Digital Recording - History

History

• In 1937, British scientist Alec Reeves files the first patent describing Pulse-code modulation.

• In 1943, Bell Telephone Laboratories develops the first digital scrambled speech transmission system, SIGSALY.

• In 1957, Max Mathews of Bell develops the process to digitally record sound via computer.

• In 1967, the first digital audio magnetic 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.

• In 1972, Denon invents the first 8-track reel to reel digital recorder.

• In 1978, Sound 80 Records of Minneapolis records "Flim and the BB's" (S80-DLR-102) directly to digital before pressing the vinyl LP. The mastering engineer is Bob Berglund. The recording system is a 3M Digital Audio Mastering System.

• 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 by Sony and Philips, and New England Digital offers the hard disk recorder (Sample-to-Disk) option on the Synclavier, the first commercial hard disk (HDD) recording system. Also that same year, Peter Gabriel releases, Security, which was an early full digital recording.

• In 1990, digital radio begins in Canada, using the L-Band.

• In 1991 Alesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT is a tape format used for simultaneously recording eight tracks of digital audio at once, onto Super VHS magnetic tape - a format similar to that used by consumer VCRs. The product was announced in January 1991 at the NAMM convention in Anaheim, California. The first ADAT recorders shipped over a year later in February or March 1992.

• In 1996, optical discs and DVD players begin selling in Japan.