TLDR:

"Waveforms are the basic shapes of sound - basic waveshapes are: sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth - each with its own tone, harmonics, and character."

What Are Waveforms?

Waveforms are the visual and mathematical shapes of the signals your oscillator spits out. Each waveform has a unique harmonic profile that gives it its tone - from pure and simple to rich and gnarly.

In synthesis, choosing a waveform is one of your first sound design decisions. The waveform determines how bright, buzzy, hollow, or soft the sound will be - and how it’ll behave when filtered, modulated, or layered.

Common Waveforms

• Sine: Smooth and pure. No harmonics, great for bass or subtle modulation.
• Triangle: Mellow and soft. Some harmonics, but still gentle on the ears.
• Square / Pulse: Hollow and rich in odd harmonics. Great for chiptunes, reedy tones, or PWM action.
• Sawtooth: Bright and aggressive. Packed with harmonics - perfect for basslines and leads.
• Noise (White / Pink): Not technically a waveform, but useful for percussive sounds and textures.
• Complex / Digital Shapes: Wavetables, folding, FM, phase distortion - all lead to more expressive sound shapes.

Why It Matters

The waveform you start with sets the vibe. A sine into a filter is chill. A saw into that same filter is probably yelling at you. Stack and detune two saws? Instant classic supersaw. Sync or modulate a square? Wild territory.

Waveforms are the character of your tone - everything else just shapes it.

Great Video