Brownian Motion Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007, 5:30 pm The Compact Disc Turns 25 By Patrick J. Lyons Tags: history, music, techology CD Philips manufactured the first compact disc on this date in 1982, Slashdot and others note. If history is any guide, that makes the format late-middle-aged and nearing retirement, at least as a commercial music medium. To review: Wax cylinders: 1880’s to 1910’s Edison’s original audio recording medium was dominant for about 30 years, first in a soft version you could shave and re-record at home and later in a hard plastic permanent recording. Disc records: 1910’s to 1940’s More convenient than cylinders to make, sell and play, 78-rpm discs of wax or acetate with a single selection on a side were the dominant form for about 30 years. Long-playing discs: 1940’s to 1970’s Vinyl LP’s could play up to 30 minutes of music a side in high fidelity; they quickly replaced 78’s and gradually eclipsed 45-rpm singles, remaining dominant for about 30 years. Cassettes: 1960’s to 1990’s Magnetic recording comes into its own in a handy format that you can play in the car; heyday lasts about 30 years. Eight-tracks: 1965 to 1988 No rewinding, but no home recording either, and a horsy image; an evolutionary dead end that nonetheless remains in production for about 23 years. Compact discs: 1980’s to 2000’s? Durable, digital, cheap and easy to make, ship, store and sell, the CD overtakes cassettes, but after two decades sales begin to erode with the advent of online file sharing and the sale of music downloads for MP3 players. Sure looks like a pattern. Vinyl discs and prerecorded cassettes haven’t completely disappeared; a handful are still produced for people who like the format. (Vinyl fans are adamant that their analog format still delivers the highest fidelity and often pay huge sums for high-end playback equipment.) CDs will probably stick around awhile after their heyday, too, not least because they also serve as a stable, useful data medium and many home computers can burn them. But the music business is changing profoundly — the “record business” hardly seems like a synonym any more — and the CD may turn out to be the last of the big-time physical recording formats. From here on, it may all just be bits. * Link * E-mail Th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Sorry to go all "Aggie87" on you BM, but there is an existing thread on this topic...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Sorry to go all "Aggie87" on you BM, but there is an existing thread on this topic...... Ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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