How to create sine wave test tones in GarageBand 10.4?

Question

Level 1

10 points

How to create sine wave test tones in GarageBand 10.4?

How do I create a simple sine-wave test tone in GarageBand 10.4 on a MacBook Pro running Tahoe 26.2? Googling has not been helpful, as the recommendations are to perform actions that aren't in the menus I see. It looks like the menus and options are very version-dependent, and I need advice that will work on version 10.4

Ultimately, I need to do something for science education that should be very straightforward. In one track, I need a 440 Hz tone, and in another track a 432 Hz tone. I want students to hear them simultaneously, then also as brief alternating segments of pure single tones.

I've used GarageBand before to cut and paste tracks, but I'm having trouble getting the source tracks to start.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 26.2

Posted on Jan 19, 2026 10:16 AM

Reply

Answer 1

jkurutz Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 20, 2026 1:41 PM in response to jkurutz

I think I solved it. I downloaded SignalLabApp, generated the two pure tones I wanted for the durations I wanted, exported them, and the dragged them in to GarageBand as their own tracks. From there I could arrange, trim, copy/paste, and move them just fine. Exporting to AIFF worked fine, too.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 19, 2026 6:39 PM in response to jkurutz

You can't. Garageband has no way to create tones. It has a tuner that can *listen* to signals, but no way to create them.

Audacity will do it.

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 20, 2026 4:50 PM in response to jkurutz

Audacity can do the same things and gives you a *lot* of audio processing abilities for free.

Reply

Answer 4

jkurutz Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 20, 2026 11:09 AM in response to Keith Barkley

I'm confused. I'm able to open a keyboard tool and play individual notes, which I presume I can record. And in the Library I now see a Test Tone Oscillator Lead. That seems like it should be a good place to start. Googling this question show there should be a plugin called Test Oscillator in the utility menu, but I don't see it. It looks like there should be a way to do this, and the AI summaries I get provide step-by-step instructions ... that say to click things I can't locate. Any help here?

Reply