1. By: Jordan Ray

2. 1976  Dr. Stockham of Soundstream makes the first 16-bit digital recording in the U.S. at the Santa Fe Opera.

3. Credits.  http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/audio.his tory.timeline.html http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/audio.his tory.timeline.html

4. 1978  The first standard for the use of 14-bit PCM adaptors with VCR decks is embodied in Sony's PCM-1 consumer VCR adaptor.

5. 1980  Sony introduces a stereo cassette tape player called a "Walkman“ that could fit in the palm of your hand.

6. 1981  Philips explains the Compact Disc (CD).

7. 1982  Sony releases the first CD player, called the CDP-101.

8. 1983  Fiber-optic cable is used for long- distance digital audio transmission, linking New York and Washington, D.C.

9. 1984  The Apple Corporation markets the Macintosh or Mac computer.

10. 1986  R-DAT recorders are introduced in Japan.

11. 1985  Dolby makes the Spectral Recording system.

12. 1987  Digidesign markets "Sound Tools," a Macintosh-based digital workstation using DAT as its source and storage medium.

13. 1990  Dolby makes a 5-channel surround- sound scheme for home theater systems.

14. 1991  Ampex makes 499 mastering tape.

15. 1992  The Nagra D is made as a battery- operated field recorder using Nagra's own 4-channel 24-bit open-reel format.

16. 1993  Mackie creates the first "affordable" 8- bus analog console.

17. 1994  Yamaha creates the ProMix 01, the first payable digital multitrack console.

18. 1995  The first "solid-state“ audio recorder, the Nagra ARES-C, is created. It is run on batteries recording on PCMCIA cards using MPEG-2 audio compression.

19. 1996  Experimental digital recordings are made at 24 bits and 96 kHz.

20. 1997  DVD disc and players are introduced.

21. 1998  MP-3 players for downloaded Internet audio are now created.

22. 1999  Audio DVD Standard 1.0 agreed upon by manufacturers.