How has technology enhanced your personal experience of music?
As both a consumer and producer of music, technology has certainly changed my experience of music. Whether it has enhanced my enjoyment of music is a point of debate.
As a creator / producer: I used to have a 4 track cassette portastudio to capture ideas and produce songs. The power of everyday computing devices is such that it now possible to produce music of extraordinary complexity from the bedroom studio. MIDI, unlimited tracks on DAWs, the availability of free or relatively cheap Virtual Studio Technology (VST) audio fx & instruments means we are at a point where the music that we produce is only limited by our imagination and skills. I can capture an idea on my phone right there and then and develop it later.
Disadvantages: The added complexity means that music is potentially less spontaneous. With technologies such as MIDI, autotune and the like, it becomes possible to “fix” things and make the music “perfect”, but also sterile.
As a consumer: The possibility of listening to pretty much any commercial recording ever made, stored or streamed on the computer or mobile phone, anywhere.
Disadvantages: The loss of value (in the broadest sense) of music because it is ever present and easy to get hold of. Relative ease of file sharing and piracy.
What in your opinion have been the most significant technological advances in music and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
The development of music notation, from neumes to the modern notation that exist today, means that music can be transcribed and printed and is less likely to be lost than if it was based on a purely oral tradition.
Disadvantages: With the invention of notation the music is written down and becomes “fixed” and confined to the limitations of the notation and conventions of the time. One could lose the potential subtleties of an oral tradition such as microtonal which western notation cannot notate very easily.
The development of audio recording from Thomas Edison onwards. This meant music could be enjoyed without the presence of musicians to perform it.
Disadvantages: Less employment opportunities for musicians. Less effort required by the listener to experience the music, as the music is now heard outside of the concert hall and it becomes a different listening experience.
The development of equal temperament tuning. This meant that it was possible to play in any key without the music sounding out of tune.
Disadvantages: Uniformity of music. Our ears become accustomed to music being heard in a certain way. Performances of older pieces today might sound different to the time in which they were originally performed.
Electricity and amplification has allowed PA systems that can be used in large halls and festivals where many thousands of people can “commune” together.
Disadvantages: Rather difficult to create an intimate & connected performance between artist and concert-goer.
The development of the synthesizer. This made it possible to create new sounds and textures that would be impossible to create in nature using acoustic instruments.
Disadvantages: Sounds might not “sit” comfortably with other instruments. Potentially difficult to recreate the sound if special equipment is required and exact settings of the synth are not documented.
Jim Mennell Music 