What is an oscillator in sound design?

An oscillator creates electronic sounds. It is the main part of many electronic instruments and sound-making tools. Oscillators produce repeating electrical signals that become sound when played through speakers.

How an oscillator works

An oscillator creates a wave that repeats repeatedly. When this wave moves between 20 and 20,000 times per second, humans can hear it as sound. The speed of the wave decides how high or low the sound will be.

Common wave shapes

Sine wave

A sine wave is the most basic wave shape. It makes a very pure sound without any extra tones. Musicians often use sine waves to create deep bass or gentle flute-like sounds.

Square Wave

A square wave creates a harsh, buzzy sound. Its hollow quality can resemble an old electronic game. Square waves work well for making retro sounds and simple musical tones.

Triangle wave

Triangle waves sound softer than square waves. They make gentle electronic tones that work well for melodies. Many old video games used triangle waves for their music.

Sawtooth wave

The sawtooth wave creates bright, sharp sounds. It contains many different tones at once. Sound designers use sawtooth waves to make electronic versions of string and brass sounds.

Using oscillators in sound design

Sound designers control three main parts of an oscillator. First, they choose the wave shape to use. Then, they choose the pitch of the sound. Finally, they set how loud the sound should be.

Sound designers often use more than one oscillator at once. They can mix different wave shapes together to make new sounds, and they can also change the sound over time by moving the pitch up and down.

Where People Use Oscillators

Oscillators appear in many kinds of music and sound equipment. Every synthesizer has at least one oscillator. Video game consoles use oscillators to make sound effects. Musicians use oscillators in electronic music and pop songs. Movie sound designers use oscillators to create special effects.

Making sounds with oscillators

Here is how someone might make a simple electronic sound: First, they turn on an oscillator. Then, they choose a wave shape. Next, they set the pitch they want. They can add more oscillators to make the sound bigger. Finally, they can change different settings to shape the sound.

Why oscillators are important

Oscillators make modern electronic music possible. They create the sounds in synthesizers and electronic instruments. Sound designers need oscillators to make many kinds of sound effects. Most modern music uses sounds that come from oscillators in some way.