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Bleeps

Procedural 8-bit game audio in ~150 lines.

Bleeps is a zero-dependency npm package that generates retro game sounds using the Web Audio API. No audio files needed. Each effect is synthesized in real time with oscillators, noise, and filters so you can ship tiny, expressive sound packs.

Listed in Projects.

View on GitHub npm package

Arcade Audio Console

Bleeps Demo

Procedural Web Audio in real time

Tap a sound to arm audio

Master Volume60%

Custom Beep

Frequency (Hz)Duration (ms)Waveform

9 presets and custom synthesisWeb Audio API

Procedural audio trades megabytes of WAV files for a few lines of code. Instead of shipping assets, you build sound from the same primitives that power early arcade machines: oscillators, noise, filters, and envelopes. The result is tiny, dynamic, and expressive.

The Problem

Shipping audio files is expensive for small web games and prototypes. Each effect adds download weight, and looping or layering variants quickly multiply the payload. Procedural audio keeps the bundle light and makes it easy to generate new variations on the fly.

How It Works

Every sound in Bleeps starts with an oscillator, then a gain node shapes the envelope. A quick exponential ramp gives you that snappy arcade snap.

const ctx = new AudioContext()
const osc = ctx.createOscillator()
const gain = ctx.createGain()

osc.type = 'square'
osc.frequency.value = 440

gain.gain.setValueAtTime(0.2, ctx.currentTime)
gain.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(0.001, ctx.currentTime + 0.12)

osc.connect(gain)
gain.connect(ctx.destination)

osc.start()
osc.stop(ctx.currentTime + 0.12)

Noise buffers and filters fill in the booms and impact textures. Explosions are just filtered noise plus a low sine thump.

const bufferSize = ctx.sampleRate * 0.2
const buffer = ctx.createBuffer(1, bufferSize, ctx.sampleRate)
const data = buffer.getChannelData(0)

for (let i = 0; i < bufferSize; i += 1) {
  data[i] = Math.random() * 2 - 1
}

const noise = ctx.createBufferSource()
noise.buffer = buffer

const filter = ctx.createBiquadFilter()
filter.type = 'lowpass'
filter.frequency.value = 1000

noise.connect(filter)
filter.connect(gain)

Arcade Presets

Sound Recipes

Each preset is a tiny composition of waveforms and envelopes. These calls map to the built-in ArcadeSounds presets.

Shoot

Square wave with a fast pitch drop for laser blasts.

arcade.shoot()

Explosion

Noise burst with a lowpass filter and a sub tone.

arcade.explosion()

Hit

Sawtooth sweep from high to low for damage feedback.

arcade.hit()

Level Up

Ascending arpeggio (C-E-G-C) for progression cues.

arcade.levelUp()

Step

Four-step march loop for retro movement ticks.

arcade.step()

UFO

Triangle wave with vibrato for hovering motion.

arcade.ufo()

Power Up

Rising shimmer for power collect moments.

arcade.powerUp()

Coin

Double high ding for pickups and rewards.

arcade.coin()

Game Over

Descending tones to close a session.

arcade.gameOver()

Install and Use

Bleeps ships as a tiny, zero-dependency package with ESM, CJS, and UMD builds. Install it with your package manager of choice.

npm install bleeps
# or
pnpm add bleeps

The arcade presets are instant, and the core Bleeps class exposes a simple beep API for your own synth ideas.

import { Bleeps, arcade } from 'bleeps'

arcade.shoot()
arcade.explosion()
arcade.coin()

const bleeps = new Bleeps({ volume: 0.5 })
bleeps.beep(440, 100, 'square')

GitHub

Explore the source, presets, and roadmap on github.com/amirbrooks/bleeps.

Bleeps

Procedural 8-bit game audio in ~150 lines.

How It Works

Every sound in Bleeps starts with an oscillator, then a gain node shapes the envelope. A quick exponential ramp gives you that snappy arcade snap.

const ctx = new AudioContext() const osc = ctx.createOscillator() const gain = ctx.createGain() osc.type = 'square' osc.frequency.value = 440 gain.gain.setValueAtTime(0.2, ctx.currentTime) gain.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(0.001, ctx.currentTime + 0.12) osc.connect(gain) gain.connect(ctx.destination) osc.start() osc.stop(ctx.currentTime + 0.12)

Noise buffers and filters fill in the booms and impact textures. Explosions are just filtered noise plus a low sine thump.

const bufferSize = ctx.sampleRate * 0.2 const buffer = ctx.createBuffer(1, bufferSize, ctx.sampleRate) const data = buffer.getChannelData(0) for (let i = 0; i < bufferSize; i += 1) { data[i] = Math.random() * 2 - 1 } const noise = ctx.createBufferSource() noise.buffer = buffer const filter = ctx.createBiquadFilter() filter.type = 'lowpass' filter.frequency.value = 1000 noise.connect(filter) filter.connect(gain)

Install and Use

Bleeps ships as a tiny, zero-dependency package with ESM, CJS, and UMD builds. Install it with your package manager of choice.

npm install bleeps # or pnpm add bleeps

The arcade presets are instant, and the core Bleeps class exposes a simple beep API for your own synth ideas.

import { Bleeps, arcade } from 'bleeps' arcade.shoot() arcade.explosion() arcade.coin() const bleeps = new Bleeps({ volume: 0.5 }) bleeps.beep(440, 100, 'square')