Synthesizer (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.sound.midi.Synthesizer interface
Date: 2026-08-19

javax.sound.midi

## Interface Synthesizer

- All Superinterfaces:
    AutoCloseable, MidiDevice

      public interface Synthesizer
      extends MidiDevice

  A `Synthesizer` generates sound. This usually happens when one of the `Synthesizer`'s `MidiChannel` objects receives a `noteOn` message, either directly or via the `Synthesizer` object. Many `Synthesizer`s support `Receivers`, through which MIDI events can be delivered to the `Synthesizer`. In such cases, the `Synthesizer` typically responds by sending a corresponding message to the appropriate `MidiChannel`, or by processing the event itself if the event isn't one of the MIDI channel messages.

  The `Synthesizer` interface includes methods for loading and unloading instruments from soundbanks. An instrument is a specification for synthesizing a certain type of sound, whether that sound emulates a traditional instrument or is some kind of sound effect or other imaginary sound. A soundbank is a collection of instruments, organized by bank and program number (via the instrument's `Patch` object). Different `Synthesizer` classes might implement different sound-synthesis techniques, meaning that some instruments and not others might be compatible with a given synthesizer. Also, synthesizers may have a limited amount of memory for instruments, meaning that not every soundbank and instrument can be used by every synthesizer, even if the synthesis technique is compatible. To see whether the instruments from a certain soundbank can be played by a given synthesizer, invoke the `isSoundbankSupported` method of `Synthesizer`.

  "Loading" an instrument means that that instrument becomes available for synthesizing notes. The instrument is loaded into the bank and program location specified by its `Patch` object. Loading does not necessarily mean that subsequently played notes will immediately have the sound of this newly loaded instrument. For the instrument to play notes, one of the synthesizer's `MidiChannel` objects must receive (or have received) a program-change message that causes that particular instrument's bank and program number to be selected.

  See Also:
    `MidiSystem.getSynthesizer()`, `Soundbank`, `Instrument`, `MidiChannel.programChange(int, int)`, `Receiver`, `Transmitter`, `MidiDevice`

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    - ### Nested classes/interfaces inherited from interface javax.sound.midi.MidiDevice

      `MidiDevice.Info`

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Instrument[]` | `getAvailableInstruments()` Obtains a list of instruments that come with the synthesizer.
    `MidiChannel[]` | `getChannels()` Obtains the set of MIDI channels controlled by this synthesizer.
    `Soundbank` | `getDefaultSoundbank()` Obtains the default soundbank for the synthesizer, if one exists.
    `long` | `getLatency()` Obtains the processing latency incurred by this synthesizer, expressed in microseconds.
    `Instrument[]` | `getLoadedInstruments()` Obtains a list of the instruments that are currently loaded onto this `Synthesizer`.
    `int` | `getMaxPolyphony()` Obtains the maximum number of notes that this synthesizer can sound simultaneously.
    `VoiceStatus[]` | `getVoiceStatus()` Obtains the current status of the voices produced by this synthesizer.
    `boolean` | `isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank soundbank)` Informs the caller whether this synthesizer is capable of loading instruments from the specified soundbank.
    `boolean` | `loadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank)` Loads onto the `Synthesizer` all instruments contained in the specified `Soundbank`.
    `boolean` | `loadInstrument(Instrument instrument)` Makes a particular instrument available for synthesis.
    `boolean` | `loadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank, Patch[] patchList)` Loads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the specified `Soundbank`.
    `boolean` | `remapInstrument(Instrument from, Instrument to)` Remaps an instrument.
    `void` | `unloadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank)` Unloads all instruments contained in the specified `Soundbank`.
    `void` | `unloadInstrument(Instrument instrument)` Unloads a particular instrument.
    `void` | `unloadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank, Patch[] patchList)` Unloads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the MIDI sound bank specified.

    - ### Methods inherited from interface javax.sound.midi.MidiDevice

      `close, getDeviceInfo, getMaxReceivers, getMaxTransmitters, getMicrosecondPosition, getReceiver, getReceivers, getTransmitter, getTransmitters, isOpen, open`

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getMaxPolyphony

          int getMaxPolyphony()

      Obtains the maximum number of notes that this synthesizer can sound simultaneously.
      Returns:
        the maximum number of simultaneous notes
      See Also:
        `getVoiceStatus()`

    - #### getLatency

          long getLatency()

      Obtains the processing latency incurred by this synthesizer, expressed in microseconds. This latency measures the worst-case delay between the time a MIDI message is delivered to the synthesizer and the time that the synthesizer actually produces the corresponding result.

      Although the latency is expressed in microseconds, a synthesizer's actual measured delay may vary over a wider range than this resolution suggests. For example, a synthesizer might have a worst-case delay of a few milliseconds or more.

      Returns:
        the worst-case delay, in microseconds

    - #### getChannels

          MidiChannel[] getChannels()

      Obtains the set of MIDI channels controlled by this synthesizer. Each non-null element in the returned array is a `MidiChannel` that receives the MIDI messages sent on that channel number.

      The MIDI 1.0 specification provides for 16 channels, so this method returns an array of at least 16 elements. However, if this synthesizer doesn't make use of all 16 channels, some of the elements of the array might be `null`, so you should check each element before using it.

      Returns:
        an array of the `MidiChannel` objects managed by this `Synthesizer`. Some of the array elements may be `null`.

    - #### getVoiceStatus

          VoiceStatus[] getVoiceStatus()

      Obtains the current status of the voices produced by this synthesizer. If this class of `Synthesizer` does not provide voice information, the returned array will always be of length 0. Otherwise, its length is always equal to the total number of voices, as returned by `getMaxPolyphony()`. (See the `VoiceStatus` class description for an explanation of synthesizer voices.)
      Returns:
        an array of `VoiceStatus` objects that supply information about the corresponding synthesizer voices
      See Also:
        `getMaxPolyphony()`, `VoiceStatus`

    - #### isSoundbankSupported

          boolean isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank soundbank)

      Informs the caller whether this synthesizer is capable of loading instruments from the specified soundbank. If the soundbank is unsupported, any attempts to load instruments from it will result in an `IllegalArgumentException`.
      Parameters:
        `soundbank` - soundbank for which support is queried
      Returns:
        `true` if the soundbank is supported, otherwise `false`
      See Also:
        `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`, `loadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `unloadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`, `unloadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `getDefaultSoundbank()`

    - #### loadInstrument

          boolean loadInstrument(Instrument instrument)

      Makes a particular instrument available for synthesis. This instrument is loaded into the patch location specified by its `Patch` object, so that if a program-change message is received (or has been received) that causes that patch to be selected, subsequent notes will be played using the sound of `instrument`. If the specified instrument is already loaded, this method does nothing and returns `true`.

      The instrument must be part of a soundbank that this `Synthesizer` supports. (To make sure, you can use the `getSoundbank` method of `Instrument` and the `isSoundbankSupported` method of `Synthesizer`.)

      Parameters:
        `instrument` - instrument to load
      Returns:
        `true` if the instrument is successfully loaded (or already had been), `false` if the instrument could not be loaded (for example, if the synthesizer has insufficient memory to load it)
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if this `Synthesizer` doesn't support the specified instrument's soundbank
      See Also:
        `unloadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`, `loadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `remapInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument, javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `SoundbankResource.getSoundbank()`, `MidiChannel.programChange(int, int)`

    - #### unloadInstrument

          void unloadInstrument(Instrument instrument)

      Unloads a particular instrument.
      Parameters:
        `instrument` - instrument to unload
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if this `Synthesizer` doesn't support the specified instrument's soundbank
      See Also:
        `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `unloadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`, `unloadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `getLoadedInstruments()`, `remapInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument, javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`

    - #### remapInstrument

          boolean remapInstrument(Instrument from,
                                  Instrument to)

      Remaps an instrument. Instrument `to` takes the place of instrument `from`.
      For example, if `from` was located at bank number 2, program number 11, remapping causes that bank and program location to be occupied instead by `to`.
      If the function succeeds, instrument `from` is unloaded.

      To cancel the remapping reload instrument `from` by invoking one of `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])` or `loadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`.

      Parameters:
        `from` - the `Instrument` object to be replaced
        `to` - the `Instrument` object to be used in place of the old instrument, it should be loaded into the synthesizer
      Returns:
        `true` if the instrument successfully remapped, `false` if feature is not implemented by synthesizer
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if instrument `from` or instrument `to` aren't supported by synthesizer or if instrument `to` is not loaded
        `NullPointerException` - if `from` or `to` parameters have null value
      See Also:
        `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`, `loadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`

    - #### getDefaultSoundbank

          Soundbank getDefaultSoundbank()

      Obtains the default soundbank for the synthesizer, if one exists. (Some synthesizers provide a default or built-in soundbank.) If a synthesizer doesn't have a default soundbank, instruments must be loaded explicitly from an external soundbank.
      Returns:
        default soundbank, or `null` if one does not exist.
      See Also:
        `isSoundbankSupported(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`

    - #### getAvailableInstruments

          Instrument[] getAvailableInstruments()

      Obtains a list of instruments that come with the synthesizer. These instruments might be built into the synthesizer, or they might be part of a default soundbank provided with the synthesizer, etc.

      Note that you don't use this method to find out which instruments are currently loaded onto the synthesizer; for that purpose, you use `getLoadedInstruments()`. Nor does the method indicate all the instruments that can be loaded onto the synthesizer; it only indicates the subset that come with the synthesizer. To learn whether another instrument can be loaded, you can invoke `isSoundbankSupported()`, and if the instrument's `Soundbank` is supported, you can try loading the instrument.

      Returns:
        list of available instruments. If the synthesizer has no instruments coming with it, an array of length 0 is returned.
      See Also:
        `getLoadedInstruments()`, `isSoundbankSupported(Soundbank)`, `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`

    - #### getLoadedInstruments

          Instrument[] getLoadedInstruments()

      Obtains a list of the instruments that are currently loaded onto this `Synthesizer`.
      Returns:
        a list of currently loaded instruments
      See Also:
        `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `getAvailableInstruments()`, `Soundbank.getInstruments()`

    - #### loadAllInstruments

          boolean loadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank)

      Loads onto the `Synthesizer` all instruments contained in the specified `Soundbank`.
      Parameters:
        `soundbank` - the `Soundbank` whose are instruments are to be loaded
      Returns:
        `true` if the instruments are all successfully loaded (or already had been), `false` if any instrument could not be loaded (for example, if the `Synthesizer` had insufficient memory)
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the requested soundbank is incompatible with this synthesizer.
      See Also:
        `isSoundbankSupported(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`

    - #### unloadAllInstruments

          void unloadAllInstruments(Soundbank soundbank)

      Unloads all instruments contained in the specified `Soundbank`.
      Parameters:
        `soundbank` - soundbank containing instruments to unload
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
      See Also:
        `isSoundbankSupported(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `unloadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `unloadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`

    - #### loadInstruments

          boolean loadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank,
                                  Patch[] patchList)

      Loads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the specified `Soundbank`. Each of the `Patch` objects indicates a bank and program number; the `Instrument` that has the matching `Patch` is loaded into that bank and program location.
      Parameters:
        `soundbank` - the `Soundbank` containing the instruments to load
        `patchList` - list of patches for which instruments should be loaded
      Returns:
        `true` if the instruments are all successfully loaded (or already had been), `false` if any instrument could not be loaded (for example, if the `Synthesizer` had insufficient memory)
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
      See Also:
        `isSoundbankSupported(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `Instrument.getPatch()`, `loadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `loadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `Soundbank.getInstrument(Patch)`, `Sequence.getPatchList()`

    - #### unloadInstruments

          void unloadInstruments(Soundbank soundbank,
                                 Patch[] patchList)

      Unloads the instruments referenced by the specified patches, from the MIDI sound bank specified.
      Parameters:
        `soundbank` - soundbank containing instruments to unload
        `patchList` - list of patches for which instruments should be unloaded
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - thrown if the soundbank is not supported.
      See Also:
        `unloadInstrument(javax.sound.midi.Instrument)`, `unloadAllInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `isSoundbankSupported(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank)`, `Instrument.getPatch()`, `loadInstruments(javax.sound.midi.Soundbank, javax.sound.midi.Patch[])`

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