When I first started recording my music I had a Reel to Reel, Teac 4 track, with Simul Sync. This 40 pound piece of equipment allowed me to have 4 tracks on a single piece of tape. I could lay down; guitar, lead vocal, harmony vocal and lead guitar or bass. It was the latest technology. Simul Sync allowed the tracks to sync up which was a problem because the recording heads were in slightly different locations.
The next step in technology was the 4 track cassette tape recorder. Instead of either lugging the Teac around or having everyone come to my house, we were able to bring the 5 pound cassett recorder wherever we went. This upgrade from the reel to reel took about 10 years to hit the market place. There was very little ability to modify the recorded sound and it was still only 4 tracks. More channels and tracks came out relatively quickly.
As with many other media Digital changed the game. According to Wikipedia the history of digital recording looks like this:
• In 1937, British scientist Alec Reeves files the first patent describing Pulse-code modulation[1].
• In 1943, Bell Telephone Laboratories develops the first digital scrambled speech transmission system, SIGSALY[2].
• In 1957, Max Mathews of Bell develops the process to digitally record sound via computer.
• In 1967, the first digital tape recorder is invented. A 12-bit 30 kHz stereo device using a compander (similar to DBX Noise Reduction) to extend the dynamic range.
• In the 1970s, Thomas Stockham makes the first digital audio recordings using standard computer equipment and develops a digital audio recorder of his own design, the first of its kind to be offered commercially (through Stockham's Soundstream company).
• In 1970, James Russell patents the first digital-to-optical recording and playback system, which would later lead to the Compact Disc[3].
• In 1972, Denon invents the first 8-track reel to reel digital recorder.
• In 1979, the first digital Compact Disc prototype was created as a compromise between sound quality and size of the medium.
• In 1979, the first digitally recorded album of popular music Bop 'Til You Drop by guitarist Ry Cooder is released by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded in Los Angeles on a 32-track digital machine built by the 3M corporation.
• In 1982, the first digital compact discs are marketed[4], and New England Digital offers the Sample-to-Disk option on the Synclavier, the first commercial hard disk recording system[5].
• In 1990, digital radio begins in Canada, using the L-Band[6].
• DVD players begin selling in Japan in 1996.
What I know is that I first came into contact with Digital in the late 80’s and early 90’s. We who grew up with the reel to reel, scoffed at the new technology. We turned our nose up at the sound quality. We refused to move on. We learned quickly.
The first digital recordings were still recorded on tape. Next post we will talk about the next generation.
Ric Cushenan is President/CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media is a full Service online marketing company with Search Engine Marketing, Jingles, Behavioral Targeting and tracking of results. Go to www.cushmediaonline.com for more information
