Phonautograph - 1857 - The first recording device invented by Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville. This recording device utilised a cone-shaped speaking horn to capture sound, with a flexible diaphragm on the small end with a point attached to it. The point would engrave a line into a revolving soot-covered bit of paper, altered by the varying levels of sound. This machine could record sound but it could not play it back.
Phonograph - 1877 - Inspired by the phonautograph, Thomas Edison invented this recording device with the additional feature of playback. Similar to the phonautograph, this machine would engrave onto a revolving surface. However, this machine engraved onto tin foil that was attached to a metal cylinder as opposed to soot-covered paper. The sound could be played back by reversing the vibration through the diaphragm and amplifying it using the cone. This would be done by tracing the recorded line with the stylus, result in supposedly identical vibrations. However, many of the frequencies were omitted because of this primitive technology.
Electrical recording - 1925 - The same idea as the previous two machines but this time, the recording was engraved onto a wax disc. With the aid of electricity, more frequencies could be brought out, resulting in greatly improved audio quality.
Tape recording - 1935 - This involves recording magnetically onto steel tape. This brought a further increase in quality and convenience. Tape recordings were initially only used for film and radio, before being popularised amongst the public.
Multitrack recording - 1943
Digital recording - 1972 - Reel-to-reel tape decks used PCM. This is a method of representing analogue signals digitally. This type of recording has led to formats such as mp3 files and CDs.
MIDI recording - 1980s - MIDI stands for "Musical Instrument Digital Interface" and refers to the direct computerised input of sound. A MIDI instrument is a recreation of an acoustic or electric instrument and its original intention was to produce a sound that was as accurate as possible to the instrument it was imitating. However, since its popularisation in the 80s, producers have experimented with its possibilities and used it to transcend the sound possibilities of the imitated instrument.
Michael Jackson - Thriller
An early example of a record that uses MIDI recording is Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (released 1982). The prominent basslines in this song, created using MIDI, have distinct punchy sounds. By using MIDI, these sounds could be meticulously created and adjusted for a specific function. This punchy sound means that the track is suitable for dance music; the large bass rhythmic sound is perfect for dancing. Since the 80s, MIDI has adapted in a number of ways. It has influenced music producers to create sounds specifically for dancing. This has led to popular genres such as drum and bass, garage, house and dubstep. Each of these genres uses manipulated MIDI synth sounds to capture an individual mood. By enhancing the bass frequencies of these recordings, the genres have become well suited to dance scenarios such as clubs or raves.
Computer technology has affected genres in a number of ways, including the structure and tempo as well as the sound. For example, dance genres such as drum and bass tend to follow a similar structure: a build up followed by a drop, followed by another build up and another drop. This structure is common amongst dance music and when displayed on a screen, the structure can be seen in chunks. This has made it easier for DJs to combine songs whilst performing. By "slotting" the pieces together, they can line up drops and with the use of the cross-fader function on their decks they can choose exactly when to use the drop of a song. This has also led to the ends of these songs to be extended. The longer the piece plays at the end, the more time a DJ has to mix it into the next piece. This technique has found its way into much mainstream pop music, such as Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head."
Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head
Much of mainstream pop music is popular within club scenes. This means that pop producers have adopted the features of dance music, such as house, in order to sell and popularise their record. This record may actually be define as a "club" record, because of its combination of the distinctive 4/4 house beat and its catchy vocal hooks that keep people coming to clubs.
The tempo remains fairly similar for each genre of dance music. This is because producers have decided that the easiest way their songs will be heard is through live events and by matching tempos to other songs, they are more likely to be played. This is because the sound of their piece will be severely distorted, and in some cases unrecognisable, if the DJ has to dramatically adjust the tempo in a live setting.
Les Paul's first multitrack recordings
Les Paul's idea for multitrack recording was to be able to either stack recordings one after another or to record multiple instruments simultaneously. Without this important milestone, the entire progression of the music industry would've played out entirely different. Most successful albums released today make use of multitrack recordings. Albums such as "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys (1966), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles (1967) and "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd (1973) all demonstrate innovative uses of this technology - combining effects and loops with recorded sound. Les Paul's innovation developed during the 1930s whilst recording onto acetate discs.
Les Paul - Lover (released 1948)
This song features Les Paul layering 8 different guitar tracks. This is referred to as "sound on sound overdubbing." It involves recording tracks separately on tape and stacking them to produce an ensemble sound.
Another innovative technique used in this piece is recording at half speed. Les Paul recorded sections of the piece on a tape that was revolving at half speed. He then reverted it to the original speed, resulting in a guitar sound that was double the speed.
Les Paul's adaptation and demonstration of the possibilities of multitrack recording has influenced countless musicians. His invention allows much more creative freedom, as opposed to recording everything in one take on two tracks on tape.
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of The Moon
Pink Floyd - Money (released 1973)
This album was recorded and mixed by Pink Floyd at Abbey Road studios between 1972 and 1973. At the time the studio was capable of producing 16-track mixes. This album is known for its powerful sound and innovative effects. These effects included Gilmour's wide range of pedals including delay, chorus, reverb and distortion.
On The Run - Roger Waters entered an 8-note sequence into a Synthi AKS synth, manipulating its speed and adding other effects such as a white noise generator. He then reversed guitar parts that he created using a mic stand as a guitar slide by reversing the tape and recording it.
Money - In the intro of this track, Roger Waters recorded different money-related objects in order to create loops. These included coins being thrown into a bowl to produce the sound of coins being thrown into a till. These effects were panned left and right to make full use of the stereo recording.
The band decided to later record a quadraphonic mix of the album. This means that the production would allow listening through 4 sets of speakers, giving a much wider stereo field.
Other equipment and effects used during the album's production include:
Solid State TG12345 mixing desk
Struder A80 tape machine
EMT plate reverb
Fairchild limiters
Curvebender EQ
Neumann U47, 67 and 87 microphones
The Streets - Original Pirate Material
The Streets - Don't Mug Yourself (released 2002)
This majority of this album was recorded in Mike Skinner's rented apartment using his IBM ThinkPad laptop. It is an effective demonstration of what can be achieved with bedroom recordings. This album has inspired other musicians to do the same, such as Jamie T's "Panic Prevention" which was all recorded in his room.
Skinner recorded the vocal tracks in a wardrobe and used sheets and mattresses to absorb sound and reduce echo. The overall success of this album proves that it is possible to create a widely popular record using limited equipment.
Not only has computer technology affected different genres, particularly dance music, it has also allowed more options whilst recording. Entire albums can now be recorded at home, which may be seen as a benefit or a problem. The rise of bedroom recordings will no doubt impact the future of professional studios. This means that some possibilities in terms of recording will be reduced, such as the availability of high standard equipment. Home recordings will no doubt become easier to produce as technology continues to grow exponentially but this may also lead to people taking short-cuts an refusing to take risks or experiment.
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