In the early 2000s cellphones Not only were they very different from today, but their sound was completely different. In those years, devices usually had only one ringtone or several preset ringtones and could not be changed beyond the given options. But as the years passed, that too would change.

It was a brand in 2002 It’s Nokiawhich led the mobile phone market in those years, replacing the usual ringtone of their equipment with the so-called “polyphonic”A forerunner of modern cell phone sound.

From monophonic to polyphonic

The sound of cell phones at the beginning of the new century was known as monophonic sound, which meant that it could only play one note at a time to create a ringtone. This is due to the low power of the speakers of the devices at that time.

music producer Ian LivingstonIn an interview with The Verge, he said that before working at Nokia from 2000 to 2004, he was dedicated to programming. Karaoke music background Using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files, the same type used by cell phones. monophonic tones.

Because he had few resources to create ringtones, Livingston’s job was to make the best use of the resources he had, so he began transcribing the available ringtones. It’s Nokia their polyphonic versions.

The first mobile phones with polyphonic sound came on the market South Korea As exclusive and quickly became a world phenomenon. At that time, having a polyphonic phone was not only an option, but also reflected a certain status in the eyes of society.

What is a polyphonic ringtone?

Unlike monophonic tones, polyphonic tones were more advanced and featured playing between them. 4 and 75 notes simultaneously To create more varied and refined sounds.

These types of tones use sequencing technology to create rich, harmonious and high-quality ringtones. Polyphonic tones produce a Better sound quality and melodies because they simulate real instruments by combining multiple instrumental sounds at once.

Comparing both types of sound is similar to comparing a clarinet with a full orchestra. The difference is more than noticeable.

The ringtone changes

The birth of polyphony meant not only the birth of new types of ringtones, but also an additional feature that stood out in order to increase sales of devices.

In fact, you can find them in cell phone catalogs from 2002 to 2006 “Polyphonic sound” as an advertised feature For phone company customers deciding whether to buy a device, it was a differentiator.

Since then, in order to compete with polyphony, other companies began to develop more advanced technology, and currently, the sound of mobile phones has left behind the adaptation of musical sounds to polyphony to move to a stage where ringtones from mobile phones. It is more like a MP3 sound than the old orchestral sounds of the early 2000s.

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