What is sound?

While this seems like an odd question to ask, it is good to have a solid understanding of what sound is from an acoustic and digital perspective before even opening a DAW. While sound is a physical phenomenon, there are a lot of psychological processes that can be affected by or effect our perception of musical content.

Acoustic definition

From an acoustic standpoint, sound is created as rapid air pressure waves traversing through a medium, typically air, and ultimately reaching our ears. There, the vibrations impact our eardrums, converting into electrical signals processed by our brain. It's also important to note that sound is the energy from moving air molecules. Speakers don't really shoot air at your ears; instead, they push air back and forth to create these vibrations, similar to how a mexican wave can move through a crowd without any person actually changing position. This somewhat intricate explanation underscores that sound is a captivating and perceptual sensation. While we could delve into philosophical discussions, let's keep it straightforward: sound and music often transcend mere physical processes, and become a very psychoacoustic experience that creates emotions, recovers memories and influence your mood.

Consider this: the experience of listening to a song in solitude can evoke entirely different emotions than when shared with a group of friends. The music itself remains unchanged, yet our perception of it varies. Recognizing this nuance is crucial in music production. When critically assessing your work, it's essential to distance yourself from these perceptual feelings. However, when seeking creativity and embracing a vibe, tapping into those very feelings can be a powerful and enriching approach.

Just as people see colors differently due to biological randomness, the same applies to hearing. Each person hears things a bit differently, influenced by biology and the enviroment you grew up in. Although, as an audio engineer, you can hone your ears to pick up on things untrained ears may struggle to hear.

Digital definition

Looking at it from a digital perspective, like with any computer-based system, it essentially boils down to the binary code of 1's and 0's. Every element is precisely as it appears, and the ability to create flawless duplicates of audio is inherent. While this capability can result in music that sounds pristine or ultra-clean, which may be suitable for certain genres, many people appreciate the introduction of subtle discrepancies and organic unpredictability. This is what we would call adding groove or character to a song and it can be done in many ways.

Achieving this nuanced and genuine feel can be challenging within a completely "In-the-box" (fully digital) workflow compared to an "out-the-box" approach that involves analog gear and live recordings. However, it is not an impossible task. Many In-the-box tools are available to enhance the character of a song, and these will be explored in detail throughout this blog.