An IR signaling generator and method divides the functionality of generation between software and hardware to provide a flexible way to generate IR signals, such as remote control signals. The hardware includes a clock generator for generating a carrier clock signal and a data clock signal, a buffer memory that is loaded with instructions representing an encoded data sequence; a control circuit, and a transmitter including a modulator. Each instruction contains an on/off value that is to be modulated with the data clock signal and a pulse duration value that indicates how long the on/off value is to modulate the clock signal. Using the data clock signal, the control circuit measures the amount of time the on/off value modulates the clock signal and causes the buffer to advance to the next instruction in the sequence when the measured amount of time is equal to the pulse duration value.