Technology is the booming era of constant evolution. Technology has always been a topic of new ideas and new inventions. Technology has played a major role in how our society today functions the way it does, and in the evolution of music in our generations. Technology has been and will keep evolving with our times, especially music. It has led the pathway since the 1900s to help advance instruments, videos, record labels, etc. in the music world.
Technology in the 1900s was not like what it is today. The first pair of headphones was invented in 1910. They were made out of copper wiring and operator headphones. They were initially called ‘radio earphones’. These were the first inventions of many for the evolving advancements in headphones.
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The second major invention for music evolution during this period that helped us get where we are today is ‘magnetic tape’. Tapes were invented mainly before World War II. These magnetic tape inventions were used for recordings. They were made from adhering iron oxide powder to a thin paper with lacquer that a German artist made. This was patented as the world's first magnetic tape made by an Austrian German engineer.
Another important invention was the ‘AEG Magnetophon tape recorder’ of 1935. This tape recorder was more advanced than what they called ‘magnetic tape’. This tape recorder was easier to transport, and many other inventors figured out that using different amounts of oxide changes the clarity of the recording on the tape. These inventions of the tape recorder were crucial to the start of music becoming globally popular in our society. Tape recorders carved the pathway for the start of bands producing their own record labels.
In 1937, Bell Labs’ ‘two-channel stereo’ was perfected after many trials and errors. Bell Labs created these stereos in hopes to recreate higher-pitched sounds and to amplify sound. The original intent was to use these for theaters to enhance their sounds for a better theatrical experience. Disney actually adopted the stereo a few years late to use for ‘Fantasia’. These stereos helped advance the technology already being made and, in return, helped revolutionize the pathway for music including music found in movies.
In 1940, the ‘vocoder’ was the tool that was used to enhance musical sound. This was the machine that was the 1940s version of auto-tune. Its primary job was to manipulate and mess with singers’ pitch. The machine was also used during World War II. It was used in the war for transatlantic conversations between the president and Winston Churchill. This machine was ground-breaking in the music world for the advancements in editing singers and songs being made.
In 1952, the ‘Regency TR-1 transistor radio’ was the hot item for companies to produce for the commercial market. This radio was the genesis of a portable handheld personal device. Regency and Texas Instruments came together to produce a more affordable model for commercial sales. This technological advancement in radios was legendary in making rock n’ roll music accessible to a mass amount of people. This was a very important piece of equipment for rock n’ roll and music in general.
Now that have talked more about the radio and recording side of technological development, there are a few other key inventions of instruments that started the evolution of technology in music, especially rock n’ roll. The most important element in a band is the electric guitar. The electric guitar is very important in getting the right sound for the flow and hype of the music. The first electric guitar prototypes were introduced around the 20s and 30s. The actual first electric guitar was said to be invented by Paul Tutmarc. Tutmarc was said to be one of the first inventors of the electric guitar. Paul experimented by building a magnetic pickup with horseshoe magnets and coils. These items amplified the vibrations of the instrument’s string. Around the same time, there were other inventors, such as Beauchamp and Dopyera, creating electric guitars with the same type of makeup. Beauechamp actually had craftsmanship build the first prototype replicating a similar look to a frying pan. He took his electric guitar prototype to Adolph Rickenbacker, and they formed a company and were the first to start manufacturing a line of electric guitars. This was a critical time in rock music.
Ultimately, technology has played a big role in the advancements of rock n’ roll. There have been many inventions that have revolutionized music, especially rock music. It has been evolving since the 1900s and keeps evolving every day. It truly has led the pathway of music and has greatly impacted each generation. Technology truly is the booming era of the evolution of sound, instruments, and music.
Works Cited
- Encyclopedia.com. 2019. https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/music-history/electric-guitar
- Herzog, Kenny. “24 Inventions That Changed Music”. Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2019, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/24-inventions-that-changed-music-16471/magnetic-tape-1928-221972/
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