How does a synthesizer build a sound from separate components?

A synthesizer builds sound by allowing a musician to configure and combine separate electronic components, a process often referred to as "programming" or "patching". Unlike traditional instruments with fixed acoustic properties, a synthesizer functions as a collection of modular parts that can be manipulated to create original or imitative timbres.1

Common components used to construct these sounds include:

• Oscillators: Generate the initial repetitive waveforms.1
• Mixers: Combine multiple waveforms together.1
• Filters: Adjust the strength of specific overtones to shape the sound's character.1
• Amplifiers: Control the loudness contours, such as the attack and decay of a tone.21

Synthesizers employ different methods to build these tones. Subtractive synthesis starts with a signal containing a fundamental tone and all related overtones, then removes unwanted components. Conversely, additive synthesis builds complex tones by combining signals for pure, overtone-free sine waves. Modern digital synthesizers may also use techniques like frequency modulation (FM) or sampling to generate sound. Musicians control these elements through interfaces like keyboards, joysticks, or computer programs.21