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The Evolution Of Recorded Music
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Published: September 1, 2006
The evolution of recorded music has been a fascinating process. Over the past century recorded music has taken on a variety of formats corresponding to breakthroughs in technology. These advancements have not only improved the quality of recorded music but has also resulted in global accessibility, mass distribution, and the emergence of new musical genres and artists.
The first innovators of recorded music most likely had little idea of how their inventions would transform the world of music.
The earliest recording devices were developed in the late 19th century. In 1878, the first successful recording device, the phonograph, was created by Thomas Edison. The phonograph recorded music onto foil wrapped cylinders. The sound quality on cylinders was low and could not sustain repeated plays. However, Edison inspired numerous inventors to improve upon his device. Other devices such as Alexander Graham Bell's graphophone and Edison's own phonogram continued to improve the quality of recorded music onto cylinders. However, it was two inventions in the late 1890's that succeeded in the advancement of recorded music:radio and shellac discs.
Emile Berliner advocated recording on shellac discs instead of cylinders. The discs produced better sound quality and were more durable. The discs were also easier to reproduce and would help in the advancement of mass distribution of music recordings. Although invented in the late 19th century, radio did not become popular until the 1920's. It became an effective medium to deliver recorded music to the public. However, the free accessibility of radio resulted in decrease in sales for recorded music.
The 1940's brought further advancement in recorded music with the introduction of two new formats:
the LP and 45. The vinyl LP was created in 1948 by Columbia records. The LP was a 12 inch, 33 1/3 RPM record with a playback of 20 minutes per side. The 45 was developed in 1949 by Victor records. In contrast to the LP, the 45 was a plastic 7 inch, 45 RPM record. The success of both formats caused the music industry to come to consensus: LP's would be used to record albums and 45's to record singles. Further advancement in technology resulted in the standardization of stereo record formats: mono and stereo.
Recorded music changed formats again in 1963 with Phillips' introduction of the cassette tape. This format caused recorded music to be more widely available. Cassette tapes were a more portable format of recorded music, especially with the creation of the Sony Walkman and automobile cassette players. Cassette tapes continued to be the preferred format until the development of the compact disc of CD in 1983. Compact discs were created using digital technology to record music in compressed files that could be read using laser beams. The CD was superior to the cassette tape in that it had higher sound quality, longer recording time of 74 minutes, and was easier to jump between songs.
Presently the CD, like the cassette tape before it, is in danger of becoming obsolete. Advancements in digital technology have created new formats for recorded music. Music is recorded into compressed digital formats which can be stored on desktops, laptops, and portable digital devices such as MP3 players, Apple's iPod, and cellular phones. Digitals files such as MP3. AAC, and WMA are also easily transferable. They can be shared through the Internet, downloaded, and burned onto CDs. Digital formats also allow people to create their own radio formats on the Internet called podcasts.
Recorded music's current digital format is not without faults. Because of compression, sound quality is not as high on digital files compared to CDs. Also, the easy sharing and accessibility of digital music files has created the problem of music piracy for artists and record companies. These problems are currently being addressed and once solved will only result in the further evolution of recorded music.
History of Recordings. RIAA. 31 Aug. 2006. [http://www.riaa.com/issues/audio/history.asp]
Music's Brighter Future. The Economist. 31 Aug. 2006. [http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cf m?story_id=3329169]
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The earliest recording devices were developed in the late 19th century. In 1878, the first successful recording device, the phonograph, was created by Thomas Edison. The phonograph recorded music onto foil wrapped cylinders. The sound quality on cylinders was low and could not sustain repeated plays. However, Edison inspired numerous inventors to improve upon his device. Other devices such as Alexander Graham Bell's graphophone and Edison's own phonogram continued to improve the quality of recorded music onto cylinders. However, it was two inventions in the late 1890's that succeeded in the advancement of recorded music:radio and shellac discs.
Emile Berliner advocated recording on shellac discs instead of cylinders. The discs produced better sound quality and were more durable. The discs were also easier to reproduce and would help in the advancement of mass distribution of music recordings. Although invented in the late 19th century, radio did not become popular until the 1920's. It became an effective medium to deliver recorded music to the public. However, the free accessibility of radio resulted in decrease in sales for recorded music.
The 1940's brought further advancement in recorded music with the introduction of two new formats:
the LP and 45. The vinyl LP was created in 1948 by Columbia records. The LP was a 12 inch, 33 1/3 RPM record with a playback of 20 minutes per side. The 45 was developed in 1949 by Victor records. In contrast to the LP, the 45 was a plastic 7 inch, 45 RPM record. The success of both formats caused the music industry to come to consensus: LP's would be used to record albums and 45's to record singles. Further advancement in technology resulted in the standardization of stereo record formats: mono and stereo.
Recorded music changed formats again in 1963 with Phillips' introduction of the cassette tape. This format caused recorded music to be more widely available. Cassette tapes were a more portable format of recorded music, especially with the creation of the Sony Walkman and automobile cassette players. Cassette tapes continued to be the preferred format until the development of the compact disc of CD in 1983. Compact discs were created using digital technology to record music in compressed files that could be read using laser beams. The CD was superior to the cassette tape in that it had higher sound quality, longer recording time of 74 minutes, and was easier to jump between songs.
Presently the CD, like the cassette tape before it, is in danger of becoming obsolete. Advancements in digital technology have created new formats for recorded music. Music is recorded into compressed digital formats which can be stored on desktops, laptops, and portable digital devices such as MP3 players, Apple's iPod, and cellular phones. Digitals files such as MP3. AAC, and WMA are also easily transferable. They can be shared through the Internet, downloaded, and burned onto CDs. Digital formats also allow people to create their own radio formats on the Internet called podcasts.
Recorded music's current digital format is not without faults. Because of compression, sound quality is not as high on digital files compared to CDs. Also, the easy sharing and accessibility of digital music files has created the problem of music piracy for artists and record companies. These problems are currently being addressed and once solved will only result in the further evolution of recorded music.
History of Recordings. RIAA. 31 Aug. 2006. [http://www.riaa.com/issues/audio/history.asp]
Music's Brighter Future. The Economist. 31 Aug. 2006. [http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cf m?story_id=3329169]
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