which technology in the music recording/producing/creating process (from the artists head to your ears)

Are you sure that it is meant to sound like you are "actually there?"

Aren't plenty of records made with the exact opposite in mind?

If there's any generalization to be made, I'd say it's probably the speakers you're listening on. But sometimes it's also a result of compromises made during mixing to make the record sound good on the crappy speakers most people listen on.

See also: Uncompressed records in this day and age

I wanted to bring that up but it kind of felt like another thread entirely. That's a big issue to it. Even in straight forward rock producing, theyre doing compression, overdubs and tons of things with no pretense of reproducing what the band sounds like live. I wouldnt say most producers even care. Except maybe some lame producer who would say "I saw their live show and just wanted to reproduce their energy man!"

More so I was thinking about how music was once recorded and how it is today, the differences, and what still has the longest way to go. Because most people aren't even trying to be "real" any more, there is the problem of "go where?" but I still think there's something to talk about.

OTM

yes, xpost and OTM

...or sometimes the as of yet unproduced sound starts off in the artist's head, and through trial and editing, is produced as closely as possible.

production ideas and their execution have been a major part of pop/rock music since the 60's.

But I imagine this is a minor factor when considered alongside mixing and mastering choices.