The Evolution of Music: An Analysis of Technology in Audio Engineering

This report examines the evolving role of technology in the music industry, focusing on the perspective of audio engineering. It traces the historical progression from the limitations of vinyl discs in the early 1900s to the revolutionary impact of analog tape machines in the 1950s and stereo recordings in the 1960s. The introduction of larger recording consoles in the 1970s and the digital revolution brought by compact discs in the 1980s further transformed music production. The integration of computer systems in the 1990s led to significant shifts, including the rise of home studios and challenges for traditional recording studios. The 21st century witnessed a technological explosion, with advanced computer hardware and software providing accessible recording options for everyone. The report concludes by highlighting the challenges faced by modern audio engineers, emphasizing the need for creativity and adaptability in maintaining professional-quality recordings amidst rapid technological advancements. Desklib provides access to this and other solved assignments to aid students in their studies.

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Technology role in the field of music
Audio engineering is a branch in which an engineer produces music for a living.
Recording is an art for audio engineer. An audio engineer creates music through technology.
Different persons, such as audiophiles, typically appreciate this art. Audio engineer use the
technology for creates sound that could be heard by everyone. Most of the people do not know
about the audio engineer, when they listen music as well as they do not know about the any
equipment used to make recording1.
Roger Scott Nichols was an innovative recording engineer. He has developed many
things in the music industry. Nichols has invented the technique of digital drum replacement
through the Wendell sampling computer. That was used to create percussion sounds. It was used
in hey Nineteen song, which was in Steely Dan’s album. He has invented digital atomic, which is
a rubidium nuclear clock. It was used to better synchronize digital recording equipment in the
recording studio.
Many artists are in the music industry are in famous because of the creativity and
expertise of the audio engineer. Recording technology makes a different impact on the music
industry as well as artist. The Beatles are famous because of amazing technical and creative beats
in the recording. George Martin has provided recording technology concept in front of world of
music industry. The Fab Four make it possible though their efforts and technology. They made
history in the process2.
1900-1940's an era of Vinyl Discs
In 1900’s, technologies were limited in most of the fields, such as education, business,
and medical sector. However, major technological developments have happened in that era. In
the recording studio, use of technology was limited at that time. Vinyl disc sales had not grown
as much to support large budget in the field of recording. Now, this would change dramatically.
1 Tay Vaughan, Multimedia: Making it work (2006) 145.
2 Amandine Pras Catherine Guastavino and Maryse Lavoie, ‘The impact of technological advances on recording
studio practices’ (2013) 64MLR 612.

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In 1900’s, same recording techniques were used for all records. The audio engineer was
not having a special part of creative process in that time. They has appointed for capture
performance of artists in recording studio. In that time, composer, artists, and mangers were
largely respective and responsible for production of music as well as success and failure of the
production.
1950's: Analog tape machines
In 1940’s, audio recording technology was developed in marketplace. However, its
impact felt in 1950’s. The Vinyl productions were having physical limitations. Therefore, its
performance was bad because of low frequency content and less time available on a disc.
Because of this basic issue, it destroyed beautiful performance of an artist.
New analog technology removed all these issues dramatically. In that era, audio engineer
was having an importance in recording studio. Audio tape was provided a better performance for
too long bass heavy recording. It has provided editing or tape compression facilities. Audio tape
could manage multiple performances easily. It has spilt between Side A and Side B.
1960's: Stereo recordings
Stereo recording technology introduced in 1960’s. That technology changes the way
recordings has made forever. Audio engineers were working with multi-track recording as well
as customers were enjoying stereo recording technology. In that era, mix engineer’s position
created in the industry. Individual instruments could record on separate track and audio engineer
made all of them in a single track with the help of multi-track recording3.
Stereo technology provided selective synchronization facility that allowed rerecording
individual performances. This would allow to audio engineer to layered additional parts in the
track. Because of that thing, any new instrument could added for making a performance better,
3 William Moylan, Understanding and crafting the mix: The art of recording (2014) 52.

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such as harmonies, doubles, and many other instruments. A new concept has created that time,
which was known as ‘overdubbing’4.
Production process has changed after that revolution in the field of recording. This
technology would grow fast in the future. In addition, it had an ability to separate and layer
performance. It would expend the time limit of recording. It would take months to complete
recording. However, it increases different options of mixing and managing different things for
better quality5.
Technology involvement created a strong role of an audio engineer in the music industry.
Recording studio had best audio engineers for handling complicated recording technology. In
past, audio engineer was having a technician post only, but now they would have more creative
role in recording studio. Music production process would require an audio engineer for
completing recording.
1970's: Larger recording consoles
In 1970’s, Roger Scott Nicholas awarded ‘Best Engineer Non-Classical’ award. There are
different digital instruments were arrived in the industry, such as compressors, parametric
equalizers, and many others. New microphones were used for external processing in the
recording studio. Many companies were introduced its products for making record better, such as
Lexicon and EMT. Mixing process would become most important part of the music composing.
All those equipment has created digital effects of music production process.
In the field of recording, there were new recording studios were built for better recording
of artist as well as better separation of instruments. Specific styles of music have being designed
in those recording studios. In that era, audio engineer would have an importance as for artists and
producers. Artists were hired best audio engineers for better quality of recordings. In the
recording industry, audio engender would became a famous person in music production process.
4 Ibo Van de Poel and Lamber Royakkers, Ethics, technology, and engineering: An introduction (2011) 98.
5 Russ Hepworth-Sawyer and Craig Golding, What is Music Production?: Professional techniques to make a good
recording great (2012).

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1980's: Revolution in analog technology by compact disc, and digital recording
In 1981, Roger Scott Nicholas was awarded ‘Best Engineer Non Classical’ for Steely
Dan. Compact Disc (CD) has introduced in 1980’s and it was a huge change in the recording
industry. CD’s were used for many purposes in the music industry, as they were used for
reselling every previously released album in compact disc form. It was digital technology, which
has introduced in the recording studio. It got a huge success on the consumer level. It was a
drastic change in this field.
Digital technology has provided many benefits over analog technology, such as copy
without loss of quality, increased dynamic range, and many others6.
In 1980’s, recording studios were got midi sequencers that allowing performance to be
captured as well as edited until perfected. There were much equipment introduced for generated
sound over real acoustic instruments, such as synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines. There
were few changes made in the recording studios because of that equipment, such as smaller
recording spaces for electronic musician, programmer, and many others.
In 1980’s, Dash machines were entered in the market of music production. They were
digital multi-track tape machines, which are alternative to analog tape machines. It would store
48 tracks of digital recording on half-inch tape.
1990's: Computer system involvement in recording
In 1990’s, music production industry saw an explosion of radical change in digital
recording. Computer systems were most popular and powerful force in the industry. That
exchanges the entire major recording console and tape machine manufactures. A computer
system were changes maximum things as they are providing better quality and services as
compared to analog technologies for the recording industry7.
Computer system was having different softwares for editing and mixing capabilities and
it is relatively cheap technology. Therefore, artists and producers were took their work into their
6 David King Dunaway, ‘Digital radio production: towards an aesthetic’2MLR29
7 Brendan Anthony, ‘Journal on the Art of Record Production’ (2013) 12.

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home studios for editing and mixing of music though computer systems. Because of that
technology, many of recording studios would close their doors forever. It was a drastic change in
this industry, recording studios would face challenges because of computer system, such as
decrease sales of CD’s. In market of music industry, there were many new technologies
introduces, such as internet that would provide files though websites, such as Napster.
That new model changed everything in the recording industry. Because of this model,
many big recording studios could not survive in the market.
2000's: Recording technology
In 21st century, new hardware of computer system provides a technological explosion. It
has rocked all the industries including recording industry8. Computer systems were having high-
speed processors, huge capacity in hard drive, and many more. Everyone is having a viable
option for recording at home. Anyone could mix, edit, record, and compose its own music in low
cost9.
It made changes in recording industry processes. Computer technology was having rapid
changes and many new types of software has created for music production. Those software
designs were targeted beats writers and DJs, which are very specific. Thus, this rapid growth has
been a challenge for the audio engineer10.
There are many changes in the hardware technology. Therefore, studios have designed
for once and they would never change without knowledge of chief technical engineer. It is more
difficult for new user to understand software-working processes. Every update is having new
features for particular work. Thus, simple interface has designed for software’s success11.
In present time, audio engineer have been faced many challenges. Therefore, they should
have more creative in their approach to recording as well as maintain professional quality
8 Brendan Anthony, ‘Mixing as a performance: Educating tertiary students in the art of playing audio equipment
whilst mixing popular music’ (2018) 1MLR 103
9 Amandine Pras, 2 What has been left unsaid about studio practices (2016) 27.
10 Jason Corey, Audio production and critical listening: Technical ear training,( 2016) 58.
11 David T Tough, Developing a consensus-driven, core competency model to shape future audio engineering
technology curriculum: A web-based modified Delphi study. (2009) 45.

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recording. An experience audio engineer can provide better work at their home studios as
compared to other engineer at pro studios12.
12 Paula Wolfe , ‘A Studio of One’s Own: music production, technology and gender’ (2012) 7MLR 87

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Anthony B ‘Journal on the Art of Record Production’ (2017)
Anthony B, ‘Mixing as a performance: Educating tertiary students in the art of playing audio
equipment whilst mixing popular music’ (2018) 1MLR 103
Corey J, Audio production and critical listening: Technical ear training (2016)
Dunaway D K, ‘Digital radio production: towards an aesthetic’ (2008) 2 MLR 29
Hepworth-Sawyer R and Craig G, What is Music Production?: Professional techniques to make
a good recording great (2012).
Moylan W, Understanding and crafting the mix: The art of recording (2014)
Pras A., Guastavino C and Lavoie M, ‘The impact of technological advances on recording
studio practices’(2013) 64MLR 612.
Pras, A, 2 What has been left unsaid about studio practices (2016)
Tough D T, Developing a consensus-driven, core competency model to shape future audio
engineering technology curriculum: A web-based modified Delphi study (2009)
Van de Poel I and Lamber R, Ethics, technology, and engineering: An introduction (2011)
Vaughan T, Multimedia: Making it work (2006).
Wolfe P, ‘A Studio of One’s Own: music production, technology and gender’ (2012) 7MLR 87