Using the FFT as an arbitrary function generator

The inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) forms a time series from its spectral description. The time data formed by the IFFT represents a single cycle of a periodic waveform which can be accessed periodically to form an arbitrary length version of the signal. This property is similar to the periodic memory access used by arbitrary function generators. A sequence of windowed, overlapped IFFTs can be used to seamlessly extend the time series to obtain any arbitrary non-periodic time series. This option is not available from traditional arbitrary function generators.