Meaning: The quote by musician Sean Booth delves into the concept of working in the digital domain and the use of approximations rather than the actual, full representation of something. In this case, he specifically refers to sound waves and how they are manipulated and processed in digital music production. This quote sheds light on the unique nature of digital technology and its impact on the creative process in music and other digital domains.

In the realm of digital music production, the manipulation and processing of sound waves are essential components of the creative process. Sound waves are the fundamental building blocks of audio, and in the analog domain, they are represented as continuous, physical phenomena. However, in the digital domain, these sound waves are not directly utilized. Instead, digital audio workstations (DAWs) and other software tools operate on digital representations of sound, which are essentially approximations of the original analog signal.

When a sound wave is digitized, it is sampled at discrete points in time, and each sample is assigned a numerical value that represents the amplitude of the wave at that specific moment. This process effectively reduces the continuous analog signal to a series of discrete data points, allowing it to be processed, manipulated, and stored in digital form. As a result, the "actual sound wave" as experienced in the analog domain "never enters the equation" in digital music production, as Booth states in the quote.

By working with these digital approximations of sound waves, music producers and sound designers are able to harness the power of digital technology to manipulate and shape audio in ways that would be impractical or impossible in the analog realm. Digital tools and techniques enable precise editing, manipulation of timbre, and the application of various effects and processing algorithms that can transform the original sound into entirely new sonic landscapes.

The reduction of the information to a finite amount, as mentioned in the quote, refers to the discrete nature of digital audio data. Unlike analog signals, which are continuous and theoretically infinite in resolution, digital audio is represented by a finite number of samples at a specific bit depth and sample rate. This finite representation allows for efficient storage, transmission, and processing of audio data, while still retaining a high level of fidelity and perceptual quality.

Furthermore, the ability to work with sections of the sound wave, as Booth describes, is a fundamental aspect of digital audio editing and production. In a DAW, audio tracks are visualized as waveforms, which represent the amplitude of the sound wave over time. Producers can select, cut, copy, paste, and manipulate these sections of audio with precision, allowing for creative editing and arrangement of the sound material.

In conclusion, Sean Booth's quote encapsulates the unique nature of working in the digital domain, particularly in the context of music production and sound design. The use of approximations of sound waves, the reduction of information to a finite amount, and the ability to work with sections of audio are all characteristic elements of the digital creative process. These aspects highlight the transformative power of digital technology in shaping and manipulating audio, enabling musicians and sound artists to explore new sonic possibilities and push the boundaries of creativity.