Types of Synthesizers and Oscillators
There are 4 commonly used synthesizer waveforms within oscillators; Sine waves, Triangle waves, Sawtooth waves and Square waves also known as Pulse waves. There is a 5th waveform which is known as Noise waves but it is not used as much as the other 4. Sine waves are the pure tone of a single frequency and is also known as the fundamental waveform.
The other waves have added harmonics and overtones differentiating them from the fundamental waveform which has no harmonics. Sawtooth waves have harmonics every integer above the fundamental waveform and every right harmonic decreases in half in volume/amplitude which makes the second part of the sawtooth wave shape. Both Triangle and Pulse waves have the same harmonics but they decrease in amplitude differently.
In a Square/Pulse wave the harmonics are a third as low in amplitude but the Triangle waves are a tenth as low. For example if both of these were waves at 100Hz their harmonics would increase to 300Hz, 500Hz etc. Going up by 200Hz each time. Since they both lower in volume, (or amplitude), differently, they make different shapes. Square waves are called Pulse waves because they pulse between the good and bad values without a slow transition. There is something called the pulse width and if you change it, it affects the harmonic parts of the wave. This is also known as pulse width modulation PWM.
The other waves have added harmonics and overtones differentiating them from the fundamental waveform which has no harmonics. Sawtooth waves have harmonics every integer above the fundamental waveform and every right harmonic decreases in half in volume/amplitude which makes the second part of the sawtooth wave shape. Both Triangle and Pulse waves have the same harmonics but they decrease in amplitude differently.
In a Square/Pulse wave the harmonics are a third as low in amplitude but the Triangle waves are a tenth as low. For example if both of these were waves at 100Hz their harmonics would increase to 300Hz, 500Hz etc. Going up by 200Hz each time. Since they both lower in volume, (or amplitude), differently, they make different shapes. Square waves are called Pulse waves because they pulse between the good and bad values without a slow transition. There is something called the pulse width and if you change it, it affects the harmonic parts of the wave. This is also known as pulse width modulation PWM.
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