It's Time to Personalise the Voice
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The Early Years of the Acoustic Phonograph Its Developmental Origins and Fall from Favor 1877-1929
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE ACOUSTIC PHONOGRAPH ITS DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS AND FALL FROM FAVOR 1877-1929 by CARL R. MC QUEARY A SENIOR THESIS IN HISTORICAL AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES Submitted to the General Studies Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES Approved Accepted Director of General Studies March, 1990 0^ Ac T 3> ^"^^ DEDICATION No. 2) This thesis would not have been possible without the love and support of my wife Laura, who has continued to love me even when I had phonograph parts scattered through out the house. Thanks also to my loving parents, who have always been there for me. The Early Years of the Acoustic Phonograph Its developmental origins and fall from favor 1877-1929 "Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snov^. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go." With the recitation of a child's nursery rhyme, thirty-year- old Thomas Alva Edison ushered in a bright new age--the age of recorded sound. Edison's successful reproduction and recording of the human voice was the end result of countless hours of work on his part and represented the culmination of mankind's attempts, over thousands of years, to capture and reproduce the sounds and rhythms of his own vocal utterances as well as those of his environment. Although the industry that Edison spawned continues to this day, the phonograph is much changed, and little resembles the simple acoustical marvel that Edison created. -
ARSC Journal XXV1 I Ii 1995 ©Association for Recorded Sound Collections 1995
PETER SHAMBARGER Cylinder Records: An Overview Few people realize that sound recordings were made in the cylinder format for forty years (from 1889 to 1929) for entertainment use and even longer for business and edu cational purposes. While much of their history coincided with that of acoustic disc records, many cylinder recordings were never duplicated on disc. Also, a cylinder ver sion of a recording often differed from the disc version, even by the same artist. Consequently, it is important that both a conscious and conscientious effort be made by private collectors and professional archivists to preserve our recorded heritage in this earliest ofall recorded formats. The purpose of this article is to provide keys to identify the different types of cylin ders and to answer the questions most often asked by collectors and archivists when they first come across these aging artifacts. The primary focus is on the most common types of cylinders manufactured in the United States, with some mention of a few important European cylinder types and manufacturers. Most oddities and ultra-rare types of cylinders are beyond the scope of this article. Why Cylinders? en one first encounters records in the cylinder format, the likely question hat comes to mind is "Why a cylinder?" Thomas Edison, Chichester Bell, Charles Sumner Tainter, and other early developers chose the cylindrical configuration because of inherent advantages the cylinder offered over the disc for sound recording technology. Most importantly, the surface of a helically-grooved cylinder provides a constant stylus-to-groove motion throughout the recording, which affords a constant linear speed. -
ARSC Journal XXV1 I Ii 1996
RAYMOND R. WILE Cylinder Record Materials Although record collecting may be traced back to the turn of the century, there has been little in the way of serious study devoted to the problems ofpreservation. The 1959 Pickett and Lemcoe study for the Library of Congress1 identified some of the problems of shellac and vinyl records but ignored completely those of cylinders and most other vertical-cut recordings. As far as I know, an unpublished paper that I delivered before the New York Chapter of the Music Library Association in 1978 was unique in raising questions; it was greeted with an almost audible "ho hum".2 Since the date of that paper, more years have lapsed and further degradation of stored cylinders has undoubtedly taken place. The notes to follow are offered in the hope that, by examining the historical evidence, steps may be taken to redress past omissions. Tinfoil Recordings he most difficult period to document in terms of surviving recordings is the first - Tthe tinfoil period. In many cases, the tinfoil was attached to the phonograph mandrel by means of shellac. The removal of a foil that had been so affixed was virtually certain to assure its destruction. A later form of phonograph developed by Edison used a clamping bar to temporar ily secure the foil in an axial slot in the mandrel. While this bar held the foil securely, it also caused a dead spot in the recording and added the difficulty of groove align ment, should one wish to reattach a previously recorded foil. Few tinfoil recordings have survived and I know of none that have been success fully reproduced. -
Guide to the Charles Sumner Tainter Papers
Guide to the Charles Sumner Tainter Papers NMAH.AC.0124 Robert Harding 1984 Archives Center, National Museum of American History P.O. Box 37012 Suite 1100, MRC 601 Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 [email protected] http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Scope and Contents........................................................................................................ 4 Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 4 Biographical / Historical.................................................................................................... 2 Bibliography...................................................................................................................... 4 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 5 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 6 Series 1: Papers, 1878-1937, undated.................................................................... 6 Series 2: Laboratory Notes, 1881-1908................................................................... 8 Series 3: Artifacts, undated................................................................................... -
Imperfect Sound Forever: Loudness, Listening Formations, and the Historiography of Sound Reproduction
Imperfect Sound Forever: Loudness, Listening Formations, and the Historiography of Sound Reproduction by Kyle Devine A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Mediations Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2012 Kyle Devine Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-89334-0 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-89334-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. -
Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources the Aim of the Alexander Graham Bell Museum Is to Present to the Modern World the Scientific Research of Dr
iiicxaiicicr g » ^*% V| ^m * * ! ^R_V j/f ftA • • •BL^^S BBC- Bell Museum •'.-•et-» C;ï."- ~ • %f •••.'••^'-•<v.^ Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources The aim of the Alexander Graham Bell Museum is to present to the modern world the scientific research of Dr. Bell and his associates in all its comprehensive ness. Through mechanical and documentary records of that research which are on display in this museum, present and future generations may come to know and to realize the far-reaching work of inventive genius. In the displays we can see the diversity and pro ductivity of truly creative minds working to benefit mankind. This booklet will supplement the materials displayed in the museum. The research work of Dr. Bell and his various associates on land, on sea, and in the air is described in the text while modern and historic photographs provide visual impressions of that work. Included in the illustrations are reproductions of some of Dr. Bell's personal sketches—records of rare human interest for they show that he and his associated pioneers of scientific research explored beyond the limits of physical knowledge of their period with sensitivity and humor as well as with courage. HON. ARTHUR LAING, P.C., M.P., B.S.A. Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources. Alexander Graham Bell Museum Although Alexander Graham Bell is best known to the world as the inventor of the telephone, his genius carried him much further into scientific research than most people realize. He made important contributions in medicine, aeronautics, marine engineering, genetics and eugenics. -
Woodhams Stone Collection Gramophone
Gramophone Woodhams Stone Collection Gramophone There are so many ways of listening to recorded music now; streaming, downloads, CDs and, of course, vinyl records. It is hard to imagine a world without pre-recorded music. The first machine to record and reproduce sound was the Phonograph patented in 1878 by Thomas Edison. This early machine recorded the sound on cylinders covered with a layer of tinfoil which captured the sound vibrations via a stylus in indents along a groove. The tin phonograph, however, was difficult to listen to and the foils were easily damaged. They were also impossible to copy. The next development was the Graphophone patented in 1886 by Charles Sumner Tainter and Chichester Bell (cousin of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone). The recordings for the Graphophone were cut into wax covered cylinders instead of foil and were far better in quality. Edison rose to the challenge created by the Graphophone by producing the Perfected Phonograph in 1888. This used all wax cylinders, each lasting about two minutes. Both these rival machines were marketed as dictation machines. It was not until the 1890s that the companies began recording music. Arcades with coin-operated phonographs appeared and queues formed to hear recordings of popular songs. The public listened through hearing tubes which fitted in the ears. The quality of these cylinders were poor, but showmen found that they could make huge profits. Pre-recorded music had arrived. In 1888 another type of sound machine was demonstrated. Invented by Emile Berliner this new machine played recordings cut into flat discs. -
Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Park the Inventor Is a Man Who Looks Around Upon the World and Is Not Contented with Things As They Are
Nova Scotia Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Park The inventor is a man who looks around upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to Alexander Graham Bell Museum improve whatever he sees, he wants to benefit the world; Although Alexander Graham Bell is best known to the he is haunted by an idea, the spirit of invention possesses world as the inventor of the telephone, his genius carried him, seeking materialization. him much further into scientific research than most people Alexander Graham Bell realize. He made important contributions in medicine, aeronautics, marine engineering, genetics and eugenics. He did extensive research in electricity, in sound and in speech. He was a teacher and, perhaps above all, a great humanitarian. Born in Scotland in 1847, long-time resident of Canada, citizen of the United States of America, Alexander Graham Bell is a symbol of the internationality of his scientific achievement. He came to Canada in his early years and later went to the United States to pursue his career as a teacher and scientist. It was not long before he returned to Canada. Amid the rugged beauty of Cape Breton, so reminiscent of his Scottish homeland, he built and developed the estate known as "Beinn Bhreagh" on a headland across the bay from Baddeck. Beinn Bhreagh became his second home, and here he built the famous laboratory and workshops which pro duced so many of the items now displayed in this museum. In the course of his work here he gathered about him a group of brilliant and energetic young men, keenly inter ested in the scientific problems which Bell had set himself to solve. -
Bell Labs 1 Bell Labs
Bell Labs 1 Bell Labs Bell Laboratories (also known as Bell Labs and formerly known as AT&T Bell Laboratories and Bell Telephone Laboratories) is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, United States. It previously was a division of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T Corporation), half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary. Bell Laboratories operates its headquarters at Murray Hill, New Jersey, and has research and development facilities throughout the world. Researchers working at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey Bell Labs are credited with the development of radio astronomy, the transistor, the laser, the charge-coupled device (CCD), information theory, the UNIX operating system, the C programming language and the C++ programming language. Seven Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work completed at Bell Laboratories. Origin and historical locations Early namesake The Alexander Graham Bell Laboratory, also variously known as the Volta Bureau, the Bell Carriage House, the Bell Laboratory and the Volta Laboratory, was created in Washington, D.C. by Alexander Graham Bell. In 1880, the French government awarded Bell the Volta Prize of 50,000 francs (approximately US$10,000 at that time, about $250,000 in current dollars[1]) for the invention of the telephone, which he used to found the Volta Laboratory, along with Sumner Tainter and Bell's [2] Bell's 1893 Volta Bureau building in Washington, D.C. cousin Chichester Bell. His research -
02 – Spinning the Record
I: THE EARLY YEARS What on earth were they fighting over? To read the early history of recording, you would think that these people were arguing over shares of Microsoft stock or territory in the Middle East. These pioneers, some of whom really did have good intentions, were soon caught up in imbroglios, lawsuits and just plain nasty arguments that could make your head spin. It’s also rather hard to disentangle the vari- ous threads nowadays because, like all real history, none of it happened in a neat, linear fash- ion, but all jumbled together, lines drawn in the sand spilling all over each other as the tides of music fashions and different musical agendas rushed in from an ocean of public consumers. Reduced to essentials, it all seems so neat: Thomas Edison invents first practical phono- graph in 1877, sets it aside for 12 years and doesn’t bother to market or develop it as he turns his attentions to other matters (specifically electric light); other inventors pick up the thread around 1889, ten years later the flat disc begins to make significant inroads on the cylinder, by 1913 Edison throws in the towel and starts making flat discs of his own, in 1925 electrical re- cording replaces the old acoustical method, by which time radio is making significant inroads on the record industry itself. By 1930, thanks to the overwhelming popularity of radio and the Depression, the record industry is floundering; new techniques and marketing ideas help keep it afloat through the Depression and War years, then it blossoms in a Renaissance of long-play albums, stereo sound and a seemingly unlimited market. -
Sound Recording and Popular Music
SOUNDS AND IMAGES 4 Sound Recording and Popular Music Taylor Swift has become such a music-industry 115 The Development of phenomenon that the only artist in the world able Sound Recording to compete with her isn’t even human: It’s Elsa, 122 the cartoon ice princess from Disney’s Frozen, who U.S. Popular Music and sang the smash hit “Let It Go.” Even with Elsa on the Formation of Rock her heels, Swift still had the No. 1 album in the 129 United States in 2014, with her 3.66-million-selling A Changing Industry: Reformations in 1989 edging out the 3.57 million copies sold of the Popular Music Frozen soundtrack. No other artist was even close; 136 the next-biggest release was Sam Smith’s smash The Business of Sound Recording release In the Lonely Hour, which reached album sales of 1.2 million in 2014.1 144 Sound Recording, Since her debut release of Taylor Swift in 2006, at Free Expression, and Democracy the age of sixteen, Swift has become one of the best-selling singer-songwriters—not only of the past decade but of all time, transitioning from a country-based artist to a top pop-chart star. Her songs often tell personal stories and have gained a stronger feminist perspective over time, exempli- fied in such hits as “Love Story,” “You Belong with Me,” “Fifteen,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Bad Blood.” Jun Sato/Getty Images for TS CHAPTER 4 • SOUND RECORDING AND POPULAR MUSIC 113 4 SOUND RECORDING AND POPULAR MUSIC Swift’s career has blossomed in the midst biggest among many artists dissatisfied of a changing music industry, and she has with the company’s low compensation for been a pioneer in terms of maintaining music creators. -
NATURE 455 ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL and Lent Him the Book, but As It Was in German, Bell Could Only Study the Diagrams and Try to Interpret the INVENTION of the Them
No. 4040 April 5, 1947 NATURE 455 ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL AND lent him the book, but as it was in German, Bell could only study the diagrams and try to interpret THE INVENTION OF THE them. One of his misunderstandings was very for tunate, for he gathered that Helmholtz had sent TELEPHONE* vowel sounds by telegraph, and it was two or three By PROF. G. w. 0. HOWE years before he found out his mistake. His mind started working on such things as the production of LEXANDER GRAHAM BELL was born in music by a number of electrically maintained forks A South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, on March 3, operated by keys, and the possibility of transmitting 1847, the son of Alexander Melville Bell, who was a the music over wires to a distance where there could lecturer in elocution at the University, and whose be an electrically operated piano. He also thought father, Alexander Bell, was also a prominent teacher of transmitting Morse signals by interruption of the of elocution. This Alexander Bell had been a shoe musical note. He studied the various systems of maker in St. Andrews, but had removed to Edinburgh telegraphy then in use and became familiar with and taken up acting, giving public readings of Shake Morse keys, sounders, etc. speare's plays, and correcting stammering and other After a year or two in Canada, his health was defects of speech. He then set up in London as a greatly improved, and he was invited by the Boston . teacher of elocution. Board of Education to investigate the possibility of In 1865, on the death of his father, Melville Bell teaching the children in the school for deaf-mutes removed from Edinburgh to London, leaving his to speak by means of his father's system.