What in the World is a Tone Generator?

A tone generator is widely used in testing audio equipment. On the web, the term is used interchangeably with a signal generator. Often times, a probe is used. It produces audio tones or pulses to specific parts of an electronic device to evaluate sound and frequency.

Tone pulses are most commonly heard with telephones in the form of call waiting beeps, busy signals, and the dial and ring tones. Also, white noise can be made from the signal. Furthermore, sounds can be duplicated and copied by it.

Opera halls, theaters, and studios use tone generators to test the acoustics in the room. The generator sends out a test tone sound that is measured by a loudness meter. The noise level is quantified and sound pressure and power are calibrated.

Oscilloscopes are basically boxes with knobs and a screen that are used to measure and record the pulse of a tone generator when testing audio equipment. The pulse may be solid or in a wave pattern like sine waves (oscilloscopes can determine the shape of a wave). The audio equipment is concluded to be operationally accurate by the highs and lows of the sine waves and the distance between them. Distortion, signal amplitude and frequency are also visually measured by the oscilloscope. It is essential for electronic equipment maintenance.

Besides sine waves, signal generators can produce various other waves such as square waves, triangle waves, saw tooth waves and step waves. These waves can indicate an-harmonics, harmonics, loudness, and vibrations.

Tone generators have evolved over time into programmable software. There are free downloads available on the internet for various applications. Troubleshooting, testing and designing electronics have never been so simple and convenient.