Looking Toward the Future of Acoustical Engineering

Humanity has come a long way since we first learned to record sounds on wax tubes that could be played back on phonographs. There’s a certain novelty to setting up one of these ancient music players and hearing what audio enthusiasts listened to in the late 1800s. 

However, it’s nothing compared to the advances we’ve made in the last few decades — or the ones on the horizon. What are some of the most exciting acoustic engineering advances of the last decade, and what does the future of acoustical engineering look like?

Exploring the Subdisciplines of Acoustical Engineering

Acoustical engineering is the branch of engineering dealing with sound and vibration. However, it breaks down further into a variety of subdisciplines that more accurately describe the type of work these engineers do. Some of the most common subdisciplines of acoustical engineering include: 

• Aeroacoustics: Noise generated by the movement of air, often applies to wind instruments, aircraft and wind turbines. 
• Audio signal processing: The science of manipulating audio signals with electronic means using both analog and digital processing. 
• Architectural acoustics: The science of achieving good sound or acoustics within a building. This discipline is essential in music halls and theaters, but can also be necessary for homes and commercial buildings. 
• Bioacoustics: Studying the science of sound production and hearing in animals. Bioacoustics engineers study the sounds that animals make, as well as the effects of manmade sounds on animals. 
• Electroacoustics: This subdiscipline works with sound engineering, specifically the design of headphones, microphones, speakers and other tools for reproducing or recording sound. 
• Environmental acoustics: These engineers address and find solutions for noise pollution caused by a variety of sources, including traffic, aircraft, concerts, and other sounds that may be considered a nuisance.
• Musical acoustics: As its name suggests, musical acoustics is the study of how music works, including everything from musical instruments to the human voice. 
• Noise control: Another subdiscipline that works alongside the environmental acoustics crew, working on reducing noise to protect individual hearing and preventing noise pollution. 
• Psychoacoustics: A branch of acoustical engineering that focuses on how humans respond to sound, whether they’re listening to music that they enjoy or something unpleasant like nails on a chalkboard. 
• Speech: The concept of speech — the production, processing, and perception — falls under the acoustical engineering umbrella. Those who specialize in speech work on everything from ensuring that voices are reproduced accurately to ensuring that things spoken are understood accurately. 
• Ultrasonics: These soundwaves vibrate at too high a frequency to be heard by human ears, but they are valuable in medicine and underwater exploration, as a couple of examples. Fetal ultrasounds during pregnancy and the sonar used by submarines would both be examples of ultrasonics.
• Underwater acoustics: The sonar mentioned above also falls under the category of underwater acoustics. This subdiscipline examines how sound propagates underwater, from both man-made and natural sources. 
• Vibration and dynamics: Acoustical engineering isn’t all about audible sound. The vibration and dynamics subdiscipline examines the impact of vibration, stemming from both man-made sources and natural causes, such as earthquakes. This can be valuable for protecting human life, preventing architectural failure, and much more. 

There is so much more to acoustical engineering than meets the eye. Moreover, the industry has undergone significant changes over the last decade. 

Recent Advances in Audio Engineering

What are some of the most exciting innovations in acoustical engineering in the last decade?

We’ve seen inflatable concert halls appear in the strangest locations. They give sound engineers the perfect canvas to create the ideal stage for musical acts. Once the building is inflated and ready to go, sound engineers can manipulate the interior acoustics just as they would in any other building. 

3D impulse response management enables acoustic engineers to create a 3D visualization of a room’s acoustics using a set of microphones. This makes it easier to spot problem areas that might be difficult to pinpoint with the human ear. It also eliminates potential disputes if sound engineers can’t agree on the root of the problems.

On the other hand, 3D sound technology enables sound engineers and musicians to create a truly immersive experience. They achieve this by recording in the center of a 64-microphone sphere. This recording technology has value for architectural acoustics. Applications for gaming or even clinical uses may also exist.

Bringing augmented or virtual reality to the party adds the practice of acoustic holography. It enables engineers to create a real-time picture of sound patterns. This could help engineers concerned with noise pollution and those trying to create the perfect acoustics for a musical performance or play.

What Does the Future of Acoustical Engineering Hold?

It’s exciting to look at how far the industry of acoustical engineering has come. But it’s even more thrilling to imagine what the future might hold. What are acoustical engineers working to achieve?

Acoustic Metamaterials

Acoustic metamaterials are a bit of an unknown quantity. They work to completely absorb sound, creating something of an acoustic black hole. People may use them to modify the acoustics of a particularly problematic space. Acoustic metamaterials might even soundproof rooms or buildings more effectively than other options.

These materials have a unique niche in ensuring privacy. They absorb sound so effectively that someone in a metamaterial shielded space could have a conversation on speakerphone or listen to music without headphones without disturbing the person next to them. Acoustic metamaterials could also be a valuable tool for construction sites or areas with high noise pollution. Construction in densely populated areas poses challenges because noise ordinances limit workable hours. 

Gesture Control

Gestural control is another tool just beginning to emerge in acoustical engineering. It doesn’t yet mimic the display we’ve seen in science fiction. However, it doesn’t take much to set up a gestural control system with existing technology. Imagine a conductor directing the orchestra, controlling volume, acoustics and every other aspect of the performance. They could do that with nothing more than a wave of their hand. 

3D Audio

3D and spherical audio have also shaken up the industry. They create immersive audio experiences to change how people experience music, movies, and other forms of audio engineering. Industry experts aim to create immersive experiences with nothing more than a pair of over-ear headphones. These experts predict that by 2030, immersive 3D audio will be in every off-the-shelf audio device. By 2040, these devices will surpass the best, most expensive equipment for audiophiles today. People should also expect more 3D audio recordings in future movies and music.

Music Recordings

Recording music in the massive studios used today will also become a thing of the past. The transition from analog to digital is expected to eliminate the need for mixing consoles and hardware that are considered standard today. In a way, it’s not unlike how spacecraft have evolved. The Apollo capsules and even the Space Shuttle were filled with switches and buttons — and accompanied by a massive instruction manual that the astronauts had to study and memorize to complete their missions. Today, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft essentially flies itself, with controls on a touchscreen and those massive instruction manuals condensed into an iPad that gets strapped to the astronaut’s thigh. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Acoustical Engineer, and What Do They Do?

Have you ever noticed how great the music sounds in a concert hall? An acoustical engineer is the architect behind the experience, ensuring that the sound is amazing no matter where you are sitting for a performance. 

They help design spaces with great acoustics, whether it’s an office, classroom, library, or movie theater. Acoustical engineers also apply their knowledge to reduce noise levels, such as in highways and airplanes. These professionals utilize specialized tools and equipment to control how sound travels, ensuring it comes through clearly and pleasantly, or quietly. 

You might also find acoustical engineers working in the environmental field, where they might study the effects of vessel noise on whale communication using underwater microphones, or use sound as a monitoring metric for a healthy rainforest. 

In the medical field, acoustical engineering is applied to ultrasound technologies that enable doctors to see the inside of the human body.

What Schools Offer Acoustical Engineering Degrees?

Finding a college or university with a dedicated acoustical engineering program is rare. However, there are several schools with strong curricula in mechanical engineering and physics with specializations and courses in acoustics and noise control. Students often enroll in these undergraduate programs before progressing into a graduate or doctoral program in acoustics. 

Institutions with acoustics-related degrees — mainly at the graduate level — include the following:

• Penn State University: Its mechanical engineering degree program has an acoustics track with an emphasis on classical field training. 
• University of Hartford: The school has an Acoustical Engineering and Music Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) program and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree with an acoustics concentration.
• Purdue University: It offers a Multidisciplinary Engineering BSE with an Acoustical Engineering concentration.
• Georgia Tech: It integrates acoustical engineering into its Mechanical Engineering program and others, with a strong focus on vibration, sound in fluids, and music tech and earthquake detection applications.

How Do You Become an Acoustical Engineer?

Aspiring acoustical engineers typically start their education pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, mathematics or acoustics. Many programs offer specialized courses or concentrations in vibration, sound control and digital signal processing.

Oftentimes, college graduates continue their studies in a graduate or doctoral program for more advanced learning and research-based careers. Internships, co-op programs and other practical experiences prove invaluable as they learn to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems.

It is important to acquire technical, computational and communication skills to set yourself up for success as an acoustical engineer. You should understand frequency bands and how noise affects people, while deepening your expertise in sound waves and the human ear’s function. 

Many jobs in this field require you to write and present technical reports, use various software programs and make acoustical recommendations. Sharpening your skills in these areas is important for optimal job performance.

What Is the Typical Salary of an Acoustical Engineer?

Acoustic engineering is a rewarding career choice with numerous opportunities for professional development and advancement. In 2026, the average entry-level salary in the United States is $63,000, but with years of experience, you can earn up to $157,000. 

On average, the base median salary for an acoustic engineer is $103,119, falling within the one to four years of experience category. However, wages ultimately depend on location, industry and skill sets. 

Looking Back to Look Forward With Acoustical Engineering

Acoustical engineering might be a new term to many, but this brand of engineering is one that most people probably encounter on a daily basis. The future of acoustical engineering looks promising, and within the next couple of decades, the world can expect numerous changes that will make it easier to achieve an immersive audio experience.

Editor’s Note: Article updated January 13, 2026, to update statistics and content. This article was originally published on December 16, 2021.