Turn microphone sound into cymatics patterns
Start with one sustained note, then add complexity. A useful visualization shows when the sound is stable and when there is not enough tonal information to draw a clear figure.
Start with a simple sound
Open the app, allow the microphone when your browser asks, and choose Tune for a single note or Session for a changing soundscape. Use a comfortable volume and keep the phone still, with its microphone uncovered.
Hum a steady vowel or play one sustained instrument note. Pause between attempts. This lets you compare a clean tone with silence before trying speech, a chord or a concert.
What the image represents
Cimatica estimates sound features locally and uses them to drive mathematical patterns inspired by vibrating plates. Sand, salt and water are visual treatments. The screen is a simulation, not a photograph of particles or a measurement of vibrations across your room.
The selected frequency set defines the target notes. A clear musical note can fall outside those targets; failure to lock does not mean the sound is noise. Try the crystal-bowl 440 Hz set for its C-major targets, or pick a target that matches the note you are playing.
Why speech and concerts behave differently
Speech includes pitched vowels, noisy consonants and rapid pitch changes. Music can include several fundamentals, their harmonics, percussion and audience noise at once. The loudest spectral peak need not be the note you intend to follow.
Use one source as a reference, then bring in a second. Do not treat a complex or unsettled image as a verdict on musical quality. Microphone position, distance and reverberation can change the result even during the same performance.
If the microphone or pattern does not respond
Check this site's microphone permission in the browser, then check the operating system's permission for that browser. If an in-app browser cannot request access, open the address in your main browser. Microphone capture requires a secure connection and your permission.
If quiet tones disappear, move closer to the instrument without covering the microphone. If the input is overloaded, move farther from the loudspeaker. Increase clarity by reducing competing sound, rather than increasing the volume.
Privacy and a repeatable comparison
Audio analysis happens on your device; the app does not upload a microphone recording. Saved session reports describe detected activity, not an audio recording. Read the privacy policy for account and report storage.
For a useful comparison, keep the same phone, position, frequency set and settings. Test silence, a held note, spoken words and music in that order. Each answers a different question about the input.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cimatica an online audio spectrum analyzer?
It is a sound visualizer inspired by cymatics. Its patterns interpret detected sound features; they are not a calibrated spectrum plot, a sound-level meter or a complete transcription of every note.
Can I use it without installing an app?
Yes. Open Cimatica in a compatible browser and allow microphone access when you start listening. An account is not required to try the visualizer.
Why does a clear tone not match a figure?
The sound may be between the selected targets or outside their range. Check the frequency set and the target note before changing the tolerance.