Basics of creating wavetables in Octave Vol.5[Folding]

Wave Folding

Wave folding is a type of wave shaper that creates complex, harmonically rich waveforms. It is often employed in modular synthesizers and is also used in some FM and Wavetable synthesizers.

When the input amplitude of a waveform exceeds a threshold, it usually clips, but in wave folding, it folds back on itself. This folding action amplifies and distorts the peaks and valleys of the waveform, introducing new harmonic content. As a result, the output waveform becomes more complex and intricate with added harmonic and tonal changes.

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Sounds

kimura taro · WaveFolding

Wavefolding implementation in Octave -1-

Wavefolding

By inputting a waveform with an amplitude exceeding the threshold value into the sine function, the input waveform is wavefoldong.

Example of how to create a Wavetable with a folding sine wave

Wavetable

Wavefolding implementation in Octave -2-

Waveshaping can change the waveform asymmetrically by adding to or subtracting from the input waveform and changing the vertical axis of the waveform.

Wavetable[WaveFolder2]

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Wavefolding with FM Synth

Elektron Digitone
The waveform can be folded by setting the operator's Ratio Offset to -1.
In terms of the relationship between Operator C and Operator A, setting Operator C's Ratio Offset to -1 will set the level of Operator A to 0, resulting in a volume of 0. By increasing the level of A, the waveform of Operator A will be Folding A's level is increased, the waveform of Operator A will be Folding.

Folding with Digitone