Creating Arb Files with the Generator

The Daqarta Generator can create many waveforms without using an Arb Wave. However, you may sometimes need a specialized shape that the Generator can't adequately provide... that's what Arb (and Play) files are for.

So it might seem strange to consider using the Generator to create a waveform it apparently can't create. But it turns out that this is not the contradiction it seems.

For example, if you create the waveform using the Burst function operating on some basic wave, then changing the overall frequency may require changing not only the Tone Frequency, but also adjusting the Burst parameters to act on equivalent portions of the new cycle. That makes it very difficult or impossible to apply FM or a frequency Sweep.

However, an Arb made from a single overall Burst cycle can be freely adjusted with only the Tone Frequency, with FM and Sweep applied as easily as if it were a simple Sine wave.

Also, besides adding these frequency modulation abilities, you may be able to free up multiple output Streams that would otherwise be tied up in creating a single complex waveform. The available streams can then be used for more advanced features like Stream Modulation.

The general approach to Arb creation is to arrange for a single cycle of the desired wave to be exactly one of the Arb sizes, such as 8192 samples, by proper adjustment of Tone Freq, Burst Cycle, etc.

Then use DDisk with Write Size Preset set to 8192 samples to record the file. If you record it with Triggered Start set, the file will start exactly at the sync point. You can control that via Gen Sync in the Trigger control dialog, and proper selection of sync source (such as Burst Sync) in the various Generator control dialogs.

• Rectified Waves
• Pulse Trains
• Complex Waves

See also Creating Arb Files From Text, Wave Dialog, Arb Wave.