Advancements in Music Technology
Three of the most important technological Advancements in music technology
Sound recording technology actually began before the phonograph, with scientific devices for studying sound waves. Later, sound recording was adapted to allow both recording and reproducing. This opened the door to the most familiar forms of sound recording; the technologies for recording and reproducing music.
Have a listen here to one of the first sounds recorded below.
These three advancements at the time of invention have changed the way we have been able to preserve audio, voice and music.
Without any of these three, the music recording industry would not be what it is to this very day. Not only were they pioneering advanced technology back then, but they all stand the test of time and are still utilized to this very day.
Cylinder & (Disc Vinyl)
The acoustic era (1877 to 1925) & The electrical era (1925 to 1945)
Earliest practical recording technologies were entirely mechanical devices.
Typically used large conical horn w/ diaphragm at the apex of cone.
Connected to scriber or stylus, scratched/incised an analogue of the sound wave onto a moving recording medium.
The ‘second wave’ of sound recording history
Ushered in by the introduction of Western Electric’s integrated system of electrical microphones, electronic signal amplifiers and electrical disc cutting machines.
Adopted by major US record labels in 1925.
Acoustic recording sample on Cylinder
Test Play of 1910 Edison Model 1A Amberola, Give a listen.
Electrical recording sample on 12”
DiscHistoric Electric Victor 35753 Listen here.
Magnetic Tape
The magnetic era (1945 to 1975)
The ‘third wave’ of development in audio recording.
Allied nations gained access to a new German invention.
Technology invented in the 1930’s restricted to Germany (where it was widely used in broadcasting) until end of WWII.
1950 onward, became the standard medium of audio master recording.
First HiFi stereo recordings.
Development of Multi-Track Tape Recording for music.
Demise of the disc as the primary mastering medium for sound.
Radical reshaping of recording process - made possible recordings of far longer duration and much higher fidelity than ever before.
Sounds on tape could be manipulated sonically, edited, and combined in ways that were impossible on disc.
Bing Crosby, Anson Weeks and his Orchestra - Please (1932) Have a listen.
Hard Disc Recording
The "digital" era (1975 to present day)
Fourth and current “phase.”
Most rapid, dramatic series of changes in the history of audio recording.
In a period of less than 20 years, all previous recording technologies were rapidly superseded by digital sound encoding.
Perfected by the Japanese electronics corporation SONY in the 1970’s.
DAT (Digital Audio Tape)
CD (Compact Disc)
The digital audio file (.wav, .mp3, and other formats)
Apple’s iTunes.
Napster / Bittorrent / file sharing.
In the box possibilities became endless.
DAW’s making it financially accessible on a consumer level.
Ry Cooder’s Bop Til You Drop Released July 1979
Recorded on a digital 32-track machine built by 3M
How did these advancements change how music is created and perceived?
Each paved the way to the next, but throughout each progression, all mediums remain sought after in one way shape or form.
Tape saturation, vinyl warmth and pops, DJ’s, Audiophiles, collectors.
All are still currently used today and some individuals still have a preference over one or the other for use in studio recording, and at home for personal listening.
Without all three, where would we be?
