ABSTRACT
Looking back to 1877 when Thomas Edison first mesmerized listeners by the sounds emanating from his electro-mechanical phonograph, and 1897 when Valdemer Poulsen made audio recording and instant playback on magnetic wire a reality; to the introduction of the digital audiotape (DAT) and Super VHS in 1987, it is quite easy to see the effect of those primary inventions on today's recording technology. Early recording inventions have paved the way for similar modern equipment, and the overall effect reaches far beyond the recording industry. The result has been a continuous development of superior consumer electronic products that are mostly compatible with major magnetic recording units for home or commercial use.
