FAQs
How do you pronounce DotWĀV?
“Dot Wave.” The bar over the Ā is a macron—it marks the long “a.”
Why is it called DotWĀV?
We’re named for the .wav audio file—the format that stores sound uncompressed, nothing shaved off to save space. That’s the point: our waves stay perfect sounding, from the number on the screen to the sound in your ears.
When will the mobile app be released?
We expect it to be available in the Apple App Store in fall of 2026.
Everything you can listen to on this site is in the app. When you are away from a desk, the app runs on your iPhone or iPad, entirely offline, and it keeps playing with the screen off or while you use other apps.
It also has a timer that fades the tone out gently after a set time, and a section called “My Waves,” where you save your favorite tones and return to them anytime. The app offers four different visualizations in full color or black & white, and preferences let you set labels, presets and reduced motion, or pick up where you left off.
Exporting a 5-minute WAV file is only available here on the website for now.
How do people use these tones?
They can be played alone, or in the background while other audio plays from a different device.
Some people export a 5-minute WAV and let a music player do the rest—loading it into Apple Music, turning on “Repeat One,” and letting it loop for as long as they like. Others chain a few exports into a playlist that shifts gradually from one state to another—Delta waves into Theta waves for settling into sleep, or Alpha into Beta for easing into a wake-up.
Another common use is Nada yoga, the yoga of sound or vibration. This ancient practice treats sustained tone as an object of attention. It divides sound into two kinds: 1) ahata, a struck sound that reaches the ear through the air, and 2) anahata, an unstruck sound heard inwardly, said to be attainable by listening to ahata for some time. DotWĀV makes ahata—a real, measurable tone your device produces at the frequency shown.
Why do people use these tones?
For sleep, meditation, focus, and relaxation—and because many traditions associate individual frequencies with specific qualities, from warmth to healing to spiritual connection. Research on some of these effects is young but real. See our Science page for what studies actually show.
What’s the difference between the three modes?
Pure tone is a single sine wave—the frequency itself. Binaural plays a slightly different tone in each ear, and your brain hears the difference as a slow beat. Isochronic pulses one tone on and off, so it works on any speaker. See our About page for more.
What do the frequency associations mean?
Each preset carries a traditional association—432 Hz with natural warmth, 528 Hz with transformation and repair, the triple-digit angelic frequencies with their own meanings. See our About page for the full list.
Is there any danger to listening to these tones?
For most people, no—at a comfortable volume these are gentle, steady sounds. Keep the volume moderate, don’t listen while driving, and if you have epilepsy or are prone to seizures, talk to a doctor before using pulsing audio. Read our Safety page before you listen.
Can DotWĀV treat or cure anything?
No. DotWĀV is an instrument, not a treatment or a medical device. Some frequencies carry long traditions and promising early research—but if you’re unwell, see a professional, not an app. Our Science page covers what studies do and don’t show.
What volume should I use?
Low. These tones work at quiet levels—louder is not more effective, and steady tones at high volume tire your ears faster than music does. If you couldn’t comfortably talk over it, it’s too loud.
Do I have to use headphones?
Only for binaural mode, where the effect depends on each ear receiving its own tone. Pure tones and isochronic pulses work on any speaker.
Why is binaural mode wrong-sounding?
Binaural tones require headphones because the effect is created by playing a slightly different tone in each ear, which speakers can’t reproduce correctly.
Why does the sound stop when I lock my phone?
DotWĀV is built to continue playing with the screen locked. If you’re seeing otherwise, please write in. This is the first thing we’d want to know about.
Why does my screen turn off during playback?
Click the red circular lock icon to enable “Keep Screen On” to prevent this. Note that keeping your screen on will drain battery if you are on battery power only.
Can I save the tones and use them elsewhere?
Yes—the purple EXPORT WAV circular button saves a loopable 5-minute uncompressed WAV of the exact wave you’ve dialed in, fades included, ready for any music app or editing timeline.
I have an idea for you. How can I tell you about it?
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