Wavers

Wavers are a type of musical artifact or phenomenon that can occur in digital audio processing. This effect is characterized by an audible fluctuation or instability in the pitch or loudness of a sound. It is often perceived as a slight wavering or trembling quality.

Wavers can arise from various sources. In early digital audio converters or samplers, limitations in clock stability could lead to subtle timing inaccuracies, resulting in pitch wavering. This was sometimes referred to as "wow and flutter" in analog tape recording, and similar issues could manifest in digital systems. Modern digital audio equipment generally has much higher clock precision, making this type of waver less common.

Another cause of wavers can be related to digital signal processing algorithms. For instance, certain types of compression or effects that involve rapid manipulation of audio data might inadvertently introduce slight fluctuations if not implemented with sufficient care or if processing resources are strained. Additionally, issues with data buffering or transmission in networked audio can sometimes lead to brief, localized wavers.

In some musical contexts, a subtle wavering effect might be intentionally introduced or emulated to achieve a specific aesthetic. For example, vintage synthesizer emulations might deliberately recreate the wavering characteristics of older analog equipment. However, when it occurs unintentionally, it is generally considered an undesirable artifact that degrades audio fidelity. Identifying and mitigating the source of an unwanted waver is a common task in audio engineering.