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First Microphone
In 1876, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone. Originally used as a telephone transmitter. The Bell company, created by Alexander Graham bell, later bought Berliner's microphone patent for $50,000 to improve their own telephone device. -
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Early Recording Practices Progressing
The Era I chose was a combination of the Victorian Era, the Silent Era and the Cold War Era to better show the progression of audio recording inventions. These types of discoveries and their implementations are few and far between and they sometimes don't make an impact until years after their invention and sometimes take even longer to become standard practice in the industry. -
Acoustical recording
From the 1890's to around 1925 all sound recordings where made by mechanical means. Microphones and electrical amplification were widely implemented into recording practices even after the invention of the microphone in 1876. -
Western Electric
In 1925 nearly all major US record labels adopted Western Electrics electronic signal amplifiers, and electromechanical recorders. Paving the way for more improvements and inventions. -
Tape Recording
Magnetic tape recording, another German invention created in the 1930's by Fritz Pfleumer changed the recording process even further. It wasn't until after WW2 in 1945 that this technology was made available outside of Germany. Early recordings in the 1950's of Les Paul, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and many others were recorded this way. It was so influential even artists today still prefer to record using this technology compared to modern recording techniques. -
Sonys Influence
Although Sony was founded in 1947 by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka; it wasn't until 1970 that they began to make a impact on the recording industry. Creating technology like PCM encoders and digital sound catalogs forever changed not just how music is recorded but also how it is created. By 1979 digital sound recording and reproduction became the new standard for every aspect of the music industry. Many of their products are still used today and they continue to break ground on new technology.