How Do They Do It?

The programme examines the operation of wood‑burning stoves, detailing how they generate heat and the principles behind their design. It also explores how the invention of the synthesiser transformed music permanently, outlining its electronic capabilities and the lasting influence on modern sound production.

The programme titled Wood Stoves/Indigo/Synthesiser is presented as a single episode that brings two seemingly unrelated subjects together. It is formatted as a straightforward documentary‑style look, offering viewers a concise overview rather than a dramatised narrative. In the first part the episode explains the way a wood‑burning stove operates. It walks through the basic principles that allow a stove to turn solid fuel into heat, describing the flow of air, the combustion process and the way the generated warmth is distributed within a room. The second part shifts focus to the history of the synthesiser, outlining how its invention altered the creation and performance of music. It points out the key change that electronic sound generation introduced, noting that the instrument’s development opened up new possibilities for composers and performers and has left a lasting impact on the musical landscape. Both sections are treated with a similar level of detail, allowing the programme to draw a loose parallel between two different kinds of technology. By juxtaposing the mechanical simplicity of a wood‑burning stove with the electronic complexity of the synthesiser, the episode provides a brief but clear illustration of how innovations—whether in heating or in sound—can reshape everyday life and artistic practice.