How to preserve a heartbeat as art or a keepsake
A heartbeat from an ultrasound, medical recording, home Doppler recording, or another meaningful moment can become personalized Soundwave artwork, a playable necklace, solid wood art, or a photo-based keepsake.
Preserve more than a printed heartbeat line.
A heartbeat recording holds the rhythm and sound of a specific moment. Turning that recording into a Soundwave keepsake creates a visual design from the audio while preserving the memory behind it.
Use the original audio
The design can be created from a video, audio file, voice memo, or another recording in which the heartbeat can be heard clearly.
Choose the clearest section
A short portion with a steady, recognizable heartbeat is often enough to create a meaningful visual design.
Keep the original file
Save the unedited recording somewhere safe before trimming, sharing, or converting it for your keepsake.
Ask before recording, then capture the sound as clearly as possible.
Recording policies vary between hospitals, clinics, and ultrasound providers. Ask the sonographer or facility before using your phone. The medical examination should always come first, and recording should only happen when the provider says it is permitted.
Ask the provider first
Before the scan begins, ask whether you may record a short audio or video clip when the heartbeat is played.
Wait for permission
Keep the phone put away during the medical portion of the exam unless the sonographer tells you it is an appropriate time to record.
Record close to the speaker
When permitted, place the phone near the ultrasound machine’s speaker without touching the equipment or blocking the provider.
Capture several seconds
Record a little before and after the clearest heartbeat so there is enough audio to choose from later.
You do not need specialized recording equipment.
Use the phone’s camera or voice recorder
A short video is fine even when you only need the audio. The heartbeat can be taken from the video file later.
Reduce nearby conversation
Try not to speak over the clearest portion. Background voices can remain part of the memory, but a clean section makes the heartbeat easier to isolate.
Do not worry about trimming it yourself
Keep the original recording intact. You can identify the portion you like, or send the full clip so the clearest section can be selected.
The audio does not have to come from an ultrasound.
A meaningful heartbeat may already exist in a phone video, medical recording, home recording, or another saved file. The most important requirement is that the heartbeat can be heard clearly enough to recognize.
Medical or monitor recording
A video or audio recording made during a medical visit may work when you have permission to use and share the file.
Home Doppler recording
An existing recording made with a home Doppler may provide usable audio. Follow the device instructions and your healthcare provider’s guidance when using medical devices.
A recording from another meaningful moment
Heartbeats captured in a video, voice memo, or other personal file can also become a keepsake when the rhythm is audible.
Choose how you want to keep the memory close.
A heartbeat can become artwork for your home, a personal piece to wear, a natural wood display, or a design that combines the recording with an ultrasound or favorite photograph.
Turn the heartbeat into artwork for your home.
A custom canvas transforms the audio into a large visual Soundwave. Add a name, date, short message, or meaningful phrase to give the design more personal context.
- Created from the unique Soundwave of the recording
- Unlimited color options and multiple sizes available.
- A meaningful display for a nursery or family space
Carry the sound of the heartbeat with you.
A playable ironwood necklace combines the engraved heartbeat Soundwave with an embedded NFC chip. Tap the pendant with a compatible phone to open the associated recording without a separate app.
- Handmade with natural ironwood and stainless steel
- Available in heart, circle, and teardrop shapes
- Optional short message engraved beneath the Soundwave
- Playable with a compatible NFC-enabled phone
Turn a heartbeat into a handcrafted wood keepsake.
Whether you prefer the warmth of engraved solid wood or the depth of layered wood artwork, your heartbeat can be transformed into a personalized keepsake made for display. Add a name, date, or meaningful message to create a piece that celebrates an unforgettable moment.
- Choose from engraved solid wood or layered wood artwork
- Available in walnut, maple, and layered birch designs
- Personalized with names, dates, or a meaningful message
- Playable solid wood options available with compatible phones
Combine the heartbeat with an ultrasound or favorite photograph.
Soundwave photo art brings the recording and image together in one personalized design. Choose the style that best fits the photograph and how prominently you want the heartbeat Soundwave to appear.
- Photo Pattern: the photograph itself forms the shape of the heartbeat Soundwave
- Photo Circle: a favorite image is displayed inside a circular design with the Soundwave placed beneath it
- Photo Overlay: the heartbeat Soundwave is layered directly over the photograph
- Personalize the finished artwork with a name, date, or message
Think about how you want to experience the heartbeat again.
The right format depends on whether you want the heartbeat displayed, worn, played aloud, or combined with an ultrasound or photograph.
For a focal point
Choose a canvas when you want the heartbeat Soundwave to become a prominent part of a nursery, bedroom, or family space.
For something personal
Choose an ironwood necklace when you want a private keepsake that can be worn and played whenever the moment matters.
For a natural display
Choose solid wood art for a warm, tactile piece suited to a shelf, desk, nightstand, or nursery.
For an ultrasound image
Choose photo Soundwave art when the image from the scan is as meaningful as the heartbeat itself.
For playable audio
Choose a playable necklace or solid wood piece when hearing the original heartbeat is an important part of the keepsake.
For a meaningful gift
Any option can become a pregnancy announcement, baby shower gift, remembrance keepsake, or personal gift for someone close to the recording.
The file does not need to be professionally edited.
A phone video or ordinary recording is often all you need. What matters most is preserving the memory behind the heartbeat—not having perfect audio.
Find the original file
Look through phone videos, voice memos, shared files, medical portal downloads, and recordings provided by the ultrasound facility.
Choose a clear heartbeat
A few seconds where the heartbeat can be heard clearly is often enough to create your keepsake.
Keep the full recording
Do not overwrite the original when trimming or converting it. Save a separate copy for any edits.
Don't worry if it isn't perfect
What matters most is preserving the memory behind the heartbeat, not creating a perfect recording.
Heartbeat keepsake FAQ
Can you use a heartbeat taken from an ultrasound video?
Yes. The audio can often be taken from a phone video or video file when the heartbeat can be heard clearly.
What if I have not recorded the ultrasound yet?
Ask the ultrasound provider whether recording is permitted before the scan begins. Policies vary, and the sonographer may ask you to wait until the medical portion of the examination is complete.
Do I need an audio file, or can I send a video?
A video is fine. The heartbeat audio can be taken from the video, so you do not need to convert it before sending it.
How long should the heartbeat recording be?
Several clear seconds is enough to create the visual Soundwave. A longer recording is also fine.
What if people are talking in the recording?
If you have a few seconds without people speaking that is enough to capture the heartbeat.
Do all heartbeat keepsakes play the recording?
Playable ironwood necklaces and playable solid wood pieces are designed to open the associated recording on a compatible phone. Canvas and photo artwork can be played with the optional Soundwave Art™ app add-on.
Can a heartbeat keepsake be created as a memorial?
Yes. A saved heartbeat recording can become a remembrance piece when you have the right to use and share the recording.
Turn a meaningful heartbeat into a lasting keepsake.
Explore artwork, playable jewelry, solid wood designs, and photo-based keepsakes created from the actual heartbeat recording.