Binaural Beats Generator
Put on headphones and create your own binaural beats. Choose a brainwave preset or set the carrier and beat frequency exactly, add pink noise, brown noise or rain underneath, and let a timed session fade out gently.
Binaural beats are for relaxation and exploration only. They are not a medical treatment. Don't use them while driving, and avoid them if you have epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
How to use the Binaural Beats Generator
- Put on stereo headphones and press Test left and Test right to make sure each ear gets its own channel.
- Pick a preset such as Alpha for relaxed focus, or set the carrier and beat frequency with the sliders.
- Optionally add a background of pink noise, brown noise or rain and set its level.
- Choose a session length and, if you like, tick the glide option to ease into the target frequency.
- Press Play beats, keep the volume low and comfortable, and relax.
How the two tones are calculated
The generator places the carrier frequency in the middle and splits the beat equally between the ears:
left = carrier − beat ÷ 2 and right = carrier + beat ÷ 2, so beat = right − left.
Example: a 200 Hz carrier with a 10 Hz alpha beat gives 195 Hz in the left ear and 205 Hz in the right ear. With a 6 Hz theta beat on the same carrier, the tones are 197 Hz and 203 Hz.
Brainwave bands at a glance
| Band | Beat frequency | Commonly associated with | Preset here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 0.5–4 Hz | Deep, dreamless sleep | 2 Hz on 150 Hz (149 / 151 Hz) |
| Theta | 4–8 Hz | Meditation, drowsiness, daydreaming | 6 Hz on 200 Hz (197 / 203 Hz) |
| Alpha | 8–13 Hz | Calm, relaxed alertness | 10 Hz on 200 Hz (195 / 205 Hz) |
| Beta | 13–30 Hz | Active thinking, alertness | 18 Hz on 250 Hz (241 / 259 Hz) |
| Gamma | 30–100 Hz | Concentration, information processing | 40 Hz on 300 Hz (280 / 320 Hz) |
These bands come from EEG research on brain activity. Whether binaural beats reliably shift brain rhythms is still debated, and individual responses vary a lot.
Tips for a good session
- Keep the volume low. The beat is subtle; turning it up doesn't make it stronger.
- Give it time. Sessions of 15 to 30 minutes are typical. The glide option lets you start at a familiar alpha frequency and drift slowly toward theta or delta.
- Add a background. Pink noise or rain at 20–40% hides the pure tones and makes long sessions more pleasant.
- Sit or lie down somewhere you won't be disturbed, and never listen while driving.
Frequently asked questions
What are binaural beats?
When each ear hears a slightly different pure tone, for example 195 Hz on the left and 205 Hz on the right, the brain perceives a soft pulsing at the difference frequency, here 10 Hz. That perceived pulse is the binaural beat. It isn't present in either tone by itself; it's created by the brain combining the two.
Do I need headphones?
Yes. The effect relies on each ear receiving only its own tone. Through speakers the two tones mix in the air and you hear an ordinary acoustic beat instead. Use the headphone check to confirm left and right are the right way round.
Which beat frequency should I use?
Common associations are delta (0.5–4 Hz) for deep sleep, theta (4–8 Hz) for meditation and drowsiness, alpha (8–13 Hz) for relaxed focus, beta (13–30 Hz) for alertness and gamma (around 40 Hz) for concentration. These are popular conventions; scientific evidence for strong effects is mixed, so treat it as a relaxation aid and see what works for you.
What carrier frequency is best?
Carrier tones between about 100 and 500 Hz are most comfortable and produce the clearest beat; 200 to 250 Hz is a good default. The brain perceives binaural beats best below about 1,000 Hz and when the difference between the ears is under about 30 to 40 Hz.
Is it safe?
For most people, listening at a low volume is harmless. Don't use binaural beats while driving or operating machinery, keep the volume moderate, and avoid them if you have epilepsy or a seizure disorder. This tool is not a medical device or treatment.
Can I play it in the background?
Yes, on computers it keeps playing when you switch tabs. Some phone browsers pause audio when the screen locks, so keep the page open.