When it comes to technology and transition, it seems that the arts are often overlooked. However, in the long run, these artistic areas have the most to gain or lose. The field of music is one artistic environment that seems to be continually shaped by the waves of technology.
When you think about it, everybody is involved in music in some way. Who does not like music? New technology in music has changed the way we listen to music and the ways we make music, as hardware and technological advances have transcended pop culture.
The world of music has shifted and is very different from your parents' days, with synthesisers to DAWs and CD players to iPhones. So, how did music come to be where it is now?
In a world dominated by digital, digital instruments, and digital sources, it's time to take a step back and explore some of the technology that has led us to this point in music history, in order to better understand where the industry is headed. Here are some of the most significant technological innovations in the music industry.
The Phonograph
Let's go back in time; a long time ago. Thomas Edison is well-known for many things. He is, however, largely forgotten for inventing the phonograph. In a nutshell, the phonograph brought music into people's living rooms all over the world. Music, which was invented in 1877, was traditionally reserved for live shows for the upper crust in ballrooms or concerts.
Let's go back in time to a distant past. Thomas Edison is well-known for a variety of accomplishments. For inventing the phonograph, he is, however, largely forgotten. The phonograph, in a nutshell, brought music into people's living rooms all over the world. Music, which was invented in 1877, was usually reserved for live shows in ballrooms or concerts for the upper crust.
Electric Guitar
What would we do if the electric guitar didn't exist? Or, to put it another way, how many of your favourite songs feature an electric guitar? Les Paul, who invented the guitar in 1941, had no idea that his creation would forever change the musical landscape. As you are probably aware, the electric guitar was instrumental in ushering in a new age in rock 'n' roll.
The electric instrument's new age sound, combined with its ease of use, made it a must-have for up-and-coming musicians looking to push the boundaries of music. Consider where your favourite musician would be today if the electric guitar hadn't been invented.
Multiple Track Recordings
Multitrack recording was like the advent of the rocket to space travel in the world of music, and it is now taken for granted. Though it's difficult to believe now that all is digital, musicians and sound engineers once had to record an entire track in one take.
Multitrack recording enabled songs to be divided into parts and recorded one at a time, allowing for more creativity and time to perfect songs and albums.
Your favourite pop albums would almost certainly never have been released if multitrack recording had not been used. Consider what would happen if none of Queen's masterpieces were ever put together. That's right.
Effects Pedals
Effect pedals were the bee's knees when they were first introduced to the world of music, despite the fact that most of these effects can now be recreated digitally. Effect pedals, as their names suggest, allowed musicians to add effects to their music, such as distortion, reverb, and chorus, to various parts of a track.
Effect pedals allowed musicians to add a new dimension to their performances, and they have long dominated music festivals and live studios.
The Synthesizer
You probably saw it coming, and if you're reading this, you might even have a few synthesisers in your home studio. The ability to produce or even mimic the massive sounds heard in live orchestras led to the invention of the synthesiser.
Synthesizers, which were once prohibitively expensive, are now powerful instruments with a plethora of sounds that have literally ushered in decades of wavy music. Here's a problem for you to solve. Try to recall ten pop songs from each decade, beginning with the 1970s, that do not feature synthesisers off the top of your head.
The Revolver
Is this the second generation of the phonograph? Not at all. The turntable, on the other hand, was an essential component of hip hop, which is currently one of, if not the most, popular genres in the world. Aspiring DJs were able to add their own spins on popular songs thanks to the playback system, which spawned other hugely popular genres including techno and house music.
MIDI Controller
You probably have a Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, if you don't have a synthesiser. Users may use this technology to connect to a computer or another musical device and play several electronic instruments at the same time.
You can play piano one minute and then move to guitar or harp the next without missing a beat if you use a midi controller.
In short, the MIDI allowed musicians to access a variety of sounds that would otherwise be difficult or prohibitively expensive to acquire all at once.
Auto-Tune
If you despise it or admire it, The impact of auto-tune on the music industry in the twentieth century are still being felt today. With the invention of the Vocoder, musicians were able to bend and control their voice almost as much as an instrument. From Kraftwerk to Kanye West, auto-tune has been used in music.
Personal Computer (PC)
This is perhaps one of the most noticeable influences on music, as it has produced a slew of bedroom stars, some of whom have gone on to become superstars. The PC enables anyone with a computer to enter the world of music and build without the need for a studio or even instruments. You could go out right now and make your own music on your computer if you wanted to.
