Sine Wave

A sine wave is the fundamental building block of all sound — it represents a single frequency with no additional harmonics, which is why it sounds so smooth and pure. Because it has no overtones, a sine on its own can seem thin or dull, but that simplicity makes it invaluable. Sines are the go-to choice for clean sub bass, where extra harmonics would only clutter the low end, and for adding weight beneath a more complex layer. They are also the raw material of FM synthesis and additive synthesis, where many sines combine to build complex timbres. In fact, any periodic sound can be broken down into a sum of sine waves at different frequencies and amplitudes.