acustico

Acustico (Spanish: acústico; Italian: acustico) is an adjective used in Romance languages to indicate relation to sound or hearing. In physics and engineering, the related term acoustics describes the science of sound, including its generation, transmission, reception, and effects on living beings and environments. The word stems from the Greek akoustikos, meaning “heard.”

In music, acustico refers to instruments or performances that produce sound primarily through natural vibration, without electronic amplification. An acoustic guitar, piano, violin, or traditional string ensemble relies on the instrument’s body and strings to generate sound, as opposed to electric or electroacoustic setups that rely on amplification and sound processing. Acustico performances often aim for a more intimate, organic timbre and are commonly associated with smaller venues and minimal staging.

Albums, concerts, or arrangements labeled acustico typically feature stripped-down instrumentation, reduced production elements, and reverence for natural acoustic tone. The term is widely used in Spanish- and Italian-language contexts to distinguish between unplugged or unplugged-like formats and fully amplified performances. It also appears in marketing and music journalism as a descriptor for a specific aesthetic emphasizing authenticity and simplicity.

Beyond music, acustico/prefixes relate to general acoustic concepts such as sound perception, room acoustics, and the design of devices to optimize or control sound. In everyday usage, the term remains a versatile label for anything emphasizing natural sound quality over electronic alteration.