Reference tone
1000 Hz — 1 kHz Reference Tone
1 kHz is the audio industry's universal reference tone — used for level calibration, line-up tones and equipment testing.
Tap a note to play its exact pitch — C1 to B8
Press Space to play
About the 1000 Hz tone
A 1000 Hz sine wave is the go-to signal for setting and checking audio levels. Broadcast and studio “line-up” tones are almost always 1 kHz, because meters and the ear are both well-behaved at that frequency.
It's also handy for a quick channel check: play the tone and use the balance control to confirm your left and right speakers or headphones are both working and roughly matched.
Because 1 kHz sits in the most sensitive part of human hearing, it makes a reliable tone for confirming that a signal chain is passing audio at all.
Technical details
- Frequency
- 1000 Hz
- Nearest note
- B5 (+21¢)
- Category
- Reference tone
- Period
- 1.00 ms
- Wavelength (air)
- 34.3 cm
- Octave up / down
- 2000 Hz / 500 Hz
Common uses
- Set or check audio levels (line-up / reference tone)
- Test speakers, headphones and audio interfaces
- Confirm left/right channels with the balance control
Frequently asked questions
What is a 1000 Hz (1 kHz) tone used for?
1 kHz is the audio industry’s universal reference: it’s used to set and check levels, as a broadcast and studio “line-up” tone, and to test whether a signal chain, speaker or interface is passing audio cleanly.
How do I test my speakers or headphones with 1000 Hz?
Play the tone at a moderate level and use your balance control to confirm the left and right sides are both working and roughly matched. Because 1 kHz sits in the ear’s most sensitive range, any dropout or imbalance is easy to notice.
What note is 1000 Hz?
1000 Hz falls between B5 and C6 on a keyboard, but it’s used as a technical reference rather than a musical note. The generator shows the nearest note and how many cents away it is.