Technological developments 3

Question 1

When was the CD player invented/released?

Answer 1

1982

Question 2

What is a CD player?

Answer 2

The introduction of the CD player into the worldwide market helped to replace audio tape as the preferred recording medium. Digital audio produced a sound quality that was impossible to achieve on a record or cassette tape. CDs were lightweight and portable, and they were extremely durable. Sony researchers were surprised when their demo CDs returned with scratches on them, yet they sounded as clear as new when played.

Question 3

How the CD player developed?

Answer 3

• 1970: James Russell patented the first CDs (Compact Discs).
• 1980s: CDs revolutionised the recorded music industry. For a while they made records and tapes obsolete
• 1982: The first commercial CD was produced on 17th August with a recording from 1979 of Claudio Arrau performing Chopin Waltzes.

Question 4

Key Features of the CD player?

Answer 4

• This was a digital recording technique
• Binary code stored information on the CD which was then read by a laser and transformed into sound.
• Thousands of CDs could be made from one master CD.

Question 5

When was the microphone invented/released?

Answer 5

1877

Question 6

Microphone key innovators?

Answer 6

Dr Harry F Olson

Question 7

How Dr Harry F Olson influenced the development of the microphone?

Answer 7

Olson was a key innovator of the ribbon microphone. This bi-directional microphone was used extensively in the broadcasting industry.

Question 8

How the microphone developed?

Answer 8

• The microphone was invented in 1877 by Emile Berliner.
• Carbon microphones were used in 1920’s but didn’t produce great sound.
• Neumann designed the transverse current carbon mic, which were better for sound quality.
• Condenser, dynamic and ribbon microphones were then developed.
• Condenser mics were patented in 1916.
• Dynamic mics were patented in 1930s.
• Ribbon mics were patented in 1940s.

Question 9

Key features of the microphone?

Answer 9

Equipment that turns sound waves into electrical energy which may then be amplified, transmitted, or recorded.

Question 10

When was streaming audio invented/released?

Answer 10

1920s

Question 11

Muzak

Answer 11

• The original technical basis for Muzak was developed by inventor Major General George Owen Squier, who was granted several further patents related to transmission of information signals, among them a system for the transmission and distribution of signals over electrical lines.
• Muzak was streamed music used to soothe or motivate the general public in different situations.
• It was transported along telephone lines and did not use Radio – a very new concept at the time.
• Muzak was played in the workplace to motivate workers.
• It was also introduced into Elevators to alleviate the fear of travelling in this ‘brand new contraption’.

Question 12

Streaming Audio key features?

Answer 12

• Streaming media is video or audio content sent in a compressed form over the internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive.

Question 12

How streaming audio developed?

Answer 12

• In the 1990s and 2000s internet access had become so widespread that streaming audio became more accessible.
• RealAudio successfully launched the first major streaming audio service in 1995.
• In comparison to the long wait associated with downloading a music file, streaming audio became highly popular, despite initial poor audio quality.