Oscillators
Definition: A function generator whose output is a periodic waveform.
Whether you want to create a sound which is coming from an keyboard or a software synthesizer, the signal will be produced from an oscillator. They can be used to create a wide range of frequencies within the audio spectrum with most resultant sounds being a combination of signals. When creating a sound from scratch, very rarely will the sound used be a pure tone (i.e. a simple waveform) because they sound very primitive. Combining the sounds of more than one oscillator will result in a more musically acceptable sound. Another important thing to remember is that all oscillators in different workstations vary in sophistication and quality. Even if you try to generate the same output by using the same parameters on the input, the sound could be drastically different. The oscillator is a bit like the string on a musical instrument. It vibrates to create a sound.