VOSC is best understood as a visual analogue of a traditional sound synthesizer. The medium of synthesis, rather than sound waves, is a vast quantity of on screen particles. By manipulating the size, shape, and frequency of the oscillators, an endless variety of moving patterns and textures can be created.

A primary mechanism at work in VOSC is the phenomenon of visual harmony as explored by the computer graphics pioneer and visual artist John Whitney in the mid 20th century. The oscillators of VOSC operate in accordance with Whitney's principle of differential motion, giving rise to harmonic resonances as their frequencies move across whole ratios.