Wave View

Wave View is a free, browser-based frequency visualizer and sound generator. Choose a frequency between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, pick a waveform shape — sine, triangle, square, or noise — and press Play to hear it instantly. The oscilloscope canvas updates in real time so you can see exactly what the waveform looks like as you adjust frequency, gain, and phase.

Stack multiple signals to explore the sum of waves: watch interference patterns form, hear beating between two close pitches, or build a chord from scratch. When you are done, export the mixed result as a WAV file at up to 96,000 Hz sample rate.

All audio generation, waveform rendering, settings storage, and WAV export run locally in your browser using the Web Audio API. No account, upload, or server-side processing is required.

What is the sum of waves?

The sum of waves, also called wave superposition, describes what happens when two or more waves overlap. Each wave contributes its amplitude at every instant — they add constructively where peaks align and cancel destructively where a peak meets a trough. The yellow Result line on Wave View's oscilloscope shows the live sum of all your active signals, so you can see exactly how individual waves combine into a new shape.

What does the sum of waves sound like?

It depends on which waves you mix. Two sine waves at slightly different frequencies produce a pulsing beat tone — you hear the sum of waves as a slowly wavering note. Musical chords are the sum of several frequencies sounding together. A square or triangle wave is itself the sum of many harmonics. Click Add wave in Wave View, set different frequencies, and press Play to hear how the combined waveform sounds.

What does 440 Hz sound like?

440 Hz is the musical note A above middle C — the international standard concert pitch used to tune instruments worldwide. It sits in the comfortable midrange of human hearing and has a clear, neutral tone. Add a sine wave in Wave View, set the frequency to 440 Hz, and press Play to hear it immediately.

How can I hear a specific frequency online?

Click Add wave, drag the frequency slider or type a value in the Hz field, and click Play. Wave View generates audio directly in your browser using the Web Audio API — no download, plugin, or account needed. You can test any frequency from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz.

What is the human hearing range?

Humans typically hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). Frequencies around 20–80 Hz are felt as deep bass rumble; 250–4,000 Hz carries most speech and melody; above 8,000 Hz you hear hiss and high shimmer. Sensitivity at the extremes decreases with age. Wave View covers the full audible spectrum so you can explore every part of it.

What is the difference between sine, triangle, and square waves?

A sine wave is the purest tone — one single frequency, no harmonics, smooth and clear. A triangle wave adds odd harmonics at decreasing amplitude, giving a slightly hollow character. A square (rectangle) wave adds odd harmonics at higher amplitude, producing a bright, reedy sound similar to a clarinet or retro synthesizer. All three share the same fundamental frequency but differ in timbre and waveform shape.

Can I mix multiple frequencies together?

Yes. Click Add wave as many times as you like. The yellow Result line on the oscilloscope shows the combined sum of all active signals. This lets you explore acoustic interference, musical chords, beating between two close frequencies, and the complex shapes that emerge when waves interact.

What are white, pink, and brown noise?

White noise contains equal energy at every frequency — it sounds like static or rushing air. Pink noise rolls off the higher frequencies so each octave carries equal power, giving a warmer, balanced hiss used in audio testing and sleep machines. Brown noise rolls off even more steeply, producing a deep, low rumbling that resembles heavy rain or a distant waterfall.