CHAPTER 9

Oscillators

Oscillators find several uses in audio effects and plug-ins. The obvious use is as an audio test signal like the one RackAFX provides on the main interface. Additive synthesis of musical sounds uses multiple sinusoidal oscillators at harmonic frequencies to create complex waveforms. Wavetable synthesis stores a periodic waveform in a table for interpolation and playback when the musician strikes a key or a MIDI message is sent. Low-frequency oscillators (LFOs) are used in the design of modulated delay lines and modulated filters. Oscillators broadly fall into two categories: direct calculation and table lookup. We desire oscillators that have several important features:

•  Stability over a wide range of frequencies

•  No ...

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