If you think iPods and pocket players already have enough, you don’t know what music should sound like. Read on why it is so. All that you have been consuming was fast food, but not nutrition and ‘life’! In this guide, we’ll let you know how technology can kill or kiss music?
When William Shockley, Walter Houser Brattain, and John Bardeen, invented a transistor, the first application was an audio amplifier that was wired by their students and plaid music to the loudest until late hours. The inventors felt a nuisance of their own invention. However, that invention changed the very course of all electronics and computers in the entire world in the years to come. For the first time in history, an engineering application was given a Nobel prize in Physics. In 1956, they shared the prize.
The interesting point here is, that the immediate conceivable idea that came to an engineer was audio! And for music!
Gramophones, Cones, the Mechanical Permutations of Technology bent on Sound:
The first-ever amplifier was non-electrical. It was completely mechanical. The horn picked vibrations directly from the stylus and shouted it loud. The loudness was a mathematical function of the shape, length, and overall design of the horn. Eventually, thermionic valves replaced the mechanics. They offered an excellent linear response to a wide audio frequency range. Even today there are loyal engineers, who would design a music system around valves. Eventually, valves were replaced by transistors and integrated chips which offered compactness, less power consumption, and more output power.
But a linear frequency response for an entire spectral range is a tradeoff even today. Keeping aside the history, at the moment we are on the stage, where we compromised the quality of music for compactness and efficiency. Other engineers argue it’s a tradeoff, but being both an artist and engineer, I call it a compromise. Read more about How Music Helps With Stress?
We humans, fundamentally love art. We love pictures and sound. The ability to manipulate pictures and sounds is a never-ending journey, both in the trajectories of technology and aesthetics. Our lives depend on it. Music is a natural response to life. Life responds in return. We create it and consume it. It is created out of life and merges back into life.
Coming to Terms with the Oddball Relationship Between Music and Technology
I used too many ‘life here because I am searching for them in the contemporary music world. Technology is not always about offering a solution, but commanding us to use it or restricting our choices. The fundamental aim of art is to bridge the creator and consumer. It is not just about the final output, but also how the creator, created it. Don’t we visualize the artist, the process of creation, at least once when we hear music?
- The quality of music reproduction I mentioned is affected by various factors, those I will be discussing in the next couple of installments. They are
- Size matters. Pods and smartphones use cheap Class-D amplifiers on the outputs. The least budget is spent on the audio section in most. It is a quick fix. No linearity. No wide frequency response. If you want to achieve more in a small space, do a dirty trick!
- Quantity is quality with music. Most music compression is lossy. Vital portions of the music are compromised for efficient storage. When the cost of a hard disk or solid-state memory was high, compression made sense as a choice. But the ‘raw’ quality of music demands a lot more than what is offered in today’s compression.
- Why a physical-music sale still makes sense. It compliments online sales. And how to do it.
- The economics and new opportunity for creators and consumers.
Music is an ecosystem of much more than a creator, consumer, and mediator. The people hiding in between are technologists. We will be discussing them rigorously in my next posts.
How Streaming Changed the Music Business
Streaming is now the main way people listen to music. In the United States, streaming brings in more than 80 percent of recorded music revenue, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Spotify launched in 2008. Apple Music launched in 2015. Today, millions of songs are one tap away. This is good for listeners. It is harder for artists. A single stream pays very little. Artists need millions of streams to earn real money. Live shows and merchandise now matter more. Many artists earn more from concerts than from recordings. Streaming also changed how songs are made. Songs are shorter now. The chorus often starts sooner. Artists want to catch the listener fast.
Lossy vs Lossless Audio
Most music files are compressed. MP3 and AAC are lossy formats. They remove parts of the sound to make the file small. You cannot hear all the removed parts, but some detail is gone. FLAC and ALAC are lossless formats. They keep all the sound data. The file is bigger, but the quality is higher. A CD holds 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio. That is the old standard for good sound. Today, Apple Music and Amazon Music offer lossless streaming. You need good headphones to hear the difference. Cheap earbuds will not show it. Wired headphones usually sound better than Bluetooth. Bluetooth compresses the sound again. Some Bluetooth codecs, such as LDAC and aptX, keep more quality. But wired is still the best for pure sound.
How Technology Helps Musicians Make Music
Technology also helps musicians create. A home studio is now cheap. Free software such as GarageBand lets anyone record a song. Professional tools such as Ableton Live and FL Studio run on a normal laptop. Musicians can record, mix, and master at home. They do not need a big studio. They can share music online in minutes. Services such as DistroKid and TuneCore put songs on Spotify and Apple Music. Social media helps new artists get found. A short video can make a song famous overnight. Technology gave musicians freedom. They no longer need a record label to reach listeners.
Vinyl’s Comeback
Vinyl records are back. In the United States, vinyl sales passed CD sales in 2022, according to the RIAA. That was the first time since the 1980s. Vinyl sales have grown for more than 15 straight years. Many buyers are young. They like the large cover art. They like the ritual of putting a record on. They like owning a physical copy. Vinyl does not sound “better” than digital in every way. It has pops and crackles. But many people enjoy the warm sound. Vinyl shows that old technology can still have value. It also shows that physical music still makes sense.
How to Hear Music at Its Best
You do not need expensive gear to enjoy music more. Start with good headphones or speakers. Try a lossless streaming plan. Turn off the sound enhancer on your phone. It can distort the music. Keep the volume down. The World Health Organization warns that loud listening can damage hearing. Take breaks during long sessions. Store your music files in a good format if you keep them offline. FLAC is a good choice. Clean your headphones often. Dirt and wax block sound. Small steps can make a big difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between lossy and lossless audio?
Lossy formats such as MP3 and AAC remove parts of the sound to make small files. Lossless formats such as FLAC and ALAC keep all the sound data. The files are bigger, but the quality is higher.
Does streaming pay artists well?
No. A single stream pays very little. Artists need millions of streams to earn real money. Live shows and merchandise now matter more for many artists.
Why are vinyl records popular again?
In the United States, vinyl sales passed CD sales in 2022, according to the RIAA. Many buyers like the large cover art, the ritual of playing a record, and owning a physical copy.
Do wired headphones sound better than Bluetooth?
Yes, in most cases. Bluetooth compresses the sound. Wired headphones do not. Some Bluetooth codecs such as LDAC and aptX keep more quality, but wired is still best for pure sound.
Can I make music at home without a studio?
Yes. Free software such as GarageBand lets anyone record a song. Services such as DistroKid and TuneCore put songs on Spotify and Apple Music.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. Prices, features and services change over time. Check the provider’s website for current details before you buy or subscribe.
Last Updated: 6 November 2026