The world of sound engineering has never evolved as quickly as it has in the last three decades.
What was once a trade defined by analog consoles, tape machines, and hands-on apprenticeship is now characterized by digital audio workstations, virtual instruments, and cloud-based collaboration.
As a result, many seasoned engineers and newer practitioners often feel they inhabit two different technological worlds, leading to a noticeable disconnect.
This divide, however, is not a matter of superiority or deficiency on either side, but rather an outcome of distinct experiences and relationships with the tools of the craft.
Veteran music producer, Zapp Mallet, has praised Ghana’s young sound engineers, saying they’re doing well, though he notes a disconnect between older and newer generations in the music industry.
He attributes this gap to technology, which has made it easy for young artistes to learn and produce music independently.
“I hear some of the sounds and I’m very proud. I don’t know if it’s AI or not but I’m impressed with it. I can’t take that away from them. They are also doing their best. But the thing is that, there have been a disconnect between the older and the newer generation. My generation hasn’t connected well with these young ones so I don’t blame them for their flaws if there are any. Some of them just got the opportunity to own a microphone and just got into business.”
Zapp Mallet
He said he didn’t blame anyone because technology had affected the way of life. He said it had come to stay and affected so many things in everyday life.
He emphasized that what was important was to assess the situation and see how they could go around it because at the end of the day, they were human beings and not robots.
Zapp Mallet believes the Ghana music industry “could be better” and emphasizes the need for improvement.
Older generations of sound engineers built their skills in an era when learning required long hours in physical studios, often starting with tasks as simple as coiling cables or aligning tape heads.
Through mentorship, they absorbed a deeply tactile understanding of signal flow, gain staging, microphone physics, and the analog limitations that shaped the sonic character of classic recordings.
Their expertise rests on listening deeply and solving problems with minimal technological assistance.
In contrast, many younger sound engineers entered the field in a digital-first environment. Affordable laptops and free or low-cost DAWs allowed a generation to explore mixing, sound design, and music production without access to traditional studios.
Instead of learning through apprenticeship, newer engineers often develop independently by watching tutorials, experimenting with plugins, and working virtually with artists around the world.
They have grown comfortable with rapid iteration, automation, and hybrid workflows where experimentation is fast and mistakes are easily undone. For them, technology is not just a tool, it is the environment in which creativity happens.
These differences create friction. Older engineers sometimes perceive newer engineers as overly reliant on presets or lacking foundational knowledge. Newer engineers, in turn, view analog approaches as outdated or unnecessarily slow.
But these perceptions overlook the strengths each brings to the table. Classic engineers understand sonic nuance, signal integrity, and musicality in ways that software alone cannot provide.
Younger engineers bring fresh perspectives, technological fluency, and adaptability vital for modern production environments.
Bridging the Gap
Ultimately, the disconnect is not a problem of competence; it is a communication gap. Bridging it requires intention.
Mentorship programs, hybrid workflows in studios, and collaborative online spaces can foster mutual respect. When experienced engineers share knowledge about acoustics, mic technique, and critical listening, they preserve the craft’s foundations.
When younger engineers introduce new tools, plugins, and workflow efficiencies, they push the field forward. Both perspectives are necessary.
In an industry where technology will only continue to accelerate, the future of sound engineering depends on blending the wisdom of the past with the innovation of the present.
The disconnect between generations is real, but it is also an opportunity, one that, if embraced, can advance the craft in ways neither generation could achieve alone.
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