Digital Audio Conversion

WaveBoy uses variable clocking to the DAC, meaning there is not a fixed sample rate like one might be used to. Instead of a common audio sample rate of, say, 44.1kHz, the sample rate is a function of the pitch.

The sample-rate is 32 * pitch since the waves are made up of 32 samples. In Noise mode, the same sample-rate is used to help offer a wide range of noise frequencies.

This is similar to how the GameBoy worked as well as at least some of the Amiga line of computers. With this method there is no interpolation. As the output of WaveBoy is also DC-coupled, the result is aliasing - by design. This results in a notably lo-fi "chiptune" sound.

Because of the aliasing by design, the Doepfer Wasp filter is a great pairing to the WaveBoy. It can be used to filter out the aliasing of course, but the aliasing is also a great way to drive the resonant "growl" of the Wasp if desired.