Create Custom Waveforms with the Audacity Arbitrary Waveform Generator Plugin

The Arbitrary Waveform Generator is an Audacity plugin that allows you to create custom waveforms. You can define the shape of one cycle of the waveform as a list of numbers in the range +/- 1, separated by spaces. These numbers represent the sample value at evenly spaced intervals between the start and end of the waveform. The plugin will interpolate (linear) from one defined point to the next. You can also set the desired pitch and the required duration in seconds. Once you have configured the parameters, the plugin will generate the waveform for you.

Advanced Description

The Arbitrary Waveform Generator plugin for Audacity allows users to create custom waveforms with a list of numbers in the range +/- 1, separated by spaces. The plugin will then interpolate (linear) from one defined point to the next. This plugin also allows users to set the desired pitch and duration of the waveform in seconds. The plugin also provides helpful tips to ensure the best possible results. For example, the defined waveform should normally start and end at zero. Additionally, the list of waveform points should only contain numbers, with decimal numbers using a dot as the decimal separator. This plugin is extremely useful for those who want to create custom waveforms for their audio projects. By using the Arbitrary Waveform Generator plugin, users can easily create the exact sound they’re looking for.

Interesting Usage Examples

1. Creating a Custom Sine Wave

Creating a custom sine wave in Audacity using the Arbitrary Waveform Generator plug-in is easy. First, open Audacity and create a new project. Then, go to Generate > Arbitrary Waveform Generator to open the plug-in. In the plug-in window, enter "0 1 0 -1 0" (without the quotes) in the List of Waveform Points field. This will create a sine wave. Next, enter the desired MIDI note number in the MIDI Note Number field. This will set the pitch of the sine wave. Finally, set the desired duration in seconds in the Duration (seconds) field. When you're finished, click the Generate button. Your custom sine wave will now be generated and added to your project. You can now edit it as you would any other audio track.

2. Generating a Square Wave with Variable Frequency

Using the Arbitrary Waveform Generator plug-in in Audacity, you can create a square wave with a variable frequency. To do this, you will need to enter a list of waveform points in the "List of waveform points" box. For a square wave, this list should be 0 1 0 -1 0. Next, enter the desired frequency in the "MIDI note number" box. This should be a number between 0 and 127. Finally, enter the desired duration in seconds in the "Duration (seconds)" box. Once you have entered all of the required information, click the "OK" button to generate the waveform.

3. Crafting a Sawtooth Waveform

Example 3: Crafting a Sawtooth Waveform To create a sawtooth waveform, open the Audacity plugin "Arbitrary Waveform Generator" and enter the following list of numbers into the "List of waveform points" field: 0 1 0 -1 0. Next, set the desired pitch using the "MIDI note number" field. This field is measured in a range from 0 to 127, where 0 is the lowest pitch and 127 is the highest pitch. Lastly, set the required duration in seconds using the "Duration (seconds)" field. This field is measured in a range from 0 to 3600, where 0 is the shortest duration and 3600 is the longest duration. Once all the fields have been filled out, click the "Generate" button to create the sawtooth waveform.

4. Generating Audio with a Triangle Wave

Generating Audio with a Triangle Wave using Audacity and the Arbitrary Waveform Generator plug-in is easy and straightforward. First, open Audacity and create a new audio project. Next, open the Generate tab in Audacity and select the Arbitrary Waveform Generator. In the Arbitrary Waveform Generator window, enter the list of numbers for the triangle waveform: 0 1 0 -1 0. This list of numbers will define the shape of one cycle of the waveform. In the MIDI note number field, enter the desired pitch. In the Duration (seconds) field, enter the desired length of the audio clip. Finally, click the Generate button and the audio clip will be generated and added to the project. You can now edit the audio clip as desired.

5. Designing an Arbitrary Waveform with Nyquist

Designing an Arbitrary Waveform with Nyquist To create an arbitrary waveform with Nyquist, you will need to open up the Nyquist plug-in editor in Audacity. You can find this under the Generate menu. Once you're in the plug-in editor, you'll need to enter the code for the waveform you want. To do this, you'll need to define the shape of one cycle of the waveform as a list of numbers in the range +/- 1, separated by spaces. These numbers represent the sample value at evenly spaced intervals between the start and end of the waveform. Any number of numbers may be used. Once you've defined the waveform, you can set the desired pitch by entering a MIDI note number. You can also set the required duration in seconds. Once you have entered the code, click the Generate button to generate the waveform. You will then be able to see the waveform in the Audacity window. Tip: The defined waveform should normally start and end at zero.

Download

You may download arbitrarywaveform.ny by clicking here

Where to Learn More