Every synthetic data project starts with the same question: Which synthesizer should I use?
The answer: it depends. The right choice depends on your data, schema, and constraints.
SDV Enterprise offers 13 synthesizers across single-table, multi-table, and sequential data. Some are general-purpose, while others are built for specific problems. They span a range of approaches—from classical statistical methods to GANs and variational autoencoders—each designed for different scenarios.
To make selection easier, we created a cheatsheet that maps each synthesizer: the type of data it supports, the algorithm behind it, what it is designed for, and where it is available.
A few patterns worth knowing:
Single-table models
→ GaussianCopula: the recommended starting point — fast, customizable, and a strong baseline → Neural network synthesizers (CTGAN, TVAE): trade speed for flexibility when modeling complex distributions → XGC: extends the copula approach with more flexible distributions and faster runtime
Multi-table synthesizers
→ HMA: exhaustive modeling of parent–child relationships across the schema → Independent: optimized for speed and scale → HSA: balances speed with preserving essential cross-table relationships
Specialty synthesizers
→ Bootstrap: designed for small datasets → Segment: built for highly segmented data → DayZ: designed for day-zero data generation → DPGC: enables differentially private synthetic data generation → PAR: models multi-entity sequential data
Save this cheatsheet. Before your next project, take a look and see if it helps you make that first decision.
Which synthesizer is your team using and why did you choose it?
Docs for every synthesizer on the sheet:
Single-table → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/single-table-synthesizers
GaussianCopula → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/single-table-synthesizers/gaussiancopulasynthesizer
Bootstrap → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/single-table-synthesizers/bootstrapsynthesizer Segment → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/single-table-synthesizers/segmentsynthesizer
Sequential → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/sequential-synthesizers PAR → https://docs.sdv.dev/sdv/modeling/sequential-synthesizers/parsynthesizer