How Has Audio Evolved in the Last 30 Years?

To put things in perspective, Clinton was the U.S. President in 1994 when the magazine started. At that time, we mainly listened to music on CDs and watched movies on VHS. Our surround sound systems consisted of not more than five channels, plus LFE. We were viewing in standard definition, and almost surely using a CRT television. We have come a long way in just thirty years as things have changed!

You can practically say that all of the music produced now is recorded, processed, and released digitally. Recording studios and musicians are no longer required to produce music. And as of this year, you don’t even need an instrument to make music, you can just describe what you want to AI. Heck, you don’t have to even be a musician.

You can certainly argue that we have gone backward in many areas pertaining to the quality of music over the last thirty years. For example, the high acceptance of low-resolution digital audio, and the lack of attention given to music for playback including production, artwork, absence of instrumental solos, etc. Popular music has become watered-down in the form of simplicity and talent, but none of that is the focus of this article.

Gone are the common brick-and-mortar stereo shops in town, and along with them we are losing many of the skills required to set up audio equipment. Gone are so many of the affordable, yet high-quality recording studios, along with microphone and recording techniques, etc. These skills require first-hand experience to understand, and a lot of time to practice and develop.

Nobody can argue that there is more over-priced playback equipment and snake oil products now than ever before in history. At the same time, we have never had more affordable high-quality equipment available to us.

In the past three decades, there have been many audio technology advancements and innovations- too many to list here. There have been many developments in audio equipment and acoustics. However, most of the more significant advancements are in the computing and neurosciences. Because we have faster computing power and more storage capacity, we can do more. Here are some key advancements that have evolved in each of these areas:

Room Acoustics

Though the science of acoustics has been in development since Pythagoras (around 550 BC), it has only been since 1967 that we had enough computing power to analyze and correlate frequency, amplitude, and time simultaneously. It was more than a decade later before such devices became affordable enough for R&D firms to purchase, utilize, and apply before they began benefiting consumers. In the last thirty years:

1. Remote Data Collection

As an acoustic consultant, it used to be required that I travel to the site to collect the acoustic data of the space, which is needed to determine how to acoustically treat the room accurately. Now I can have the customer record an Impulse Response of the room and email me the data for computer modeling. It is about 75% as good as me going there myself for about half the cost to the customer.

2. Acoustic Simulation and Modeling

Advances in computational power and modeling techniques have greatly enhanced the ability to simulate and predict room acoustics. This includes the development of sophisticated algorithms for room impulse response simulations and ray tracing techniques.

3. Materials and Treatments

New materials and treatments to control and optimize room acoustics. These include advanced acoustic panels, diffusers, and absorbers designed using finite computational methods to achieve specific acoustic goals.

New membrane-type absorbers address lower frequencies in small rooms and can significantly improve room acoustics by taming room modes to create a more balanced sound environment.

New isolation materials and construction methods greatly improve privacy, as well as sound quality by lowering the noise floor, mitigating distractions, and improving dynamic range and low-level details in sound reproduction.

4. Spatial Audio

Techniques for creating immersive audio experiences have improved, with advancements in spatial audio rendering (and recording), more realistic sound fields can be simulated in acoustically controlled environments.

Audio Electronics

Audio electronics have been around for home use since the invention of the vinyl record in 1931. Before that, consumer music storage/playback was with acoustic devices. Looking at the timeline of music storage mediums, we have come a long way in less than 100 years. In the last thirty years:

1. Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

DSP is in full swing and has revolutionized audio processing, allowing for complex algorithms in real-time, such as equalization, dynamic range compression, and spatial effects to a practically unlimited number of tracks.

2. High-Resolution Audio

Advancements in digital audio converters (DACs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and the control of jitter have improved the fidelity and resolution of audio signals, enabling higher sampling rates and bit depths. Digital sounds smoother and with more space around the instruments.

3. Calibration and Alignment Tools

We now have instruments that are more affordable, more accurate, and easier to operate for calibrating display devices, signal levels, and turntable/arm/cartridge alignment. These tools get us far closer to experiencing what the artists intended and maximizing our systems’ capabilities.

4. Power Efficiency

Efforts in power management and efficiency have resulted in audio devices that consume less power while maintaining high performance, contributing to longer battery life in portable devices, and power in increasingly smaller devices.

5. Immersive Sound and Spatial Audio

Immersive sound technologies transport listeners into virtual worlds, creating more realistic audio experiences. 3D audio, binaural recordings, and object-based audio for gaming, watching movies, or attending a virtual concert. Spatial audio can enhance immersion and engagement.

6. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

ANC technology for headphones cancels out unwanted ambient noise, allowing you to better focus on music, a podcast, or a Zoom call without being distracted or annoyed by unrelated sounds. ANC has revolutionized headgear, making noisy environments more bearable, and safer, and improving overall audio quality.

7. Wireless Audio and Latency Reduction

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity mean no more tethered equipment and tangled cables! Easy to connect and freedom to move around. Innovations in wireless audio have minimized latency, ensuring seamless connections between devices. Whether you’re streaming music or participating in a video conference, low-latency wireless audio keeps you in sync.

8. Voice-Based Technologies and Microphones Everywhere

Voice assistants, smart speakers, and voice-controlled devices are everywhere. Microphones are now integrated into everyday gadgets. Voice interaction is shaping how we interact with our technology and communicate. From voice commands to transcription services, it’s all about convenience and efficiency.

9. Cloud-Based Storage

Cloud-based storage has really grown. From photos to music to movies, cloud storage means easy access to our favorite content, whether paid, rented, or through a subscription. In addition, we have access to things we otherwise might not be able to afford, or might not even know about. Just a few miles from where I live, both Google and Facebook have built acres and acres of computer storage.

10. Cloud-Based Audio Production

Cloud platforms enable collaborative audio production, mixing, and mastering. Musicians, podcasters, and sound engineers can collaborate seamlessly on projects across the globe, sharing performances and ideas effortlessly and even simultaneously.

11. Audio Analytics and AI-Powered Sound Manipulation

With signal processing and machine learning acoustics, AI algorithms can analyze audio data, enhance the sound quality, detect anomalies in the environment, etc. From optimizing concert hall acoustics to security to personalized playlists, AI-driven insights are shaping our auditory experiences.

Audio Neuroscience

With the development of new technologies, we can learn more about audio perception and how we interact with the world and ourselves through sound. This fascinating area of science correlates with biology and psychology and is only in its infancy. In the last thirty years:

1. Neuroscience and Music

Sound waves to brain waves. Scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of how our brains work and control us, so that we may be better at controlling our brains. Exploring how our brain processes sounds and music uncovers links between music, emotions, and memory. Understanding these neural pathways and how the brain processes helps biologists, doctors, musicians, engineers, etc. with everything from music therapy to audio design, and even marketing strategies. Of all our senses, sound controls our emotions the most. It is also the one that makes us feel the most connected to the world.

Music is often the best medicine. Music therapy is beneficial to the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. It is especially helpful to those suffering from Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, dyskinesia, Tourette’s syndrome, aphasia, stuttering, amnesia, and forms of dementia.

2. Understanding Perception

Research has deepened our understanding of how humans perceive and process sound, including localization, pitch perception, rhythm and harmony, and the impact of psychoacoustics on audio quality. Beyond that, how we internalize our sound memories and experiences.

3. Brain Imaging Techniques

Advances in neuroimaging techniques in complex frequency following response (FFR), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) have enabled researchers to study brain responses to audio stimuli in unprecedented detail.

4. Cognitive Hearing Science

This interdisciplinary field explores how cognition affects auditory perception, informing the design of audio technologies that are more intuitive and user-friendly.

5. Neural Interfaces

Research into neural interfaces for hearing aids, bone-conductive headphones, and cochlear implants has improved the efficacy and user experience of these devices, enhancing auditory perception for individuals with hearing impairments.

Overall, these advancements have collectively contributed to more immersive audio experiences, improved audio quality, and a better understanding of how humans interact with sound in various environments.

How Might Audio Evolve in the Future?

1. Immersive Soundscapes and Spatial Audio

Imagine stepping into your favorite song. The future holds even more immersive experiences where sound moves around you in three dimensions. Be it gaming, watching a movie, or attending a virtual concert, you’ll feel like you’re there in the action.

2. Personalized Sound Profiles

Our ears are unique and future audio tech will adapt to your individual hearing sensitivity and even your mood. Imagine headphones that adjust automatically based on whether you’re feeling chill or ready to conquer the world.

3. Smart Hearables and Wearables

No more clunky headphones. Smart earbuds and wearables will seamlessly blend tech with fashion. These little wonders won’t just play music; they’ll monitor your health, keep you safe, translate languages, protect your hearing, and maybe even warn you when you’ve had too many to drive.

4. Haptic Audio and Wearables

Combining audio with haptic feedback (vibrations or tactile sensations) could enhance our sensory experiences. Imagine feeling bass pressure not just through your ears but also through wearables. Imagine movies and gaming with wearables giving you more feedback as to what is happening in the scene. Imagine being able to make commands with silent gestures and touches.

5. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

While this is still in its infancy, BCIs could allow us to directly perceive audio without traditional speakers or headphones. Neural implants might transmit sound directly to our auditory cortex, bypassing the need for external devices.

6. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) Everywhere

ANC won’t be limited to headphones. Imagine noise-canceling walls for your home office.

7. Wireless Everything

Say goodbye to tangled-up cables, trip hazards, unsightly messes, and/or poor connections. Wireless audio will be as smooth as butter.

8. Voice-First Interfaces

Alexa, Siri, and their AI pals will be our friends. Voice-controlled devices will be everywhere. It will become annoying to hear everybody talking to their virtual assistants.

9. AI-Enhanced Soundscapes

AI algorithms will analyze your preferences, adjust audio in real time, and create personalized playlists tailored to your mood, traffic conditions, or occasion.

10. Ultra-High-Resolution Audio and Video

We’re talking audio and video so real that you might forget who and where you actually are.

There is a lot to be excited about now, and to look forward to in the future. One caution is that much of what I have mentioned involves outside systems and services that rely on the Internet to function. The internet is very vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters such as solar flares and/or electromagnetic pulses, cyberattacks, satellite failures, and even software upgrade failures. It is wise to own physical and local storage mediums that will work if the internet goes down. It is very possible that our old hard drives, magnetic tapes, polycarbonate, and vinyl discs could save our sanity in the future!