Interval signal

An interval signal, or tuning signal, is a characteristic sound or musical phrase used in international broadcasting, numbers stations, and by some domestic broadcasters, played before commencement or during breaks in transmission, but most commonly between programs in different languages.
It serves several purposes:
- It helps a listener using a radio with an analog tuner to find the correct frequency.
- It informs other stations that the frequency is in use.
- It serves as a station identifier even if the language used in the subsequent broadcast is not one the listener understands.
The practice began in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s and was carried over into shortwave broadcasts. The use of interval signals has declined with the advent of digital tuning systems, but has not vanished. Interval signals were not required on commercial channels in the United States, where jingles were used as identification.
List of interval signals by station
| Radio station | Playable sound |
|---|---|
![]() Rádio Nacional de Angola | |
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China National Radio and China Radio International: Chime version of March of the Volunteers (义勇军进行曲). |
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| CRI Indonesian Radio (and Radio Peking, predecessor of China Radio International): 东方红 ("The East Is Red"). | ![]() |
| Voice of the Strait News Radio: Bell version of "Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention" (三大纪律八项注意). | ![]() |
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![]() RRI Regional: "Love Ambon" by George de Fretes ![]() RRI Voice of Indonesia: "Feeling of Love" (Rasa Sayang). |
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Voice of Korea: Melody of "Song of General Kim Il-sung" (김일성장군의 노래). |
![]() Pyongyang FM: Melody of "Song of General Kim Jong-il" (김정일장군의 노래). ![]() |
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Far East Broadcasting Company: 2nd segment of "We Have Heard the Joyful Sound (Jesus Saves)". |
![]() Radio Veritas Asia: "O via, vita, veritas". ![]() |
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![]() Radio Sakha: Excerpt from a Yakut folk song. ![]() | |
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| Trans World Radio (TWR) | |
| Trans World Radio: Hymne Monégasque (Monaco anthem) | ![]() |
| TWR Europe: Amazing Grace | ![]() |
| TWR Albania: last segment of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" | ![]() |
| TWR Guam: first part of "We've a story to tell to the nations" | ![]() |
| TWR Africa: last part of "We've a story to tell to the nations" | ![]() |
| TWR Bonaire: last part of Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus by George James Webb, in various renditions | ![]() |
| Voice of America: Brass band version of "Yankee Doodle". | |
| WEWN, later EWTN Global Radio: "Salve Regina" (in simple tone) by Henri Dumont | ![]() |
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Formerly used
| Radio station | Playable sound |
|---|---|
Këputa një gjethe dafine (transmission intro); the trumpet version of With Pickaxe and Rifle. |
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Chorus segment of Waltzing Matilda; Kookaburra call; News signature tune: Majestic Fanfare. |
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An der schönen blauen Donau ("Blue Danube Waltz") by Johann Strauss.[7] |
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Three notes signifying O–R–F by Werner Pirchner, played on viola.[8] |
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1st Program: Schubert, Rosamunde, Ballet Music 2
![]() 3rd Program: Haydn, Surprise Symphony ![]() | |
Où peut-on être mieux qu’au sein de sa famille ?
![]() Benoit, Beiaardlied ![]() | |
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Smetana, Má vlast, 1. Vyšehrad
![]() Last segment of Kupředu levá ("Forward, Left") by cs:Jan Seidl ![]() Adagio – Allegro molto from Symphony No. 9 by Dvořák. ![]() | |
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![]() HCJB Japanese program: "Sakura Sakura" (さくらさくら, cherry blossoms) ![]() | |
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Berliner Rundfunk: Motif from the opera Regina, Act3 Finale by Albert Lortzing, played by horns. |
![]() Radio Berlin International: Beginning of Auferstanden aus Ruinen ("Risen from Ruins"), played on chimes. ![]() Radio DDR: Refrain of de:Wann wir schreiten Seit’ an Seit’ ![]() Radio NTS: Tchaikovsky, Symphony #5, Mvt.4 DFS 904: "Ode to Joy" |
Deutschlandfunk: Ending bars of "Ich hab' mich ergeben" by August Daniel von Binzer.[13] ![]() RIAS Berlin: Franz Wallner-Basté ![]() Deutschlandsender: Mozart, The Magic Flute (Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen) / Schubart, Üb’ immer Treu und Redlichkeit ![]() Funk-Stunde Berlin: |
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| ORAG Königsberg | |
| Friedrich Dewischeit, de:Masurenlied (Wild flutet der See) | ![]() Wo des Haffes Wellen trecken an den Strand ![]() NORAG Hamburg: Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer, Act 3, Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus) ![]() ![]() (Dominant major ninth chord) ![]() ![]() WDR Köln: Beethoven, Bundeslied (In allen guten Stunden) ![]() Deutsche Stunde in Bayern München: Wagner, Parsifal, Parsifal bell BR München: Wiesberg, de:Solang der alte Peter ![]() Schlesische Funkstunde Breslau: Hohenfriedberger Marsch ![]() Sender Freies Berlin: Es-F-B ![]() Radio Saarbrücken: Kein schöner Land in dieser Zeit ![]() SR Saarbrücken: de:Steigerlied (2nd line: Und er hat sein helles Licht bei der Nacht) ![]() SWF Baden-Baden: Mozart, The Magic Flute (Act 2: No.21, Finale: Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden) ![]() SDR Stuttgart: Silcher, Jetzt gang i ans Brünnele ![]() ![]() Radio Bremen: Bach, Mass in B minor, Et in terra pax ![]() |
Excerpts from the suite 1848 by T.K. Polgar played on three trumpets and two cornets. |
![]() Budapest 2 ![]() |
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![]() latter half of Anthem of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic ![]() | |
| www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/mla-z-rtm_vom_150701.mp3 | |
First eight notes of Wilhelmus, played on:[14]
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![]() Radio Netherlands: Carillon version of the Eighty Years' War song Merck toch hoe sterck. ![]() |
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![]() Kjenningssignalet: beginning bars of Symphony No.1 "Innover viddene" by Eivind Groven ![]() |
Radio Katowice: Sound of a hammer striking an anvil.[16] Radio Olsztyn: Excerpt from pl:O Warmio moja miła by Feliks Nowowiejski, played on barrel organ. |
![]() Polish Radio External Service: Excerpt from Prząśniczka by Stanisław Moniuszko[17] ![]() Etude No. 12 ("Revolutionary Etude") by Chopin ![]() Military Polonaise by Chopin ![]() |
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Ut i vida världen ("Out in the Wide World"), composed by Ralph Lundsten[19] |
![]() The opening notes of Carl Michael Bellman's Storm och böljor tystna r'en.[7] ![]() |
Radio Beromünster: D' Zit isch do, played on music box. |
![]() Swiss Radio International: de:Lueget, vo Bärgen und Tal. ![]() Red Cross Broadcasting Service: Purcell, The Indian Queen, Trumpet Tune ![]() |
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Подмосковные вечера ("Moscow Nights") performed by "Georgy Garanian and Melodia" ![]() Песня о Родине ("Wide Is My Motherland") ![]() | |
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![]() An unnamed tune by Jeff Brock[21] ![]() | |
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Druže Tito, ljubićice bjela anonymous Partisan song, in various orchestral renditions.[22] ![]() |
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| Classical radio station WQXR-FM in New York City, during its ownership by The New York Times Company, played different variations of a classical infused gong with the ID read at the same time as "The Classical Station of the New York Times, WQXR, New York (And WQXR.com 2000–2009) |
Numbers station interval signals
Numbers stations are often named after their interval signals, such as The Lincolnshire Poacher or Magnetic Fields after "Magnetic Fields Part 1" by Jean-Michel Jarre.
References
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: stephensen (2009-10-19). "Pausesignal". Retrieved 2020-04-02 – via YouTube.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ο τσομπανάκος σήμα ΕΡΤ). YouTube.
- ^ Tuning into broadcast history. The Hindu BusinessLine, 15 October 2015.
- ^ "'O'Donnell Abú'". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ "Pausenzeichen und ihre musikalischen Quellen". 8 October 2007.
- ^ "Радио холбооны анхны өдрүүд..." 4 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d Frost, Jens Mathiesen (1983). World Radio TV Handbook. New York: Billboard Publications.
- ^ Treiber, Alfred (2007). Ö1 gehört gehört : die kommentierte Erfolgsgeschichte eines Radiosenders (in German). Vienna: Böhlau. p. 218. ISBN 978-3-205-77495-2. OCLC 127107294.
- ^ "Internet tunes". Archived from the original (M3U) on 2024-04-18.
- ^ "A NOTE ON THE CYPRIOT SONG "TA RIALIA" ("THE MONEY")". 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ "Radion väliaikamerkki". yle.fi (in Finnish). 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2019-06-21.; Audio file (mp3). Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ "Pim-Pam-Pulla – YLEn välimerkki, joka jäi mieliin! – Tekniikan museo" (in Finnish). 2021-11-15.
- ^ "Deutschlandfunk - Kalter Krieg im Radio" (in German). p. 3. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23.
- ^ "Interval Signals Online - Netherlands". www.intervalsignals.net. NOS Hilversum 1-5. Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ Andy Emmerson. "The interval signal – Vanishing and endangered species" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-08.
- ^ "Interval Signals Online - Poland". Katowice (vintage - 1975). Retrieved 2025-10-02., Audio file (mp3). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ "Interval Signals Online - Poland". Radio Polonia (vintage - 2006). Retrieved 2025-10-02.; Audio file (mp3). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ "DX Listening Digest 7-043".
- ^ "Signaturer & musikvinjetter | Andromeda" (in Swedish). 1984-05-06. Retrieved 2025-10-02.; Audio file (ogg). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ "BBC World Service - Pausenzeichen-Datenbank". www.intervalsignals.org (in German). Retrieved 2025-10-05.
- ^ Image file (jpg). Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ^ "Radio Jugoslawien - Pausenzeichen-Datenbank". www.intervalsignals.org (in German). Retrieved 2025-10-05.
Further reading
- Sennitt, Andrew G. (1997). World Radio and Television Handbook 1997. Billboard Books. p. 560. ISBN 0-8230-7797-7.
- Sennitt, Andrew G.; David Bobbitt (December 2005). World Radio and Television Handbook 2006. Billboard Books. p. 608. ISBN 0-8230-7798-5.
External links
- Interval Signals Online
- Nobuyuki Kawamura's Interval Signal Library
- IntervalSignal DataBase (German)
- Uwe Volk's Sound Library (available both in English and in German)
- Kurzwelle-Historisch
- Interval Signal Library on www.irkutsk.com















![\header{tagline=##f title="Interval signal for Voice of Greece"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/grc-era_chania_101014.mp3
main = \relative{
\cadenzaOn \time 2/2 \key g \minor
g'4 g \bar "|" d' d d d \bar "|"
\tag #'mA {
f16\trill[( e d8])~ d2.*4/3\fermata s4 \bar "|"
cis4\trill bes4 cis4\trill bes4
}
\tag #'mB {
\tuplet 6/4{f'16 g f e d8~} d2.*4/3\fermata s4 \bar "|"
\tuplet 11/8{\repeat unfold 5{cis32*13/11 d} cis} bes4*9/11
\tuplet 9/8{\repeat unfold 4{cis32 d} cis} bes4
}
\bar "|" g4 4 2*3\fermata s8
}
\score{\keepWithTag #'mA \main
\addlyrics{Tso -- pa -- na -- kos i -- mou -- na __}
}
\score{\keepWithTag #'mB \main
\midi{\tempo 2=60 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "flute"}
}](./_assets_/67f04e01b9f312f9d53e27f6934f0081/0s50pf0r.png)





![\header{tagline = ##f title="Radio Nikkei"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/jap-radionikkei1_010909.mp3
main = \relative{
\cadenzaOn \key d \minor
\omit Score.TimeSignature
\set Staff.midiInstrument = "tubular bells"
d''2 c d a1*7/4\fermata
f'4 d d c c d a1*7/4\fermata
s8_"//"
}
acco = \relative{
\clef "treble_(8)" \key d \minor
\set Staff.midiInstrument = "koto"
\set midiMaximumVolume = #0.6
s2\sustainOn s s \scaleDurations 25/26 {f16*4/5[ a, c d f a c d f16 a c8]} d1*9/8
s2\sustainOff\sustainOn s s \scaleDurations 6/5 {f16*2/3[ d c a f d c16 a f d c8]} a1
}
\score{\main}
\score{
<<
\new Staff \main
\new Staff \acco
>>
\midi{\tempo 4 = 100}
}](./_assets_/c12aabbe3bf003efacdb56c47d33a00c/fl6neu4q.png)








![\header{tagline = ##f title="Radio New Zealand International"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/nzl-rnz_pacific_130423.mp3
main = \relative {
\set Score.midiInstrument = "ocarina"
\clef "treble^(15)" \time 2/4
\omit Staff.Script
f'''8.-.[ \grace{gis,16 \stemDown c' g} \stemNeutral c,16-.] fis8-. 8-_
a,8-_ \grace{fis'16} d16-. \grace{fis16} d16-. \repeat tremolo 8 {gis128 c} gis16[ \grace{g'8} e16-.]
d,8.-_ \tuplet 3/2{\repeat tremolo 2 a'64-. \repeat tremolo 2 g,-. \repeat tremolo 2 f-.} d-.
}
\score{\main}
\score{
\unfoldRepeats \main
\midi{\tempo 4 = 120}
}](./_assets_/e5fbe984f7a3948a8d4977ec7601fcb9/c2zwcd2j.png)















![% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/ukg-bbcws_v_interval_signal_170701.mp3
<<
\voices 2,1<<
{\clef "treble_(8)" \time 2/4 r8 b[ b b] e}\\
\magnifyMusic 0.6{r8 b'[ b' b'] e''}
>>
\new Lyrics \lyricsto "2"{B -- B -- B -- E}
>>
\midi{\tempo 4=88 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "electric piano 1"}](./_assets_/c139c74dfbd9ad5213df0f4ae4031bd6/6rn3a4tg.png)


















![\header{ title = "RTBF International" }
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/bel-z-brt1_rvd_1977.mp3
\relative{
\set Staff.midiInstrument = "electric piano 1"
\key f \major \cadenzaOn
\partial 4 a'4*5/6 \bar "|"
a4 g4*7/6 bes4*5/6 a4*7/6 \bar "|" f2*7/8 c4 a' \bar "|"
a g8*3/2[ a8] bes4*5/6 e,4*7/6 \bar "|" c'2
}
\midi{\tempo 4 = 78}](./_assets_/62ed3674b6456bf550f418d57486563a/5yajr73i.png)





















![\header{ title = "Ostmarken Rundfunk" }
% https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_audio_clip.cfm?audio_id=2447 [caution: recreation]
% https://www.radiomuseum.org/images/audioimages_klein/Reichssender_Koenigsberg.jpg
\relative{
\key g \major \time 6/8 \partial 4.
<<
{b'4 a8 g4 fis8 g4 fis8 g4 b8 e4 d8 a2.}
\\
\magnifyMusic 0.7{d,4 c8 <b d>4 a8 <b d>4 a8 <b d>4 <d g>8 <b g'>4. <d fis>2.}
>>
}
\midi{\tempo 4. = 60}](./_assets_/66b554522017628a4b661e604b4af07c/1pasktgl.png)



![\header{ title = "Westdeutsche Rundfunk" }
{
% https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_audio_clip.cfm?audio_id=2421 [caution: recreation]
% https://www.radiomuseum.org/images/audioimages_klein/Pausezeichen_Koeln.jpg
\set Staff.midiInstrument = "celesta"
\omit Staff.TimeSignature
\cadenzaOn
dis''2 fis'2 b2
}](./_assets_/7b47f14564826da6d7220172c27928b3/gdhmvgaq.png)








![\header{ title = "Hessischer Rundfunk" }
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/ger-z-hr_rvd_c1975.mp3
{
\set Staff.midiInstrument = "electric piano 1"
\omit Staff.TimeSignature \cadenzaOn
\ottava -1
<g, f>4\omit\sustainOn
\ottava 1
c'''4.*5/6 a''8*3/2[ e''8 b'8*3/2]
<a''' f''' d'''>1
}
\midi{\tempo 4 = 72}](./_assets_/94c13f73fcd6e34ec065ca4b0c98636e/bqy1654p.png)








![\header{tagline=##f title="Nederlandse Publieke Omroep"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/hol-z-nos_hilversum4_1982.mp3
common = {\key b \major \partial 4}
\score{
\relative{\mark "Hilversum 4" \common fis'4 b b cis8 dis e cis8 dis2}
}
\score{
<<\relative{
\common fis'4 \stemDown b_. \stemUp b-. cis8 dis e cis8*2 \grace{dis16*2 cis}dis2
} \\ \magnifyMusic 0.6 \relative{
\set midiMaximumVolume = #0.6
s4 \stemUp <dis'' b>8[ <cis ais>] \stemDown <b gis>[ <ais fis>]
<gis e> cis, <ais' fis> fis,8*3/2 <b fis' b>2.
}>>
\midi{\tempo 4=122 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "harpsichord"}
}](./_assets_/b426e36bbc7b5f1b7f1a18ae224da5d0/636zprz4.png)





![\header{tagline = ##f title="Radio Polonia"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/pol-z-polish_radio_c1996.mp3
main = \relative{
\key c \minor
\partial 16*5 <c'' c'>16[ <d d'>8. <es es'>16]
2 r8. <g, c es g>16[ 8. 16] <as c es as>2 <g g'>2
}
acco = \relative{
\key c \minor \clef bass
\partial 16*5 s16 s4
c,16\sustainOn g' c d es g c d es d c g es d c g
c,\sustainOff\sustainOn g' c d es d c g c,2\sustainOff\sustainOn
s8\sustainOff
}
\score{\main}
\score{
<<\main \new Staff \acco>>
\midi{\tempo 4 = 120}
}](./_assets_/16fa5c2a5f2f436f2fd120d8bff15d60/onckmuo8.png)
![\header{ title = "Radio Polonia" }
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/pol-z-polr1_c1996.mp3
\relative{
\key a \major \time 3/4
<<{
<a'' cis,>8\sustainOn[ r16 <e cis>] q8[ r16 q] <fis d>-.\sustainOff <gis d>-. <a d,>-. <b d,>-. <cis e,>8. <a cis,>16 4
}\\{
\set midiMaximumVolume = #0.6
<a,, e' a>8[ r16 q] q8[ r16 q] <a e' b'>16-. q-. q-. q-. <a e' a>8. 16 4
}>>
}
\midi{\tempo 4=66}](./_assets_/83b84edeebe77e8e6dd666defe3aaa5c/bu9977lr.png)















![\header{tagline=##f title="KNLS (old) - Chariots of Fire"}
% https://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/als-z-knls_anchor_point_ak_c1988.mp3
\score{
\relative<<{\cadenzaOn
r8 c'' \tuplet 3/2{f[ g a]} \bar "|"
g4 e r8*2/3 c \tuplet 3/2{f8[ g a]} \bar "|"
g2*2/3 r8*2/3 c, \tuplet 3/2{f8[ g a]} \bar "|"
g4 e r8*2/3 e \tuplet 3/2{f8[ e c]} \bar "|" c2
}\\{
r4 a g2 r4*2/3 a4 g2*2/3 r4*2/3 a4 g2 s4*2/3 a4 g2
}>>
\layout{indent=#0 line-width=#120 }
\midi{\tempo 4=52 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "celesta"}
}](./_assets_/ead81192b196bcc5313dd977ae743e00/bsapdaet.png)




