| File | A4 (Hz) | vs 440 (cents) | Tuning | Confidence | Status | Actions |
|---|
Why 432 Hz?
Many musicians and listeners prefer A = 432 Hz. They describe music tuned this way as warmer, softer and more relaxed than at the modern 440 Hz standard, and some say it simply feels more natural to them.
440 Hz is a convention, not a law of nature. Historically, A has ranged roughly from 400 to 465 Hz depending on the place, the era and the instrument. A = 440 Hz was agreed as an international standard only in 1939. Giuseppe Verdi argued for a lower pitch, and A = 432 Hz is often called “Verdi tuning”.
The change is subtle but complete: 432 Hz is 31.8 cents below 440 Hz, about a third of a semitone, and every note of the track moves together.
Trust your ears. Convert a track you know well and listen to both versions. The blind A/B test lets you compare them without knowing which one is which.