From Cylinders to CDs: The History of Sound Recording
by Alex Brown
Each year, the airwaves are bombarded with countless genres of musical recordings. These recordings are part of a billion dollar music industry that grows ever more popular with each passing year. But the modern era of MP3 players and digital recordings is a far cry from the humble beginnings of sound recording that arose more than a century ago.
The history of sound recording began in earnest in 1877. In that year, Thomas Edison invented a device known as the phonograph that recorded and played back sounds that were made onto a piece of tinfoil around a cylinder. While the invention was revolutionary, it was neither feasible nor cost-effective. A year later, Edison made the invention slightly more practical by inventing a wax cylinder that could be used to capture a sound recording; however, these cylinders became expensive to reproduce. In 1887, Emile Berliner developed the gramophone, which relied on the use of flat discs.
In the 1890s, gramophone technology continued to be developed and similar flat discs were sold. These discs were called records and were originally coated in shellac, which was later replaced by vinyl. These records were easier to produce and duplicate. Although the disc recordings coexisted with wax cylinder recordings for a period of time, by the 1920s, the wax cylinders were essentially obsolete. Records remained state of the art for some time and were often categorized by their revolution speed. Many early records played at a speed of 78 revolutions per minute (rpm) and were called 78s. They were able to play songs that lasted up to four-and-a-half minutes. In time, speeds varied to include 45 rpm and 33⅓ rpm.
By the 1940s, technology had changed. Inventors discovered that magnetic tape could hold sound recordings for longer durations. This magnetic tape is made with a plastic back and coated in a magnetic powder. Although the quality of the recording at the time was not comparable to that of vinyl records, the tapes were eventually perfected and became the once-esteemed eight-tracks of the 1970s and cassettes of the 1980s and 1990s.
Stereo sound first made an appearance in the 1950s. Records, often called LPs by that time because they were long playing, could produce long sounds. A collection of recordings could now be stored on a record.
During the next 30 years, technology rapidly changed as records and tapes vied for the same audience. However, in 1982, a new type of sound recording arrived on the scene—compact disc recordings. These allowed the production of strong sound in a space that was much smaller than standard records or cassette tapes. CDs, as they were called, could also hold up to 80 minutes of music, which was 10 to 20 minutes longer than the standard LP. Soon, cassettes and records became an endangered species, though they are still beloved by collectors.
These CDs eventually gave way to the digital technology that is used to this day. With the advent of the Internet and personal computers, it became easy to play, record, and store music as files. From this, the MP3 player was born, ushering in a new era of sound recording. These small players can play digital recordings, although computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices can play them too.
The technology of sound recordings continues to undergo a dynamic evolution. No doubt, Thomas Edison would be amazed and stunned at the changes that have occurred to his version of sound recording from more than a century ago.
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This question has 2 parts. Be sure to complete all parts.
A
Based on the passage, what can be inferred to have happened when the compact disc was invented?
A.
Compact discs became the cheapest means of recording, and people began to prefer these discs to stereos and records.
B.
Compact discs led to a dynamic evolution of music where new and different types of music could be stored in bigger discs.
C.
Compact discs completely took over the recording industry and proved to be one of the most convenient forms to store and play music.
D.
Compact discs became a challenge to use for people, as only a certain number of electronic devices could play these discs.
1 answer