Oscillator

An electroacoustical device used to generate signals with specific waveforms. Oscillators are used, for example, to test electronic circuits, to transmit radio signals, and to provide compositional material in the production of electronic music and sound synthesis.

Common types of oscillators are sine wave, square wave, pulse wave, triangle wave and sawtooth wave oscillators, each distinguished by the shape of the waveform it produces. Oscillators can be simulated digitally by storing one cycle of the waveform and repeating those values during sound synthesis.

Compare: Amplifier, Generator, Resonator, Sound Synthesizer, Transducer.