Audio Generator

[tech2014]

Can someone suggest a good audio signal/sine wave generator for testing audio amplifiers. I normally use music for a signal, but would rather have a sine wave. Easier to trace.

[budm]

Re: Audio Generator

Using PC?
http://onlinetonegenerator.com/
http://plasticity.szynalski.com/tone-generator.htm
http://www.audiocheck.net/audiofrequ...r_sinetone.php

http://www.ringbell.co.uk/software/audio.htm

[tech2014]

Re: Audio Generator

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[momaka]

Re: Audio Generator

Audacity also has a built-in tone generator. And the good thing is you don't need to be connected to the internet to use it.

[Khron]

Re: Audio Generator

Or how about RoomEQ Wizard?

http://www.roomeqwizard.com/

[gearhead63]

Re: Audio Generator

TrueRTA
Sweep Generator
Both soundcard based programs.
I have a Leader LAG-26 Audio Freq Generator
that I use on my workbench.
But I have used TrueRTA on my desktop and it works well for injecting audio
freq signals.

[Phil-from-Tn]

Re: Audio Generator

I have a Heathkit IG-18A. With some mods its very good for audio amps. You can also make a esr meter with a scope and some cables. Its a quick way to go through a chassis and asses the caps. I am into repairing old Heathkit and other stereos and I use it on every one at some point. The computer software is nice but Its also nice to have a bench meter. I got mine off of fleebay for $23 and went through it, put the 30 dollar mod kit in it and it serves its purpose well.

[japlytic]

Re: Audio Generator

For sound card audio generation, use the highest sampling rate supported by both your card and software, but beware of distortion on high frequency tones.

[AmExpat]

Re: Audio Generator

First post....
Audio generators that are useful for bench work should be rugged since it is not unusual to connect it to something assuming a passive input but has voltage on it that could damage sound card interfaces. I recommend a general purpose audio signal generator because it has the needed features a sound card does not. For example it can be tolerant of output overload, it has a low source Z so can source more current(often being able to drive speakers at moderate'low volume, has a wide range of output and reasonably low distortion. Almost any old tube or solid state generator can handle this but my favorite was the inexpensive Heath Kit IG-5218 or the older IG-18.
The reason is, although I have had almost every audio generator made in the last 60 years, few if any have as much practical functionality for a bench tech.
It has accurate frequency display, in resettable decade switches up to 100 khz and 0.1 hz resolution, it has an accurate level meter calibrated in dbm and dbv and AC volts, and an accurate decade 10db attenuator so you have accurate level display of -60 to +22db or 0.0002volts t0 10 volts RMS, and it has low noise and distortion(around 0.016%thd without mods and with popular mods published on the web, down to 0.004%), 600 ohm terminator switchable, and a square wave output of 0-10volts P-P.
They are pretty much bullet proof and if somethings did fail, they are easy to repair. I have only one left since I have a smaller shop now but of the 6 generators, that old Heath gets used more then all the others combined. Look on eBay but their value has gone up a lot in recent years. I never paid more then $30 but now on eBay expect $80-160. Go to Amateur radio swap meets, about the only bargains left in older electronics, eBay has driven up the price of everything desirable.
That generator, a variac, dummy loads, a DMM and a scope can handle the vast majority of any audio repairs.

[shortchange]

Re: Audio Generator

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...zjeBoC6Ynw_wcB

[budm]

Re: Audio Generator

For tracing out to find out where the audio has disappeared to, no need for complicate generator.
You can burn 1KHz tone into CD, or record to MP3 player or Smart Phone to use as an audio source.