What Audio Tool Do Creators Still Wish Existed?

The pro-audio community often thinks about gear, software, plugins and studio workflows — but sometimes the most intriguing ideas come not from existing tools, but from the things professionals wish someone would build.

In a recent Production Expert blog post, audio engineers and producers were invited to share what audio-related device or software they’d like to see invented — from genuinely useful tools to playful “one-day” ideas that highlight unmet needs in the industry.

The Wish List: Practical, Playful, and Everything in Between

In the article, the team at Production Expert frames a simple question: despite decades of technological progress and an abundance of audio gear and software, what’s still missing in the toolbox?

The piece points out that engineers can be a “picky bunch”, constantly weighing gear they desire versus gear that would genuinely fill a gap in the market. Some suggestions fall into three broad categories:

Wanted: Gear or software that engineers want because it sounds exciting, clever, or fun. These are the products that spark Gas Acquisition Syndrome — the irresistible urge to buy new stuff whether it’s truly needed or not.
Needed: Tools that solve real, practical problems but haven’t been answered yet. Sometimes products disappear from the market simply because demand wasn’t obvious — and innovators haven’t stepped in to replace them.
Weird: Quirky concepts that may seem fanciful but reveal creative thinking. These include humorous ideas like a console that makes coffee — but they also reflect frustrations or gaps that conventional gear doesn’t address.

Production Expert doesn’t list specific products from the poll itself, but the spirit of the article is clear: there’s enthusiasm for innovation that goes beyond incremental updates, imagining tools that could reshape workflows or spark new creative possibilities.

Why This Matters to Podcasters, Musicians, and Audio Creators

For creators across podcasting, music production and storytelling, this kind of “wish list” thinking is more than just fun — it’s a barometer of where the industry sees pain points and opportunities. Audio technology influences every stage of production from recording and editing to mixing and mastering, and gaps in existing tools can slow workflows or restrict creativity.

Consider how innovations like binaural recording or spatial audio have opened up new creative layers for immersive podcasts and narrative sound design. These techniques might once have been niche experimental curiosities, but they’ve become viable tools for creators exploring 3D, headphone-centric experiences.

Similarly, discussions about what could be made — whether an intuitive piece of software or a hybrid hardware-software workflow — help spark ideas that benefit creators of all kinds:

Podcasters seeking easier cleanup, automatic leveling or realistic spatial effects
Audio editors looking for better visual feedback tied to perceptual audio cues
Music producers who want smarter creative assistants for harmony, groove or mix suggestions

By articulating unmet needs — even in a playful context — communities contribute to shaping the priorities of developers, manufacturers and software companies who might one day build the next generation of audio tools.

What This Says About the Future of Audio Tools

The Production Expert post doesn’t just entertain with hypothetical gadgets — it reflects a broader truth in creative tech: the best innovations often start with a question. Asking “what do you wish someone would make?” pushes beyond incremental hardware and plugin updates and invites bold reimagining of what could exist.

For creators building podcasts, music, or audio storytelling projects, this mindset aligns with how audiences discover and engage with content today. Tools that streamline workflows, empower storytelling, and reduce technical friction make it easier to focus on content — the heart of what audiences care about.

So whether you’re a podcaster dreaming of software that auto-mixes voice layers with zero effort, or a music producer imagining hardware that intuitively suggests mix balances, voices from the Production Expert community show there’s still plenty of room for innovation in audio.

As technologies evolve and creative demands grow, ideas born from curiosity and necessity could inspire the next breakthrough in tools — and perhaps transform how audio creators work next.