Personal Note: About two weeks ago, I had surgery on my shoulder and foot. Ever since my arm has been in a sling and my foot was at first in a cast and now is in a "boot." So I am just now getting around well enough to write something on the computer, although somewhat slow using just one hand. So bear with me and I will try to correct any typing errors as I go.
I recently came across a video entitled John Walker Re-creates Great Performances. In that video (which was recorded in 2007) Walker shows how the engineers at Yamaha have been able to develop software and hardware that can extract the movements and fingering of a musician from a recording of a musical performance and then play it back in the manner of the original musician. If you have not already done so, watch the video so you have a better idea of what I'm talking about.
A couple of thoughts occurred to me. In the video, they only use a piano. I realize that the mechanism required to move the keys and pedals on a piano has to be rather complex, but it has to be much easier than moving the keys and blowing through the reed of a saxophone or the mouthpiece of a trumpet. I'm sure that they could adapt the method to plucking a guitar, but what about playing a violin or a cello? These instruments will probably be a bigger challenge to figure out, but given time, I'm sure they will be able to do it sooner or later.
So let's assume they are able to do this with any istrument. Will the future method of recording music become the art of recording keystrokes and strums? I really doubt it. But think about this. Woudn't it be nice to be able to sit down in a concert hall and hear the Boston Pops under the direction of Arthur Fiedler play "Pops Roundup" as it was performed back in the 1960s? What about going to a concert and hear Buddy Holly and the Crickets play "That'll Be the Day?" Well, that'd be the day.
