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The Phonograph is born
In July the first experiment to record sound was performed by Thomas Edison and his staff. This experiment included an indenting stylus, a diaphragm, a telephone speaker, and paraffin-coated paper. Thomas Edison yelled into the speaker as the paper was pulled under the stylus. When the paper was pulled back through the stylus the recording of Thomas Edison yelling could be faintly heard. -
First music put on Record
The first music is put on record: cornetist Jules Levy plays "Yankee Doodle -
Wireless Radio Transmission from Italy to USA
Marconi achieves wireless radio transmission from Italy to America. -
First Talking Movie
The first "talking movie" is demonstrated by Thomas Edison using his Kinetophone process, a cylinder player mechanically synchronized to a film projector. -
AC biasing for magnetic recording
Independently, engineers in Germany, Japan and the U.S. discover and develop AC biasing for magnetic recording. -
Eight track sterophonic sound
Walt Disney's "Fantasia" is released, with eight-track stereophonic sound -
First portable tape recorder
Magnecord introduces its PT-6, the first tape recorder in portable cases. -
First tape recorder
Magnecord introduces its PT-6, the first tape recorder in portable cases. -
The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is formed in New York City.
The microgroove 33-1/3 rpm long-play vinyl record (LP) is introduced by Columbia Records. -
First 8- track recordings
Les Paul makes the first 8-track recordings using the "Sel-Sync" method. -
First all electronic film score
The movie Forbidden Planet is released, with the first all-electronic film score, -
First digital reverberation
EMT produces the first digital reverberation unit as its Model 250. -
Soundfield microphone
Michael Gerzon conceives of and Calrec (England) builds the "Soundfield Microphone," a coincident 4-capsule cluster with matrixed "B-format" outputs and decoded steerable 2- and 4-channel discrete outputs. -
456 high imput mastering tape
Ampex introduces 456 high-output mastering tape. -
First 16 bit digital recording
Dr. Stockham of Soundstream makes the first 16-bit digital recording in the U.S. at the Santa Fe Opera. -
Digital Revoulution
Sony introduces the PCM-F1, intended for the consumer market, the first 14- and 16-bit digital adaptor for VCRs. It is eagerly snapped up by professionals, sparking the digital revolution in recording equipment. -
First CD player
Sony releases the first CD player, the Model CDP-101. -
first digital consoles
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R-DAT recorders
R-DAT recorders are introduced in Japan. -
First distance recording
In the first extensive use of "distance recording" via ISDN, producer Phil Ramone records the "Duets" album with Frank Sinatra.