1. A Brief Timeline of Music Formats
Audio Formats / Audio Storage Michael S. McDaniel

2. Analog vs. Digital
Analog is a continuous wave signal that varies in frequency and/or amplitude.
Sound is naturally in this form.

3. Analog vs. Digital
Digital is a signal that is composed of pulses of zeroes and ones.

4. Vinyl Record (LP) 8-Track Cassette
Which is Which?
Analog
Digital
Reel-to-Reel
Vinyl Record (LP) 8-Track Cassette CD
MP3 WMA
FLAC
DVD Audio

5. ( ?) Reel-to-Reel
Works like a cassette (magnetic tape is transferred from one reel to the other)
Developed by Mullin, an audio engineer who was in WW2
Used extensively in music recording
Not portable

6. (1948 – ?) Vinyl Record
The primary technology used for personal music reproduction for most of the 20th century
A flat disk with a groove, played on a turntable by a needle
Came in different sizes (speeds) – 45’s, 78’s, 33 1/3
Not portable
Still being produced today

7. (1963 – ?) Cassette A contained reel-to-reel format
Magnetic tape that goes across a head that reads the signal
Popular due to its size and portability
Still being produced today

8. (1964–1980) 8-Track Tape “Endless” reel-to-reel cassette
Magnetic tape that goes across a head that reads the signal
Popular from the mid-60’s to the early 80’s

9. (1982 - ?) Compact Disc Digital format!
It is “optical media” : A laser burns dots into a plastic disk.
Those dots are either open or closed (1’s or 0’s)
Most popular format used today.
Very portable and inexpensive.

10. Optical Disk Capacities vs. MP3 Players

11. MP3 Players Mp3 Players like the iPod have taken over.
They are much more easily accessible
Available online through providers like iTunes from Apple
THE PROBLEM
The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has been making public the problem of copyright infringement prevalent among mp3 users.

12. Any Questions?