Tuning Test Signals

How to use this page

Sweeps, pink noise, phase checks and test tones for tuning a car. Everything plays right here in the browser; use the Download buttons on each tile to save a WAV to a USB stick or your phone for the head unit.

Microphone RTA: tap Use microphone, play pink noise from the car's source, pick a target curve, and the chart shows the car against it. The delta view flattens the target into a line at 0 so you tune toward flat; the EQ readout gives 1/3 octave cut values to type into an Arc, Mosconi or Goldhorn graphic EQ. Averaging slows the display the same way TrueRTA and REW do. Medium settles in about a second, Slow in a few seconds, Forever keeps accumulating until you hit Reset (use Forever with a slowly moving mic for the most repeatable result). Periodic pink noise is built to be exactly pink over each loop, so it reads far steadier than random pink noise; use it for measuring. Chart key: white is the averaged response, the thin ghost line (if Show live is on) is the raw feed, orange dashed is the target, green is a snapshot, pink is the spatial average.

Spatial averaging: hold the mic at the driver's head position, let the average settle, tap Add position, then move the mic a few inches (left ear, right ear, forward, back, up) and repeat for 4 to 6 positions. Score and EQ readout then use the pink spatial average, which is far more repeatable in a car than any single spot. Load mic cal file takes a UMIK-1 or any REW-style frequency and dB text file.

Start with the head unit and the output level low, then bring them up. Sweeps and pink noise at full level can damage tweeters.

Ready
Nothing playing
Mic off. Signal view.
Signal
Channel
 
Measure
Averaging
Positions
Compare
Mic cal
EQ

1/3 octave EQ readout (from the spatial average when positions are held, otherwise the rolling average)

Values are what to dial into the graphic EQ on that channel. Red is a cut, green a boost. Dial them in, let the average settle, read again.
35% Start low. Full level sweeps and pink noise can damage tweeters.

Sine Sweep

What it is for

Log sweep from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The readout above shows the exact frequency as it moves.

Use for: rattles and buzzes, crossover points, finding where a driver drops out or cancels.

Correlated Pink Noise

What it is for

Identical pink noise in both channels, like a mono signal. Loops until you stop it.

Use for: RTA, EQ, level matching left to right, checking that the center image sits on the dash.

Uncorrelated Pink Noise

What it is for

Independent pink noise in each channel. Sounds wide instead of centered. Loops until you stop it.

Use for: averaged RTA measurements, stage width checks, spotting a channel that is out of polarity (the image collapses or gets weird).

Phase Check

Plays the same signal in both channels, then flips the right channel polarity, back and forth. The readout above says IN PHASE or REVERSED so you know which one you are hearing.

In phase should sound centered, solid, and fuller in the bass. Reversed sounds hollow, wide, and thin. If reversed sounds better, a driver or channel is wired backwards. Use the low tones to check sub to midbass polarity.

Test Frequencies

Tap a frequency to play a steady tone. Tap it again to stop. Pick a channel first if you are checking one side.

Hz

Zero Bits Gain Setting Tones

Full scale sine tones for setting amplifier gains with a scope or DMM. 0 dBFS uses every bit, nothing hotter exists on a digital source. Download these and play them from the head unit with EQ, loudness and bass boost off. Browser playback here runs through the level slider, so it is for auditioning only, not for setting gains.

Common use: 0 dBFS tone on a stock or aftermarket head unit at max clean volume, then set each amp gain until the output just stops clipping. -5 or -10 dBFS tones give extra headroom for music that is mastered hot.
Signals are generated at your device's sample rate. Downloads are 16-bit stereo WAV: sweeps use the length selected above, pink noise, phase checks and zero bits tones are 60 seconds, test tones are 30 seconds. Reliable Product Marketing, norcalrep.com.