Sound Made Visible
Experience cymatics — the fascinating science of visualizing sound through vibration patterns. Watch particles dance to form intricate geometric shapes on virtual Chladni plates.
Chladni Plate Simulator
Watch thousands of particles settle into nodal line patterns just like real sand on a vibrating metal plate. Use your microphone or upload audio files.
Try it now3D Water Surface
See sound waves ripple across a 3D water surface in real-time. Rotate, zoom, and explore wave interference patterns from any angle.
Explore in 3DLearn Cymatics
Discover the science behind sound visualization. From Ernst Chladni's 18th century experiments to modern applications in engineering and art.
Start learningHow It Works
Choose Sound Source
Use your microphone, upload an audio file, or adjust the frequency slider to generate tones.
Watch Patterns Form
Particles respond to sound frequencies, migrating to nodal lines where vibration is minimal.
Explore & Share
Switch between pattern modes, save your favorite patterns, and share them with others.
Cymatics simulator FAQ
What is cymatics?
Cymatics is the study of visible sound. When a plate, membrane or liquid vibrates at a certain frequency, particles or ripples on its surface arrange themselves into geometric patterns that show the shape of the vibration.
What is CymaVis?
CymaVis is a free online cymatics simulator and visualizer. It turns a generated tone, your microphone or a music file into Chladni plate patterns and 3D water waves in real time, right in your browser.
Can I use it as a cymatics generator for videos or art?
Yes. Pick a frequency, pattern mode and color theme in the Chladni plate simulator and export the result as a PNG. Exported images are free to use in personal and commercial projects.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?
No. CymaVis runs in any modern browser on desktop or mobile, with no download and no sign-up. Audio is processed locally and never uploaded.
How is this different from a real Chladni plate experiment?
A real experiment needs a speaker, a metal plate and sand, and each plate has its own resonant frequencies. CymaVis uses simplified wave equations, so you can explore the same behavior instantly and repeatably, but exact frequencies will not match a specific physical plate.