Do an synth realy need many waveforms?

[djbrynte]

Is there not the same with less waveforms with modulation lfo and such?

[CoreStylerz]

A Saw modulated by pitch or volume is always a Saw.
If you talk about modulating the wave, like a waveshaping, it may change.

Are many waves required? no. But you can't make all sounds starting from few waves; talking on subtractive synthesis.

Other kind of synthesis may don't need many "waves". For example subtracitve uses sines.