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Theorem
Augustin-Louis Cauchy Proposes a Sampling Theorem. -
Phonoautograph
Leon Scott de Martinville invents the phonoautograph, a machine that records vibrations on a carbonized paper cylinder. -
Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell introduces the telephone -
Phonograph
Emily Berliner replaces Edison's wax cylinder phonograph with the audio disc. -
Phonograph
Thomas Edison invents the phonograph while trying to invent a device that would record and repeat telegraphic signals (digital). -
RPM
78 R.P.M records introduced -
Communications
J.R. Carson examines the idea of time sampling for communications -
33 1/3 Introduced
Harry Nyquiest publishes "Certain Topics in Telegraph Transmission Theory." His theory contained proof that the technology used in todays audio cd's could work.
33 1/3 Records Introduced -
PCM
A. Reeves invents pulse code modulation (PCM), a technology used by computers and CD's for audio in the present day.
H. Aiken from Harvard approaches IBM and proposes a electrical computing machine. -
ENIAC
The U.S. Army turns on the first computer (ENIAC) at the University of Pennsylvania. -
Magentic Tape Recorders
Magnetic Tape Recorders hit the U.S. market. -
The Transistor
The transistor is invented by Bell Laboratories.
Claude E. Shannon publishes "A Mathematical Theory of Communication." -- Yet another important development for theories used in CD technology -
45 Rpm
45 rpm records hit the U.S. market, thanks to microgroove technology. -
Error Connections
Richard W. Hamming publishes information about error detection/correction codes. It would be impossible for CD's to work without error correction. -
Invention of the Laser
Invention of the Laser.
Stereo LP's produced.
Integrated Circuit introduced by Texas Instruments -
Coding CD's
Computer Music experiments take place at major laboratories.
I.S. Reed and G. Soloman publish information on multiple error correction codes. These come to be known as the "Reed-Solomon" Codes which are the codes used for enconding and reading CD's.
Working Laser produced. -
Digital Recording
NHK Technical Research Institute demonstrates a 12-bit PCM digital audio recorder with a 30 kHz (30,000 times per second) sampling rate. The digital recording goes onto a high-grade video tape. -
The Compact Disc
Sony introduces it's 13-bit PCM digital recorder at a 47.25 kHz (47,250 time per second) sampling rate. The digital recording is sent to a 2" video tape.
Klass Compaan, a Dutch physicist comes up with the idea for the Compact Disc. -
Laser
At Philips, Compaan and Pete Kramer complete a glass disc prototype and determine that a laser will be needed to read the information. -
Digital Master Recordings
BBC and other broadcast companies start installing digital recorders for master recordings. -
Audio Prototypes
Mitsubishi, Hitachi & Sony show digital audio disc prototypes at the Tokyo Audio Fair.
JVC Develops Digital Audio Process -
1978
Philips releases the video disc player
Sony sells the PCM-1600 and PCM-1 (digital audio processors)
"Digital Audio Disc Convention" Held in Tokyo, Japan with 35 different manufacturers.
Philips proposes that a worldwide standard be set.
Polygram (division of Philips) determined that polycarbonate would be the best material for the CD.
Decision made for data on a CD to start on the inside and spiral towards the outer edge.
Disc diameter originally set at 115mm.
Type of laser selected for CD Playe -
1979
Prototype CD System demonstrated in Europe and Japan.
Sony agrees to join in collaboration.
Sony & Philips compromise on the standard sampling rate of a CD -- 44.1 kHz (44,100 samples per second)
Philips accepts Sony's proposal for 16-bit audio.
Reed-Solomon code adopted after Sony's suggestion.
Maximum playing time decided to be slighty more that 74 minutes.
Disc diameter changed to 120mm to allow for 74 minutes of 16-bit stereo sound with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz -
1980
Compact Disc standard proposed by Philips & Sony. -
1981
Matsushita accepts Compact Disc Standard
Digital Audio Disc Committee also accepts Compact Disc Standard.
Sharp achieves production of semiconductor laser.
Philips & Sony collaboration ends. -
1982
Sony & Philips both have product ready to go.
Compact Disc Technology is introduced to Europe and Japan in the fall. -
1983
Compact Disc Technology is introduced in the United States in the spring
The Compact Disc Group formed to help market.
CD-ROM Protoypes shown to public
30,000 Players sold in the U.S.
800,000 CD's sold in the U.S. -
1984
Second Generation & Car CD players introducted.
First Mass Replication Plant in the United States built.
Portable (i.e., Sony DiscMan) CD Players sold. -
1985
Third generation CD Players released.
CD-ROM drives hit the computer market. -
1986
CD-I (Interactive CD) concept created.
3 Million Players sold in U.S.
53 Million CD's sold in U.S. -
1987
Video CD format created.
Allen Adkins of Optical Media International joins with SonoPress in Amsterdam and demonstrates a desktop system for pre-mastering CD's (Adkins and SonoPress, produced a replicated CD in less than 24-hours using this system). -
1989
CD-Recordable Disc/Recorder Technology Introduced -
1990
28% of all U.S. households have CD's.
9.2 million players sold annually in the United States.
288 million CD's sold annually in the United States.
World Sales close to 1 Billion -
1991
CD-I format acheived.
CD-Recordable Introduced to the Market
"QuickTopix" the first CD-R pre-mastering Software introduced by Allen Adkins. -
CD-R Sales Reach 200,000
CD-R Sales reach 200,000 -
1996
DVD Technology Introduced.
Prices of Recorders and CD-R Media go down significantly.
High Demands cause World-Wide CD-R Media Shortage. -
1997
DVD Released.
DVD Players/Movies hit consumer market.
DVD-R standard created (3.9 Gig).
Mitsui builds it's first CD-R production plant in the U.S.
World-wide shortage ends.
Price of CD-R media lower than ever imagined. -
1998
DVD-RAM, DVD-Recordable systems/equipment hits market.
DVD-Video/ROM authoring tools hits the market.
CD-R prices continue to drop. -
1999
DVD-Video Becomes main stream.
Consumers begin purchasing DVD Players & Movies on a mass level.
Most major film studios have titles on DVD.
DIVX Dies (DIgital Video eXpress).
Second Generation DVD Burners.
4.7 Gig DVD-R Media Developed. -
Double-Sided
Double-sided CD-R's are made