America on Record A History of Recorded Sound [Paperback]

A history of sound recording from the nineteenth to the twenty first century, first published in 2006. America o n Record: A History of Recorded Sound provides a history of sound recording from the first sheet of tinfoil that was manipulated into retaining sound to the high-tech digital world of the twenty first century. This book examines the important technical developments of acoustic, electric, and digital sound reproduction while outlining the cultural impact of recorded music and movies. This second edition brings the story up to date, describing the digital revolution of sound recording with the rise of computers, Napster, DVD, MP3, and iPod. America o n Record: A History of Recorded Sound provides a history of sound recording from the first sheet of tinfoil that was manipulated into retaining sound to the high-tech digital world of the twenty first century. This book examines the important technical developments of acoustic, electric, and digital sound reproduction while outlining the cultural impact of recorded music and movies. This second edition brings the story up to date, describing the digital revolution of sound recording with the rise of computers, Napster, DVD, MP3, and iPod.In 1877 Thomas Edison dreamed that one day there would be a talking machine in every home, but even his legendary vision could not have foreseen the way that recorded sound would pervade modern life. From the first thin sheet of tinfoil that was manipulated into retaining sound to the home recordings of rappers in the 1980s and the high-tech studios of the 1990s, this book examines the important technical developments of acoustic, electric, and digital sound reproduction while outlining the cultural impact of recorded music and movies. This second edition highlights the digital revolution of sound recording. First Edition Hb (1995) 0-521-47544-9 First Edition Pb (1995) 0-521-47556-2Preface; Introduction; Part I. The Acoustic Era: 1. The inventors; 2. A phonograph in evlÓ4