Leon Scott de Martinville invented an artificial ear in the 1850s that could record vibrations, leading to significant developments in sound recording.
The oldest known audio recordings, predating Leon Scott's recordings, are tuning fork traces from around 1850, marking an important milestone in audio history.
Deep dives
The Oldest Sound Recording: Leon Scott's Artificial Ear
Leon Scott de Martinville, a stenographer, invented an artificial ear in the 1850s that could record the vibrations of vibrating objects themselves. By attaching a stylus to the object and moving a surface underneath it, waveforms were created. These earlier attempts at sound recording couldn't be played back but were significant in the development of sound recording.
The Earliest Playable Recording: Leon Scott's 'Au Clair de la Lune'
In 2008, an earlier recording than Edison's was discovered: Leon Scott's 'Au Clair de la Lune' from April 9, 1860. It was intelligible because researchers could correct the speed and recognize the tune, offering a glimpse into the past and how things sounded back then.
The Earliest Known Audio Recordings: Tuning Forks
The oldest known audio recordings, predating Scott's recordings, are tuning fork traces from around 1850. Although these recordings were made by picking up the sound at the source rather than through the air, they are still considered sound recordings and mark an important milestone in audio history.
What is the oldest recorded sound in history? For over 100 years researchers thought they knew until a mind-blowing discovery by historians found something new - and technological advances allowed it to be played back for the first time in history. What is the oldest recording of a musical performance, president, battlefield, television broadcast, cell phone call, and more? Featuring Patrick Feaster, co-founder of FirstSounds.org, three-time Grammy nominee, and Ph.D. in Musicology as well as Lynn Novick, award-winning filmmaker, and co-directing partner of Ken Burns.