A synthesizer is an electronic instrument that uses some form of digital or analog processing to produce audible sound. As their name might suggest, most synthesizers seek to artificially reproduce (or synthesize) the sounds of acoustic instruments like those listed above. Synthesizers that emulate acoustic instruments do not generate sounds the same way that an acoustic instrument does. For instance, many electronic synthesizers contain settings labeled "piano," which means that the setting will produce a sound that evokes an 88-key classical piano but that is actually produced by a series of electronic tone generators. The physical activity that makes a piano produce sound-a felted hammer striking tuned strings-never occurs with the synthesizer. So, if you want to know how your synthesizer works, without having to waste time to figure it all out on your own, grab this book today.