The Centenary of the Microphone

[humprof]

In recording studios, anyway. The first commercial recording made with a microphone took place in the studios of the Columbia Phonograph Company 100 years ago this week. Pretty fascinating story. ("The most important technological development in recorded music.")

Here's a "gift" link.

 

[ar surround]

Excellent article, humprof. It is funny how the initial microphone recordings are seen as producing 'thin and tinny' sound. Sound familiar?

Did you have one of these vintage microphones, @barfle ? What do you think @himey ?

 

[barfle]

Excellent article, humprof. It is funny how the initial microphone recordings are seen as producing 'thin and tinny' sound. Sound familiar?

Did you have one of these vintage microphones, @barfle ? What do you think @himey ?

My oldest microphone is an Altec from the 1970s. Got it when I worked there as surplus. Probably my oldest piece of equipment is my Miracord 50H turntable, bought in 1968. It needs a bit of TLC right now.

I have a fair collection of Edison Diamond Discs, though, undoubtedly recorded without microphones.

 

[Fourplay]

Oddly, I am just now reading a book printed in 1880, and I noticed in the index just last night a reference to the invention of the microphone. It was Edison, coincident to the telephone, who stumbled upon the microphone in the neighborhood of 1876.

 

[atrocity]

In recording studios, anyway. The first commercial recording made with a microphone took place in the studios of the Columbia Phonograph Company 100 years ago this week. Pretty fascinating story. ("The most important technological development in recorded music.")

Here's a "gift" link.

As a kid I was fascinated by the "Electrical Process" notation on this 78 but it wasn't until many years later that I had a clue what it meant!