Meditation Timer
{{ durationDisplay }}
{{ sessionStateLabel }} · {{ bellSummary }}
Start {{ startBellCount }} Interval {{ intervalBellCount }} Every {{ interval_minutes }} min Ends ~ {{ finish_time_local }} Live
{{ centerPhase }}
Ready {{ remainingDisplay }}
{{ elapsedDisplay }} · {{ chimeCount }} chime(s)
Space: start/pause · S: stop · F: fullscreen
h m s
chime(s)
min chime(s)
s
pre ms
post ms
{{ start_pre_ms + start_post_ms }} ms
pre ms
post ms
{{ int_pre_ms + int_post_ms }} ms
{{ audio_volume }}%
Metric Value Copy
Total seconds {{ totalSeconds }}
Countdown (s) {{ prep_s }}
Start bells {{ startBellCount }}
Interval bells {{ intervalBellCount }}
Interval (min) {{ interval_minutes }}
Finish (local) {{ finish_time_local }}

                

Introduction:

Meditation timing is the practice of shaping a quiet period with intentional start signals, optional interval cues, and a clear end. People often call this a bell timer for meditation, and you will also hear “sitting timer” in many groups. A meditation interval bell timer helps anchor attention by marking moments to settle posture, refresh focus, or transition between techniques.

You provide a target session length and, if useful, a regular interval. The output is a simple schedule of audible or haptic cues and a live readout of elapsed time. This structure supports calm, repeatable practice across varied styles without forcing any method. A natural long‑tail phrase here is meditation interval bell timer for clarity.

Consider a 25‑minute sit with a brief chime at each 5‑minute mark. The early signals remind you to scan posture, while the closing chime marks completion. Interpret cues as gentle prompts, not verdicts; awareness matters more than the clock. If you feel tense near the end of a timer, soften the breath and let the tone arrive.

Choose intervals that aid your style. Long stretches encourage absorption; shorter intervals keep posture fresh. Start with conservative volumes and minimal bells, then adjust after a few sessions. If you experiment with haptics or visual flashes, confirm they help rather than distract.

Technical Details:

Meditation timing models a session as a duration T with three event families: a start signal, zero or more interval signals separated by a constant gap I, and an optional end signal. Outputs include a cue schedule with clock times, a running elapsed display, and a small set of summary metrics. Interpretation is qualitative: intervals are waypoints to refresh attention; the final tone simply marks a boundary, not a score.

Events occur at offset seconds from the start reference. For finite sessions the end tone lands at T. Intervals repeat at multiples of I strictly before T. In open‑ended timing, intervals continue up to a practical cap so preview schedules remain bounded. Audio tones use a pure sine beep with adjustable duration and level; optional haptics and a visual flash can accompany any cue.

Core equations:

Nintfinite = Tδ I , I>0, T>0 tk = kI,k=1,2,,Nintfinite Nopen = min ( 60, 180min I ) , I>0 Ctotalfinite = Bstart+NintfiniteBint+Bend

A small δ ensures interval cues occur strictly before the final boundary.

Symbols and units used by the timer
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
TPlanned session lengths or minInput
IInterval gap between cuess or minInput
BstartStart bell countintegerInput
BintInterval bell countintegerInput
BendEnd bell countintegerInput
fBeep frequencyHzInput
dTone duration per beepmsInput
GGap between multiple bellsmsInput
ElapsedTime since start referencesDerived

Algorithm (deterministic schedule):

  1. Clamp negative inputs to zero.
  2. Add a start event at time 0 if Bstart > 0.
  3. If I > 0 and interval bells > 0, add events at I, 2I, … strictly before T.
  4. Add an end event at T if T > 0 and Bend > 0.
  5. For open‑ended sessions, cap preview intervals to 180 min or 60 events.
  6. At each event, emit n beeps with duration d and gap G.

Parameters (defaults & meaning):

Key parameters with defaults
Parameter Meaning Unit/Datatype Typical Range Notes
PresetQuick sets for session and intervalsenum10–30 min; open‑endedIncludes Zazen 25 with 5‑min intervals.
Session lengthPlanned durationmin0–∞0 makes the session open‑ended.
CountdownDelay before starts0–∞Displays a brief pre‑start countdown.
IntervalGap between interval cuesmin0–∞0 disables intervals.
Start/Interval/End bellsChimes per eventinteger0–∞Multiple bells repeat with gap G.
Beep frequencySine tone pitchHz≥100Values below 100 Hz are raised to 100 Hz.
Beep durationLength of each beepms≥40Shorter values are raised to 40 ms.
Bell gapPause between beepsms≥60Shorter values are raised to 60 ms.
VolumeOverall audio level0–1000–100Scaled internally; 0 mutes output.
VibrateHaptic pulse per cuebooleanon/offUses device vibration when available.
Keep screen awakePrevent sleep during a sessionbooleanon/offRequests a wake lock when supported.
Visual cueBrief on‑screen flashboolean+ms≥40 msDuration clamps to at least 40 ms.

Units, precision & rounding:

  • Elapsed time shows MM:SS or HH:MM:SS with zero‑padding.
  • Schedule offsets render as MM:SS and local clock times use your device locale.
  • Remaining‑time previews round up to the next whole second; elapsed uses whole seconds.
  • JSON metrics include seconds with two decimal places where noted.

Validation & bounds extracted from code:

Input validation rules
Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error Text
Session lengthnumber01
Countdownnumber01
Intervalnumber01
Start bellsnumber01
Interval bellsnumber01
End bellsnumber01
Beep frequencynumber20 (input)1Clamped to ≥100 Hz internally.
Beep durationnumber10 (input)10Clamped to ≥40 ms internally.
Volumerange010010 mutes all beeps.
Bell gapnumber100 (input)50Clamped to ≥60 ms internally.
Visual flashnumber50 (input)10Clamped to ≥40 ms internally.

I/O formats & encoding:

Inputs and outputs
Input Accepted Families Output Encoding/Precision Rounding
NumbersIntegers for minutes, seconds, countsSchedule rowsLocal time via locale settingsOffsets rounded to nearest second for display
Audio paramsFrequency, duration, volumePure sine beeps≥100 Hz; ≥40 msDurations clamp to minimums
Haptics/visualBooleans and durationsVibration and flash cues≥10 ms vib; ≥40 ms flashClamps applied
Data viewsComputed metricsJSON payloadSeconds with up to 2 decimalsStandard numeric rounding

Time, performance & behavior:

  • Local times reflect the device timezone and locale settings.
  • Schedule building is O(N) in event count; open‑ended previews cap at 180 min or 60 events.
  • Audio uses a sine oscillator and a fixed gain scale; vibration uses the device API when available.
  • Processing is client‑only; no network requests are made.

Security & privacy considerations:

  • Clipboard operations occur only after your explicit action.
  • No data is transmitted or stored on a server.
  • Wake locks, vibration, and audio require device support and may ask for permission.

Worked example:

Zazen 25: T = 25 min, I = 5 min, Bstart = 3, Bint = 1, Bend = 3.

Nintfinite=25δ5=4
Ctotalfinite=3+4×1+3=10

Interval cues at 05:00, 10:00, 15:00, 20:00; end cue at 25:00.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

Set your session length and optional interval to produce a clear cue schedule and an elapsed‑time view.

  1. Pick a preset or enter a session length.
  2. Set a countdown if you want a short pause before starting.
  3. Add an interval for periodic cues or leave it at zero.
  4. Choose bell counts for start, intervals, and end.
  5. Adjust volume, frequency, and beep duration.
  6. Optionally enable vibration, a visual flash, or a wake lock.
  7. Press Start. Pause or Stop as needed.

Example: 20‑minute sit with 5‑minute intervals, one bell each time.

  • Tip: Space toggles start/pause, S stops, F requests fullscreen when available.

FAQ:

What does the timer measure?

It measures elapsed time from the start reference and schedules optional cues at fixed offsets. Intervals are waypoints, not scores or grades.

How accurate is the timing?

Timing uses high‑resolution clocks and is suitable for meditation. Very long sessions or backgrounded tabs can introduce small delays typical of device power policies.

Are there units or formats to know?

Inputs use minutes and seconds; displays show MM:SS or HH:MM:SS. Schedule rows include offsets and local clock times; a JSON summary is available for reference.

Is any data stored?

No. All processing happens on your device. Clipboard and file downloads occur only when you ask for them.

Will it work offline?

Yes, once loaded it runs without a network connection. Audio, vibration, and wake‑lock features depend on device support.

Can I export my schedule?

You can copy rows and view a JSON summary. Some builds include CSV and JSON copy/download helpers; if present, use them after generating a schedule.

Does it cost anything?

No sign‑in is required. There are no purchases in the timer itself. Check the site footer for any licensing notes.

Troubleshooting:

  • No sound: set volume above 0 and pick a duration ≥40 ms.
  • Pitch too low: values below 100 Hz are raised to 100 Hz.
  • Haptics missing: your device may not support vibration.
  • Screen sleeps: enable the wake‑lock option if supported.
  • Copied text missing: allow clipboard access when prompted.
  • Intervals not showing: set an interval greater than zero.
  • JSON empty: start or preview a session to populate metrics.
  • Clock drift: stay on the page to minimize background throttling.

Advanced Tips:

  • Tip Use a short countdown to settle posture before the first tone.
  • Tip For deep focus, prefer fewer intervals and lower volumes.
  • Tip Combine a soft visual flash with audio if others are nearby.
  • Tip Keep bell gaps longer than tone duration for a calm cadence.
  • Tip Save your preferred settings as a preset if available in your build.

Glossary:

Session (T)
The planned duration of your sit.
Interval (I)
A fixed gap between optional cues.
Bell count
How many beeps occur at one event.
Gap (G)
Pause between multiple beeps at one event.
Elapsed
Time that has passed since the start reference.