Choose a recording. Its sound rises out of the keys as it plays, each key lit by its own energy.

About

Wolves in the Rocky Mountain West typically howl near middle F (F4), with some as low as 200 Hz and some as high as 800 Hz.

Their howls are rich in harmonics, so on the visualizer they may show up as octave steps above the base pitch.

How it works

Each key listens for its own note. As a recording plays, every key that is sounding lights up, so a howl’s harmonics and two wolves howling together show at the same time. The analysis is adapted from Pianolizer by Stanislaw Pusep (MIT license).

All recordings on this page are by Jeffrey Reed.

A gray adult with black pups. Photo: Dan Stahler/NPS
Seen from above in green grass, a gray adult wolf lies near several small black pups and a dark adult.
A gray adult with black pups. Photo by Dan Stahler/NPS