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Recording Technology History

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 26 questions in 15 minutes.
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  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The first 12- bit - 30kHz digital tape recordings used a compander to increase dynamic range.






2. Invented by AT&T - these boost line level voltage by increasing the quality and distance of sound. Quickly becomes useful in recording and broadcasting what would soon be radio. (1900s)






3. Invented specially for the Beatles on April 6 - 1966 - by Ken Townsend - mainly at the instigation of John Lennon (1960s)






4. Engineer for the Beatles






5. (1970's) Transmitted first digital recordings to a standard computer.






6. Incorporated the 8 track into commercial recording at Atlantic Records in New York. He also replaces the mixing board conceived by Les Paul with linear faders and adds equalization - among other features.






7. An American given the task of observing the German's development of electronics during WWII that adapts the magnetophone. Impresses Bing Crosby. (1945).






8. Invented recording on film using infrared light (1917).






9. A recording engineer employed at EMI's Abbey Road Studios.






10. Together - they produce the first heavily multi- track (sound on sound) recordings in their home and on the road. Sometimes as many as 12 guitar parts and 12 vocal parts. (1950's)






11. A Beatle. Hated the tedium of double tracking during sessions - and regularly expressed a desire for a technical alternative. ADT was invented by Ken Townsend. (1960's)






12. Captured sound using wax etchings while attempting to improve upon Bell's technology. Direct record etching remains the norm well into the 1940's. (1890s)






13. Invented by Paul in the 1950's (with Mary Ford) - these allowed for individual track amplification and mixing.






14. Adapts a pair of Ampex 200's given to him from Bing Crosby by adding a second record head to one - producing the first- ever multi- track recordings. (1848).






15. Engineer for the Beatles






16. Invented sound captured magnetically on wire (wire recording) - named the telegraphone. Becomes useful in dictation and recording where low- fidelity is acceptable. (1890s)






17. Developed the loudspeaker by essentially reversing the new magnetic coil microphones (1910s)






18. Victor becomes wildly popular for selling records in disc form rather than cylinders.






19. Redesigned the first modern recording studio with control room and isolation for multi- tracking. Recording on 8- track becomes American standard with his influence at Atlantic Records.






20. Introduced by DBX - it was used to reduce tape hiss by extending the 'compander' concept by compressing low frequencies on record - and expanding them on playback.






21. After having been impressed by Jack Mullin's adaptation of the magnetophone - invents $50 -000 in the Ampex company to develop and market tape recorders. He is the first to prerecord his radio broadcasts on tape. (1945).






22. German scientist that invented magnetically captured sound on tape - called the magnetophone. (1930s)






23. Produces the first digital recording via computer in 1957. Tremendous limitations regarding dynamic range.






24. Invented the telephone - allowing for the human voice to be transmitted via microphone over wire at lower levels of voltage. (1870s)






25. Became first rock- n - roll musician to incorporate multi- tracking on a commercial rock- n - roll song. (1957).






26. Made numerous revolutionary recordings on EMI's 4- track equipment through the cleverness of George Martin and their engineers - primarily Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick