Recording heavyweights

[David Liam]

#21429 |

Audio milestones

1865 English physicist James Maxwell (1831-1879) discovers the existence of electromagnetic waves.
1876 Scottish-born physicist Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) invents the microphone in the U.S.
1877 Thomas Edison (1847-1931) invents a recording device and the phonograph.
1888 Emile Berliner (1851-1929) of Germany develops the first vinyl record in the U.S.
1928 Maurice Martenot of France invents the first electronic keyboard based on an earlier device designed by Leon Termen of Russia.
1931 The “Frying Pan”, the first commercially successful electric guitar, is developed in the U.S. by George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker.
1934 The German company BASF develops magnetic recording tape.
1935 The German company AEG manufactures the first tape recorder.
1945 Sound recording dramatically improves with the post-war conversion of research facilities for peaceful purposes.
1956 Stereo LPs (record albums) become commercially available.
1965 Pre-recorded music cassettes are released. Philips first introduced the cassette two years earlier and encouraged other companies to license its use.
1969 American Robert Moog develops the “Mini-Moog”, a small, affordable synthesizer with a distinctive sound that can be used for “live” performances and studio recordings.
1975 Computer memory is added to studio equipment for more complicated recordings.
1979 A key year in recording history when Philips introduces the digital format for recording music on the compact disc (CD). Sony (Japan) introduces what will be known as the Walkman. The New England Digital Synclavier becomes the first commercial model of the so-called “workstation”, a computerized synthesizer capable of sequencing, sampling, playing and scoring music.
1980 Roland releases the first drum machines which can be “played” or programmed to produce original rhythms instead of preset patterns.
1986 By standardizing the musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), the industry opens the floodgates to more creative and independent recordings. Digitel releases the first consumer-level software to record and edit sounds on a (Macintosh) computer.
1987 The first digital audio tape (DAT) is marketed in Japan, notably improving sound reproduction and storage.
1988 For the first time, CD sales in the U.S. surpass vinyl (records), which begin disappearing from stores.
1996 The first DVD (digital versatile disc), which is basically a faster CD capable of holding video and audio computer data, is commercialized.
1998 Music piracy on the Internet, using the MP3 format, is strong enough to rattle the recording industry.

---

Source : International Federation of the Phonographic Industry