Abstract: Randomly generated artificial perturbation signals are acoustically coupled to fluid jets to artificially stimulate droplet formation at a rate which varies. Such changes minimize the discernible effects of anomalies in droplet formation (e.g. along the cross-machine dimension of an extended orifice array) caused by standing acoustic waves or other phenomena. A relatively low frequency bandwidth-limited square wave with randomly occurring transitions has a controlled amplitude related to a desired magnitude of deviation in the rate of droplet stimulation. This first random signal is used, in the exemplary embodiment, to control the frequency of a frequency modulated oscillator having a relatively higher mean frequency related to the naturally expected rate of droplet formation. As a result, piezoelectric crystal drive furnished by the oscillator randomly varies between upper and lower frequency limits.