Repolode
Submit
Tonejs

Tonejs/Tone.js

A Web Audio framework for building interactive music and synthesizers in the browser, with DAW-style transport scheduling.

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
14,890
Forks
1,087
Open issues
50
Last commit
7 days ago

What is it?

Tone.js is a JavaScript framework for making interactive music in the browser on top of the Web Audio API. It offers DAW-like features such as a global Transport for synchronizing and scheduling events, along with prebuilt synths, samplers and effects that can be routed together.

The library also provides lower-level building blocks for creating custom synthesizers, effects and control signals. Timing is expressed in musical units like "8n" or "1m" as well as seconds, and callbacks receive sample-accurate times for scheduling. Audio files can be loaded with Player and Sampler, which pitch-shifts samples to fill gaps between notes.

Tone.js is installable via npm and can also be loaded directly from unpkg in an HTML page. Browsers require a user gesture before audio plays, so applications call Tone.start() from a click or keydown handler.

Key features

  • 01Global Transport for synchronizing and scheduling events, similar to a DAW arrangement view.
  • 02Prebuilt monophonic and polyphonic synths, including FMSynth, AMSynth, NoiseSynth and PolySynth.
  • 03Sampler and Player for loading audio files and pitching samples across notes.
  • 04Built-in effects that can be connected serially or in parallel.
  • 05Audio-rate Signal parameters with ramps and automation curves.
  • 06Musical time notation such as "4n" and "8t" alongside seconds.

Use cases

  • Building browser-based music sequencers or drum machines.
  • Creating interactive generative music or audio visualizations on a web page.
  • Prototyping synthesizers and effects with Web Audio.
  • Adding sample-based instruments to a web game or music education app.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install Tone.js from npm

    npm install tone
  2. 2

    Import Tone.js into your project

    import * as Tone from "tone";
  3. 3

    Create a synth, connect it to the speakers, and play a note after a user click (call Tone.start() first)

Things to know

  • Browsers block audio until a user action, so Tone.start() must be called from a user event.

Topics

#web-audio#music#audio-synthesis#javascript#typescript#scheduling#sampling#samples#synthesis#tone

FAQ

What is Tone.js?
A Web Audio framework for building interactive music and synthesizers in the browser, with DAW-style transport scheduling. Tone.js is a JavaScript framework for making interactive music in the browser on top of the Web Audio API. It offers DAW-like features such as a global Transport for synchronizing and scheduling events, along with prebuilt synths, samplers and effects that can be routed together.
Is Tone.js free to use? What license does it have?
Tone.js is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is Tone.js still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to Tone.js was on Nov 1, 2026.
What can I use Tone.js for?
Building browser-based music sequencers or drum machines. Creating interactive generative music or audio visualizations on a web page. Prototyping synthesizers and effects with Web Audio. Adding sample-based instruments to a web game or music education app.
How do I install Tone.js?
Install Tone.js from npm: npm install tone Import Tone.js into your project: import * as Tone from "tone"; Create a synth, connect it to the speakers, and play a note after a user click (call Tone.start() first)
Where can I get Tone.js?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/Tonejs/Tone.js

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects

kennethreitz / pytheory

A Python library for music theory, composition, and audio sketching, letting you analyze chords and scales and render playable MIDI and sound from code.

Learning Resources#music-theory#music#midi
1.7K+1 this week84PythonMITUpdated yesterday