The chameleon-like capabilities of synthesizers have become an important component of music production and composition. With the advent of powerful computers and terrific-sounding, low-cost music-production tools, synthesizers have found their way into the home studios and computers of hobbyists as well as dedicated professionals, and theyare being used for tasks ranging from entertainment to music education, from dance music to the avant-garde. Understanding Synthesis explains the principles governing the way synthesizers create sound, including how acoustic sound characteristics relate to synthesizer parameters, types of synthesis, common synthesizer features, and how to create animated synthesizer sounds with your computer and sequencing software. This book will differ from hardware- or software-specific titles by providing an in-depth understanding of how synthesis works and how to make it work for you.