Morse Code Audio Translator
Morse code is meant to be heard. Type any message, press play, and listen to it as a real radio operator would send it — at exactly your speed and your pitch.
Watch the rhythm as you listen: short flash = dot, long flash = dash.
Understanding Morse speed: WPM
Morse speed is measured in words per minute (WPM), using the standard word "PARIS" — chosen because its Morse form is exactly 50 timing units long, a fair average of English words. Everything in Morse timing flows from one number: the length of a single unit (one dot).
unit length = 1200 ÷ WPM (milliseconds)
| Speed | 1 unit (dot) | Dash (3 units) | Letter gap (3 units) | Word gap (7 units) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 WPM | 240 ms | 720 ms | 720 ms | 1680 ms | Absolute beginners, first listening |
| 10 WPM | 120 ms | 360 ms | 360 ms | 840 ms | Early practice |
| 15 WPM | 80 ms | 240 ms | 240 ms | 560 ms | Character learning speed |
| 20 WPM | 60 ms | 180 ms | 180 ms | 420 ms | Comfortable copying, typical CW chat |
| 25 WPM | 48 ms | 144 ms | 144 ms | 336 ms | Experienced operators |
| 30 WPM | 40 ms | 120 ms | 120 ms | 280 ms | Fast operators, contest exchanges |
| 40 WPM | 30 ms | 90 ms | 90 ms | 210 ms | High-speed telegraphy |
Farnsworth timing: the learner's secret weapon
Here is the trap beginners fall into: practising at 5 WPM teaches you to count dots and dashes — a habit that collapses the moment real code gets faster. The fix is Farnsworth timing, named after amateur operator Donald R. Farnsworth (W6TTB).
Farnsworth sending keeps the characters fast — say 18 WPM, so every letter is a crisp, recognisable sound — but stretches the silences between letters and words. The overall speed might work out to only 10 WPM, yet your brain learns the true sound of each letter from day one. As you improve, you simply close the gaps up.
The translator above gives you both controls. Leave Spacing equal to Speed for classic uniform timing — how real on-air Morse sounds. For a Farnsworth drill, set Speed to the character speed you are training for (many learners settle at 18–20 WPM) and drop Spacing to a slower rate: the dots and dashes still play at full character speed, but the pauses between letters and words stretch, giving your brain time to recognise each character's rhythm. Downloads (.wav) honour the same two settings.
Choosing a tone (sidetone) frequency
The beep you hear is called the sidetone. Radio equipment typically offers 400–800 Hz, and most operators settle between 600 and 700 Hz — high enough to cut through noise, low enough not to tire the ears. On this page the tone slider runs from 300 Hz (a soft, mellow hum) to 900 Hz (a bright, piercing note). There is no wrong answer: pick the pitch at which you can listen longest without fatigue, and try copying the SOS signal at a few different pitches to feel the difference.
Audio questions
What speed (WPM) should I use to learn Morse code?
Learn to recognise characters at 15 to 20 WPM from the start, so each letter becomes a single sound rather than a count of dots. If the overall pace feels too fast, that is what Farnsworth spacing is for: fast characters with longer gaps between them.
What does WPM mean in Morse code?
WPM means words per minute, measured against the standard word PARIS, which is exactly 50 timing units long. At 20 WPM one unit lasts 60 milliseconds, so a dot is 60 ms and a dash is 180 ms.
What tone frequency is best for Morse code?
Most radios and practice oscillators use a sidetone between 400 and 800 Hz, with 600 to 700 Hz the most common choice. Pick whatever your ears find least tiring; a lower tone is gentler for long practice sessions.
What is Farnsworth timing?
Farnsworth timing sends the characters themselves at a higher speed but stretches the gaps between letters and words, so the overall speed is lower. For example, characters at 18 WPM with extra spacing give an effective speed of about 10 WPM. It is named after Donald R. Farnsworth and is widely used in beginner practice broadcasts.
Can I download the Morse audio as an MP3 or WAV file?
Yes — as a WAV file. Press the Download .wav button and the message is rendered right in your browser at your current speed, tone and waveform settings, then saved as a standard WAV file you can play anywhere, set as a ringtone, or drop into a video editor.
What waveform should I choose?
Sine is the classic smooth radio sidetone and the best default. Square sounds brighter and more electronic, triangle is a softer middle ground, and sawtooth is deliberately harsh and buzzy — fun for alarms and retro game sounds. The waveform only changes the tone's character, never the timing or the code itself. Your choice is remembered across the whole site.