Oscillator waveform catalog
6 shapes · the source of every subtractive sound
Before the envelope, before the filter, before any effect — something has to vibrate. The waveform is the source. Six shapes cover almost every subtractive patch: sine, triangle, saw, square, pulse, and noise. Each has a distinct harmonic content, which is what every later stage of the synth has to work with. Pick the waveform first; everything downstream is shaping it.
▸Catalog
- Waveform · sine
Sine
Only the fundamental frequency. No overtones at all.
- Waveform · triangle
Triangle
Odd harmonics only, dropping off very steeply.
- Waveform · saw
Sawtooth
Every harmonic, falling off proportionally to one over the harmonic number.
- Waveform · square
Square
Odd harmonics only, falling off proportionally to one over the harmonic number.
- Waveform · pulse
Pulse
At 50% width: odd harmonics only (matches square). Off-center: a mix of odd and even harmonics.
- Waveform · noise
Noise
No discrete harmonics. Energy spread across the frequency spectrum.