Most significant audio-related inventions of all-time?

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by USAudio, May 10, 2018.

  1. USAudio

    USAudio New

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    For fun, what do you think are the most significant audio-related inventions (patents?) of all-time?

    e.g. Transistor, vacuum tube, phonograph, dynamic speaker, CD ...
     
  2. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    How about the greatest invention of all time: the invention of language.
     
  3. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    How is THIS not the greatest invention of all time?
     
  4. BaconBits

    BaconBits Acquaintance

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  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Edison wax cylinder?
    Brought music into the home.
    Transistor?
    Brought music out of the home.
     
  6. Fearless1

    Fearless1 Facebook Friend

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  7. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    It's a matter of transportation. Someone can make music, record it, and sell it on some kind of media but distribution takes material, resources and time. I wasn't buying music outside of my preferred genre on CD or tape before the internet came along because I'd rather spend my money on music that I would be more likely to enjoy. Sure, there is radio, but your are at the mercy of businesses to tell you what is popular and when you can listen to specific songs.

    The internet has granted vast diversity and instant distribution to all music genres, and without it I wouldn't be enjoying and exploring blues, jazz, EDM, and acoustic music like I am now.
     
  8. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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  9. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    Maybe not the most significant but here's a couple of 9000 year old flutes (bone) and that's pretty cool.

    [​IMG]

    Obviously no one knows what the first musical instrument was but historians are betting on either a drum or the flute.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2018
  10. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    The invention of music...

     
  11. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Apart from the transistor (it's ok to be enthusiastic about tubes, but not for everything, even the kitchen mixer, to have them)... how about the evolution and development of musical instruments?

    And, this. What Mr Nyquist came up with quite a while before digital music was even a dream.
     
  12. supertransformingdhruv

    supertransformingdhruv Almost "Made"

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    Just imagine if we had no idea how to deliberately put notes and rhythms together in ways that would become pleasurable to hear!

    (Or imagine being armed with some music theory and programming knowledge and thinking you'd solved this whole music thing.)
     
  13. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Not an invention, though.
     
  14. BaconBits

    BaconBits Acquaintance

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    The perfect 5th
     
  15. USAudio

    USAudio New

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    If I had to pick just one, I was thinking it would be vacuum tubes because I believe that was the first *electronic* means of amplifying a signal?
     
  16. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Is that saying that amplification itself is the most significant thing? Electronic amplification, as opposed to sending the quivering of a needle out of a horn? Indeed, that was a huge step.
     
  17. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    :headbang:

    It was indeed. Turntables returned in great style as well.
     
  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I will agree that amplification is huge. We can't do anything without it. It started with tubes and then transistors took hold.

    I will say next to that is magnetic tape (obviously by my avatar). We had magnetic recordings on a wire, but those clever Germans figured out how to get iron oxide shavings glued onto mylar and then used DC bias to get more linearly and fidelity out of it. When German radio stations were raided, the tape heads were brought back to America where the Ampex Tape Corporation was founded. Where oh where would we be without magnetic recording?

    Next? Either developments in the speaker (although there is not one ah-ha moments for speakers since it had a long development, unless you consider the Avent speakers), but I would say next would be condenser microphones, also invented by those smarty Germans.
     
  19. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Yeah, but one could argue that electrical amplification gave the talent of singing with projection, and acoustic architecture a swift kick in the balls...
     
  20. USAudio

    USAudio New

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    Yeah I was torn between vacuum tubes and the phonograph ... and find it interesting how both are still in use today (albeit in different incarnations) and growing!
     

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