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Reis Microphone
A simple microphone, capable of transmitting coherent sounds. Invented by Johann Philip Reis, it became the precursor to the modern microphone designs we know today and was crucial in the developement of the modern microphone. -
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Carbon Microphone
The carbon microphone was one of the first microphones invented. The invention of the aforementioned has been disputed between Thomas Edison, who was the first to receive the patent in 1877, and David Edward Hughes. Both inventors possibly used Reis' work to base their research on from the invention of the Reis Microphone. -
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Tonewheel
The tonewheel has many uses, one of which was to generate electronic sounds using a pickup, which measures physical vibrations, i.e. measuring the size and shape of the mechanical teeth on the mechanical teeth as they rotate at a fixed speed. Tonewheels were used in an early varioation of the electric organ, The Telharmonium in 1896, which was officially patented in 1897. However the Hammond Organ is the most famous utilizations of tonewheels. The Hammond Organ was patented in 1934. -
Noise Music
Noise music came about in the 1910s and was the result of the noises produced from machinery from the industrial revolution, this inspired many artists to control the noise and manipulate it into a musical setting. Noise music has greatly advanced with the addition of music technology such as synthesizers and advanced recording techniques. -
Condenser Microphone
Otherwise known as a Capacitor Microphone (the original name for a capacitor was a condenser), the condenser microphone was developed by Edward C. Wente. The development spanned over both Western Electric and Bell Laboratories, the latter having a crucial impact on the developement of later microphones. -
Theremin
The Theremin was invented by Leon Theremin in Soviet Russia. The premise of the instrument was inspired by the tuning of radio frequencies. The device works by taking a voltage through vacuum tubes to create a frequency that can be altered by using your hands as the opposite plate of two variable capacitors, one of which controls the pitch and the other controls the volume. Many consider this to be one of the the early precursors to the modern synthesizer. -
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Technology in Jazz music
Jazz used to be a more acoustic genre with a huge variety of subgenres, to name a few: big band, swing and bebop. As Jazz progressed through the war and more genres were being established there was more room for musicians to integrate their style into Jazz, leading to interesting fusion genres, many of which will use some form of electric instrument such as a guitar, a clavinet or electric bass. -
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Ribbon Microphone
The Ribbon microphone was invented by two doctors, Dr. Walter H. Schottky and Dr. Erwin Gerlach, by placing a thin piece of ribbon in a magnetic field which produces an electrical signal. -
Piezoelectric Microphone
The piezoelectric microphone, otherwise known as a contact microphone or simply a piezo, was invented in 1933 by U.S. inventors C.M. Chorpening and F.H. Woodworth when they were trying to find a better microphone for telephones. However their invention has also aided music production as the piezo microphone was adapted for acoustic guitars and electric and sound triggers for percussionists. -
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Shure SM57 & SM58
The Shure SM57 started production and was introduced in 1965 and the Shure SM58 was introduced in 1966 and both have since became the worlds bestselling microphones due to the affordable studio quality and are still widely used today, stemming from the untimely classic, and worlds most recognizable microphone, the Unidyne. -
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Technology in Pop music
The line between pop and rock was almost nonexistent when the genres were created. They used more-or-less the same instruments, had the same lyrical themes and had the same influences, it wasn't until the late 60s where rock was differentiated with pop. After that technology was introduced and pop split off into it's own genre, using more technology and synthesizers until it became what it is today. -
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Technology in Rock Music
Rock music was never very technology based, even today rock doesn't use much tech. It originally started with just standard technology such as microphones, amplifiers, electric instruments. Synthesizers were introduced after they were invented. Rock music tends to use technology minimalistically aside from the quintessential. Technology's use is what divides pop and rock. -
Dance/Disco music
The origin of Dance music is hard to pinpoint, its stylistic origins lay within folk music and has been in great demand since as early as the Medieval period, whereas Disco arose from Paris in the 1940s. However the combination of the two was only introduced in the late 60s and early 70s. The common tropes of these genres are a strong repetitive drum pattern, syncopated and octave jumping bass and reverbed vocals. -
Steve Reich
Reich was one of the most technically advanced 20th century composers both musically and technologically. His innovations in experimental and minimalist music was outstanding for his time. Reich used various techniques and technologies, such as tape recorder phasing, feedback loops with microphones and the use of various electronic instruments. His music was revolutionary for the minimalist and technological scenes . -
Technology in Orchestral music
Robert Moog invented his synthesizers at the request of a composer in the 1960s and from then on synthesizers have been used to enhance the sound of film soundtracks and orchestral pieces. Microphones have also been crucial in the amplification and recording of orchestras, allowing for more textures and sonic capabilities. -
Dub music
Dub music is the precursor to many electronic subgenres such as dubstep, grime, house and jungle. It originated in Jamaica and was extremely important in the developement of electronic music. -
King crimson
King Crimson were formed in London in 1968 and became pioneers of the rock genre. Regarded as ahead of their time, they used many innovative techniques regarding the technological side of music performance. Their inventive ways of using various keyboard instruments; such as synthesizers and the mellotron; and guitar effects shaped the rock music we hear today. -
Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer is one of the worlds most famous film composers and inventive and innovative musicians. He started his career working with bands, one of the most notable was The Buggles. Zimmer began his film career in 1988 for the film score for Rain Man. His most famous film scores are; Interstellar; Pirates of the Caribbean; Dunkirk and the batman trilogy. He is also the head of the music division at DreamWorks. -
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI was created as a universal language between electronic instruments as to provide more opportunities or musicians. The addition of digital synthesizers and computers made it possible to make more complex music using digital sequencers, adding more effects and opening doors to new, unique and incredible combinations. -
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ProTools
Analogue music production has always been the favourable method, with no suitable digital counterpart until Sound Tools was released in 1989, this was later rebranded as ProTools in 1991 and soon became an industry standard along with the Apple Macintosh PC until it could be ran on windows in 1997. Now there are a lot more options available to musicians and producers such as Ableton and Logic Pro. -
Garage Band
Apple acquired the company responsible for Logic sound systems in 2002. Garage band was thought up by the same company to accomodate for the amateur musician or the musician with limited funds. This studio quality software was revolutionary for musicians with its iOS release too, allowing musicians to create almost anywhere on a selection of devices.