The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

wavetable
wavetable synthesis

    A type of sound generator often built in a
   sound card.  A wavetable contains digitised samples of real
   instrument sounds or effect (FX) sounds.  A wavetable chip
   often also contains a drum kit sound to faciliate rhythm
   accompaniment.

   A recorded wavetable sound may be edited and enhanced by
   various effects (reverb, chorus) and layered with other
   waveforms before writing it to ROM or RAM.  The latter
   type serves as user sound memory.

   A wavetable generator is typically controlled by MIDI input.
   When a MIDI note-on signal is detected, the output part of a
   wavetable generator generates a sound with definitive pitch,
   typically a musical note.

   Wavetable sounds are used in games and music.  The more
   realistic wavetable sounds have all but replaced the earlier
   synthetic FM (frequency modulation) sound generation in sound
   cards but to ensure compatibility with older games etc., an FM
   part is usually included.

   The best known wavetable sound generators includes the E-mu
   8000 chip, used in Creative Labs' Sound Blaster AWE-32
   card family and in E-mu keyboards.  Other wavetable cards are
   Gravis Ultra-Sound (GUS), ESS Cards, Opti, Zoltrix and many
   Roland cards.

   E-Mu (http://emu.com /).
   AWE-32(http://edu.isy.liu.se/~d93jesno/awe32.html).
   Creative Labs (http://creaf.com/).

   (1997-11-04)