oscillators
Periodic signal sources
Oscillators are devices or circuits that produce repetitive signals, typically electrical waves that alternate at a regular frequency.
In electronics, oscillators generate the timing signals that synchronize everything from radio transmissions to computer processors.
The term extends to any system that swings back and forth between states—a pendulum is a mechanical oscillator, and financial markets have oscillators that measure momentum.
The synthesizer's oscillators create the raw tones that filters then shape.
Suspended swinging weight
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- frequencyRate of recurrence
period · equilibrium · phase · superposition · coupling · bifurcation · nonlinear · dynamics
Instruments displaying hours
- watchesPortable personal clocks
- pendulumSuspended swinging weight
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- escapementTick-controlling clock component
chronometers · horology · hairspring · synchronization · accuracy · precision · regulation · calibration
Oscillation pattern representations
- sineOpposite over hypotenuse
- squareRhombus with right angles
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
- sawtoothTriangular repeating edge pattern
LFO · synthesizers · subtractive · analog · digital · envelope · filter · harmonics
Bodies that amplify vibrations
- amplifiersDevices that increase signal
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- transistorsSemiconductor switching devices
- capacitorsCharge-storing circuit components
pendulum
Suspended swinging weight
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
frequency · period · equilibrium · phase · superposition · coupling · bifurcation · nonlinear · dynamics · chaos
clocks
Instruments displaying hours
escapement · chronometers · horology · hairspring · synchronization · accuracy · precision · regulation · calibration · atomic
waveforms
Oscillation pattern representations
sawtooth · LFO · synthesizers · subtractive · analog · digital · envelope · filter · harmonics · Moog
resonators
Bodies that amplify vibrations
- amplifiersDevices that increase signal
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- transistorsSemiconductor switching devices
vibrato
Oscillating pitch effect
- tremoloRapid tonal wavering
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- pulsationRhythmic expansion and contraction
humming · buzzing · flutter · acoustic · ultrasonic · seismic
- timekeepingclock, watch, watches, clocks, timer
- electronicscomputer, resistors, capacitors, TVs, TV
- electrical engineeringelectrical engineer, current, circuit design, circuits, voltage
- audio technologydigital audio, audio engineering, sound design, audio mixing, signal processing
- Synthetic Biologysynthetic biology, DNA synthesis, standardized parts, bioengineering, xenobiology
- RF componentsattenuator, coupler, diplexer, duplexer, isolator
oscillatorsstabilizers
Mechanisms ensuring steadiness
dampers · dampeners · amplifiers · regulators · constants
- local oscillatorInternal signal for frequency conversion