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Play[f,{t,tmin,tmax}]

creates an object that plays as a sound whose amplitude is given by f as a function of time t in seconds between tmin and tmax.

Details and Options
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Generalizations & Extensions  
Options  
PlayRange  
SampleRate  
Applications  
Properties & Relations  
Possible Issues  
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
Related Links
History
Cite this Page

Play

Play[f,{t,tmin,tmax}]

creates an object that plays as a sound whose amplitude is given by f as a function of time t in seconds between tmin and tmax.

Details and Options

  • Play returns a Sound object, which displays in StandardForm as a button that can be clicked to play the sound.
  • Play treats the variable t as local, effectively using Block.
  • Play has attribute HoldAll, and evaluates f only after assigning specific numerical values to t.
  • In some cases it may be more efficient to use Evaluate to evaluate f symbolically before specific numerical values are assigned to t.
  • The following options can be given:
  • DisplayFunctionAutomaticfunction for generating output to display
    PlayRange Allthe range of amplitude levels to include
    SampleDepth8how many bits to use to represent each amplitude level
    SampleRate 8000how many times per second amplitude samples should be generated
  • Play[{f1,f2},{t,tmin,tmax}] produces stereo sound. The left‐hand channel is given first.
  • Play[{f1,f2,…},…] generates sound output on any number of channels.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Play a "middle A" sine wave for 1 second:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[440 2Pi t], {t, 0, 1}]

Scope  (5)

Play two sounds in sequence:

Wolfram Language code: Sound[{Play[Sin[1000t], {t, 0, 1}], Play[Sin[2000t], {t, 0, 1}]}]

Play any function:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[2000(1 + Round[2 t, 0.1])t], {t, 0, 1}]

Frequency modulation:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[300t Sin[20t]], {t, 0, 1}]

Play a sawtooth function:

Wolfram Language code: Play[FractionalPart[500t], {t, 0, 1}]

Play a square wave:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sign[Sin[1000t]], {t, 0, 1}]

Generalizations & Extensions  (2)

Play on two different stereo channels:

Wolfram Language code: Play[{t Sin[2000t], (1 - t) Sin[2000t]}, {t, 0, 1}]

Play on four channels:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Evaluate[Table[Sin[t + n Pi / 5] Sin[2000t], {n, 4}]], {t, 0, 1}]

Options  (2)

PlayRange  (1)

Automatically select the range of function values to use for amplitudes:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Tan[1000t], {t, 0, 1}]

Take function values 0 through 50 to span the full range of amplitudes:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Tan[1000t], {t, 0, 1}, PlayRange -> {0, 50}]

SampleRate  (1)

Lower sample rates lead to lower-quality sounds, but less data:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[1000t], {t, 0, 1}, SampleRate -> 1000]
Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[1000t], {t, 0, 1}, SampleRate -> 16000]

Applications  (6)

Generate beat notes:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[1000t] + Sin[1020t], {t, 0, 2}]

Play the Riemann zeta function:

Wolfram Language code: Play[RiemannSiegelZ[1000t], {t, 0, 1}]

Play a sum of non-commensurate sine waves:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sum[Sin[1000 Sqrt[n] t], {n, 5}], {t, 0, 1}]

A simple function that gives a "sound effect":

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sum[Sin[1000 Sqrt[n] t(1 + Cos[n t])], {n, 10}], {t, 0, 1}]

Sum of pure tones with changing frequencies:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sum[Sin[2000 2 ^ t n t], {n, 5}], {t, 0, 4}]

Make a vibrato-like effect:

Wolfram Language code: Play[(2 + Cos[40t])Sin[2000t], {t, 0, 1}]

Properties & Relations  (2)

Play a waveform and a note-based sound in sequence:

Wolfram Language code: Sound[{Play[Cos[50t]Sin[3000t], {t, 0, 1}], SoundNote[]}]

Play the waveform and note at the same approximate time:

Wolfram Language code: Sound[{Sound[Play[Cos[50t]Sin[4000t], {t, 0, 1}], {0, 1}], Sound[SoundNote[], {0, 1}]}]

Possible Issues  (2)

Frequency components higher than the sampling rate will be missed:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[100000t], {t, 0, 1}]

Bizarre aliasing can occur close to the sample rate:

Wolfram Language code: Play[Sin[2π 20000 t], {t, 0, 2}]
Wolfram Research (1991), Play, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html (updated 2007).

Text

Wolfram Research (1991), Play, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html (updated 2007).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1991. "Play." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2007. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1991). Play. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_play, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Play}", year="2007", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html}", note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_play, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Play}, year={2007}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Play.html}, note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}