A SAM will have an armature which is operated by an electrically induced magnetic field and dependent on whether the SAM is being used with a drawknob or a tilting tablet on a classically voiced organ or with a flat tab on a theatre organ, the armature will move in either a linear fashion or with semi-circular movement, in a small defined arc.
With a theatre organ the tab attached to each SAM is raised or lowered by the player to operate the switch contact/s.
Whilst hand registering the organ is often carried out, this can only be used to facilitate small changes in the overall tonal colour, due to physical restrictions.
Furthermore, combinations of registration changes can be stored in electronic or electromechanical memory which forms part of the organ's combination action, for instant recall at the touch of a button (piston) and translated into electrical impulses used to operate multiple SAMs.
Most organs will have a General Cancel button for the purpose of entire cancellation, whilst at least one style of pipe organ manufactured by the John Compton company in the 20th century uses an ingenious system known as Second Touch Cancel, where each SAM has an extra contact fitted which is operated by depressing any single SAM's tab past its normal 'on' position, and which serves to switch all associated SAMs in its department to the 'off' position.