Abstract: A direct digital synthesizer (DDS) for generating an output periodic waveform from a stored digital waveform has a linear feedback shift register coonfigured as a counter. The linear feedback shift register is clocked by the internal reference clock of the DDS, and a predetermined output of the linear feedback shift register is detected to provide a control signal. The control signal causes the frequency or phase of the output waveform to be changed according to control parameters input to a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit preloads the new parameter vlaues into appropriate frequency/phase registers which are switched to the input of the accumulator in the DDS on the next cycle of the reference clock when the control signal is detected.