The Logic of Noise Reduction

Abstract

Chapter 2 explores the conceptual implications of the myth of perfect fidelity by further analyzing the two case studies introduced in chapter 1. While analog noise reduction and the addition of “dither”-noise in the digital domain at first seem diametrically opposed (reducing and adding noise, respectively), closer analysis shows that they both serve to conceal the physical influence of the medium on the reproduced sound. Following a conceptual logic of noise reduction, they strive to achieve the most accurate copy of the “original” sound. Information theory has shown, however, that this influence of media technological transmission channels on the output signal is inevitable, because the physical limitations of the medium cannot be fully overcome. The chapter therefore suggests replacing the myth of perfect fidelity with the competing concept of a noise resonance of sound media, to account for the fact that noise, distortion, and randomness unavoidably shape all reproduced sound.