This is sound artist John Grzinich answering the question “How has your appreciation/perception of your environment changed since you began actively listening through the microphone?”
I’ve noticed how often people assume that when working with sound one must work with technology. Microphones and speakers are mechanisms for sound detection, amplification and reproduction. This seems obvious, yet I often must remind people, that until we are able to hear by some neurological implant to our brains we still need to hear all sounds acoustically with our ears even if its through headphones.
From an interview at earroom.wordpress.com. More on Grzinich at maaheli.ee.