Waveform Visualization

Waveform Visualization with Harmonics is a Processing program that uses the Beads audio library to synthesize sounds in real time by layering up to ten harmonics of a sine wave. Through a GUI built with ControlP5, users can switch between four waveform types—sine (fundamental), square, sawtooth, and triangle—or enter Interactive mode to freely adjust the amplitude of each harmonic with sliders.

An oscilloscope visualizes the resulting waveform in real time, allowing users to see how changing the harmonic content affects both the shape of the waveform and the sound's timbre. This setup makes it possible to intuitively explore the relationship between harmonics, waveforms, and tone color by directly manipulating and visualizing the audio signal. The project serves as an excellent educational tool for understanding additive synthesis, Fourier theory, and the mathematical relationship between harmonic content and waveform shape, making complex audio concepts accessible through interactive visualization.