provides the basic waveforms used in sound synthesis: sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth.
The sine wave has the simplest spectral structure. The other waveforms contain a greater number of harmonic components, resulting in more complex sounds and spectra. This allows for direct observation of the relationship between the signal’s shape over time and its frequency content.
What is sound frequency?
Frequency defines the number of complete cycles of a periodic phenomenon occurring per unit of time. Its unit is the hertz (Hz). A signal with a frequency of 100 Hz completes 100 cycles per second, while a 1000 Hz signal completes 1000 cycles.
Frequency is directly related to the period. The period is the duration of a single cycle; therefore, for a frequency f, the period T can be expressed by the relationship T = 1/f. This simple relationship is a fundamental way of linking the time-domain and frequency-domain descriptions of a signal.
Waveform – the signal’s shape over time
The waveform visualization displays the instantaneous value of the generated signal as a function of time. It allows you to directly see whether the waveform is sine, square, triangle, or sawtooth, and how its period changes when the frequency is adjusted.
The waveform answers the question: how does the signal behave over time? However, it does not directly show its full frequency composition. Spectral analysis is required for that. Spectrum and FFT Analysis
The frequency spectrum displays the components that make up a signal. In the Laboratory, you can observe—among other things—the fundamental frequency and harmonics, and compare their relative levels.
The analysis employs the Fourier transform in the form of the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform). Its function is to efficiently convert signal information from the time domain to the frequency domain. In practice, this means moving from a visual representation of the waveform to identifying the specific frequencies present in the signal.
This allows you to compare, for example, a sine wave and a square wave, and see why their spectra differ despite having the same fundamental frequency.
Harmonics – What Makes Up a Sound?
Harmonics are frequency components related to the fundamental frequency. If the fundamental frequency is 100 Hz, subsequent harmonics may appear at 200 Hz, 300 Hz, 400 Hz, and other integer multiples.
In the Laboratory, you can independently adjust the levels of individual harmonic components. This allows you to observe how modifying the spectrum affects the final signal. It is a fundamental experiment for understanding additive synthesis and the relationship between spectral composition and the perception of timbre.
Two Oscillators – Comparing Frequencies
The Laboratory allows you to work with two signal sources, labeled A and B. You can independently set their frequencies, waveforms, levels, and stereo panning positions. The system calculates, among other things, the frequency difference, the A:B ratio, and the deviation expressed in cents.
This function enables a shift from analyzing a single tone to examining the relationship between two signals. It is particularly useful when observing simple frequency ratios, beat phenomena, and patterns visible in Lissajous figures.
Binaural stereo
In binaural mode, two signals can be routed to the left and right stereo channels, respectively. If the left channel receives a 100 Hz signal and the right one a 104 Hz; the frequency difference between the sources is 4 Hz.
The Laboratory allows you to listen to both channels while simultaneously observing their parameters. The frequency difference itself is a value derived directly from the signal settings. However, any further interpretations regarding its impact on humans should be considered independently of the physical characteristics of the generated sound.
Frequency relationships
Two frequencies can be analyzed not only as independent values but also as a ratio. For example, 432 Hz and 648 Hz stand in a 2:3 ratio, while 440 Hz and 880 Hz stand in a 1:2 ratio.
Relationships of this type are significant in areas such as the analysis of harmonics, tuning, and musical structures. In the Laboratory, you can select specific ratios, lock the relationship between A and B, and observe how changing it affects other experimental parameters.
Resonance Field and relationship visualization
The Resonance Field is a visual representation of the experiment’s parameters. The geometry responds to the frequencies and signal structure, allowing numerical data to be observed alongside the sound.
The visualization does not depict a distinct, measurable “resonance energy.” Rather, it is a graphical way of representing the relationships between system parameters. Consequently, it serves as a tool for data interpretation rather than a substitute for physical measurement.
Lissajous figure
A Lissajous figure illustrates the relationship between two periodic signals and is a classic tool for visualizing that relationship. Its shape depends on factors such as the frequency ratio, amplitude, and phase of the two signals. By adjusting the frequencies of oscillators A and B, you can observe the transition from simple shapes to more complex patterns. This is particularly interesting with simple frequency ratios, as the mathematical relationship between the signals is directly reflected in the geometry of the plot.
Frequency experiments
The laboratory is designed to allow for a gradual progression from simple observations to more complex experiments. You can start with a single tone, move on to using two oscillators, add harmonics, view the FFT spectrum, explore frequency relationships, and save the state of your experiment.
Features for working with sequences, frequency sweeps, monitoring parameter changes, and saving custom experiment states are also available. This makes the tool suitable not only for casual listening but also for the systematic comparison of configurations.
432 Hz, 440 Hz, and other frequencies
The laboratory includes common reference frequencies such as 432 Hz, 440 Hz, 442 Hz, 528 Hz, and 600 Hz. You can generate and compare them directly within the same environment.
However, it is important to distinguish measurement data from interpretation. The ability to generate a specific tone and measure its frequency is a physical property of the signal. Claims regarding the specific effects of a particular frequency, on the other hand, require separate evidence and do not automatically follow from the frequency value itself.
How to use the Frequency Laboratory? The simplest experiment involves setting a frequency, playing the sound, and observing the waveform. You can then switch to the Spectrum view to examine the signal’s frequency structure. Next, activate a second oscillator, set a specific interval, and observe the difference between the sources as well as the changing Lissajous figure.
For a more advanced analysis, you can enable harmonics, adjust their levels, perform frequency sweeps, and save different states of your experiment. All these actions take place within a single environment, allowing you to observe changes simultaneously in both the audio and visual domains.
Who is the Frequency Lab for?
This tool is designed for anyone interested in sound, acoustics, electronic music, synthesis, signal analysis, wave physics, and audio technology. It also serves as an educational resource for those wishing to better understand the relationships between waveforms, frequencies, harmonics, and the spectrum.
The Lab is not intended to replace specialized measurement software or professional audio analyzers. Instead, it aims to provide an accessible, interactive environment where fundamental principles can be explored through hands-on experimentation.
Experiment consciously
Experiment consciously. Sound is generated locally within your browser. Visualizations display signal properties and the relationships between its components. This tool is designed for educational and experimental purposes.
Hear. See. Compare. Explore.
FAQ
What is an online frequency generator? This tool allows you to generate a signal at a specific frequency directly within your web browser. In the Laboratory, you can also observe and analyze the generated signal.
What is an oscillator?
An oscillator is a source of a periodic …of the signal. Depending on the settings, it can generate various waveforms, such as sine, triangle, square, or sawtooth.
What is a waveform?
A waveform is a representation of a signal over time. It shows how the signal’s instantaneous value changes and what shape it takes.
What is a frequency spectrum?
The spectrum displays the frequency components present in a signal and their relative levels. It is particularly useful for analyzing harmonics and complex signals.
What is FFT?
FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) is an algorithm that enables the efficient determination of a signal’s frequency-domain representation based on its time-domain samples.
Can I generate 432 Hz and 440 Hz?
Yes. Both values are available as presets and can also be entered manually.
Is the sound generated on the server?
No. Signal generation takes place locally in the user’s browser using Web Audio technology.
Can I compare two frequencies?
Yes. Two oscillators allow you to compare frequencies, their difference, ratio, and deviation in cents, as well as relationships visualized via the Spectrum, Resonance Field, and Lissajous figures.
Learn more about frequency resonance
Albert Świączkowski – creator, author, and experimenter exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, technology, sound, frequency, and human experience. Creator of itSound and projects involving resonance, sound, and interactive technological tools.