Polyphony

Polyphony refers to the ability to play multiple notes at the same time, whether in composition or on an instrument. In sound synthesis, a polyphonic synthesizer can produce several voices simultaneously, unlike a monophonic synth, which plays only one note at a time. This allows for chords, melody with accompaniment, or rich layered textures. The number of available voices (e.g., 4, 8, 16, 64) defines a synthesizer’s or virtual instrument’s maximum polyphony.