Comments on: The world's first audio recording is creepy, not made by Edison http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 17:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Chris Brewer http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298727 Chris Brewer Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298727 And that's what I get for not reading the entire comment thread, first... :p And that’s what I get for not reading the entire comment thread, first… :p

]]> By: Chris Brewer http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298722 Chris Brewer Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298722 I know using Mythbusters as a source is like writing a term paper using Wikipedia, so I'm going to double-hell for this one, but they tried this and was busted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2006_season)#Pottery_Record_.28Archaeoacoustics.29 I know using Mythbusters as a source is like writing a term paper using Wikipedia, so I’m going to double-hell for this one, but they tried this and was busted. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2006_season)#Pottery_Record_.28Archaeoacoustics.29

]]> By: umbriel http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298522 umbriel Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298522 I recall it being claimed that a  phonautograph was made of President Lincoln's voice. If it could be located and "played", even if the quality was no better than these others, at least we'd have a better idea of what his supposedly "high" voice actually sounded like. I recall it being claimed that a  phonautograph was made of President Lincoln’s voice. If it could be located and “played”, even if the quality was no better than these others, at least we’d have a better idea of what his supposedly “high” voice actually sounded like.

]]> By: Chris Palmer http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298467 Chris Palmer Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298467 Thanks! I was going to have to dig through my SF magazines to re-read it - very happy to see it online! Thanks! I was going to have to dig through my SF magazines to re-read it – very happy to see it online!

]]> By: Rufus de Rham http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298458 Rufus de Rham Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298458 Luckily I am an archivist, even better an AMIA member who got to see the presentation/narrative of how this amazing process happened at last year's conference.  http://www.firstsounds.org/ these are the guys who got it to play back and figured out that it wasn't a woman singing (as originally thought) but de Martinville himself. Archiving rocks.  Luckily I am an archivist, even better an AMIA member who got to see the presentation/narrative of how this amazing process happened at last year’s conference.  http://www.firstsounds.org/ these are the guys who got it to play back and figured out that it wasn’t a woman singing (as originally thought) but de Martinville himself. Archiving rocks. 

]]> By: Cefeida http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298380 Cefeida Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298380 The page itself says that they slowed down the audio and compared it to other recordings of Martinville and thus concluded that it was him. The second clip is just the first one slowed down. The page itself says that they slowed down the audio and compared it to other recordings of Martinville and thus concluded that it was him. The second clip is just the first one slowed down.

]]> By: headcode http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298163 headcode Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298163 Amazing.  I would describe it as haunting, not creepy. Amazing.  I would describe it as haunting, not creepy.

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298096 Noctilucent Studios Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298096 truly the stuff of nightmares... truly the stuff of nightmares…

]]> By: Vanwall Green http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1298051 Vanwall Green Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1298051 "The Stone Tape", a BBC TV production from 1972, written by Nigel Kneale - eerie little suspense/horror/thriller about sounds and images recorded on an ancient stone. “The Stone Tape”, a BBC TV production from 1972, written by Nigel Kneale – eerie little suspense/horror/thriller about sounds and images recorded on an ancient stone.

]]> By: Ian Mackereth http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297910 Ian Mackereth Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297910 @google-efaf53f5fc4619b19e56d7ea11abb211:disqus   Yep, this is the story that I logged in to share! It's "Colours of the Masters" by Aussie writer Sean McMullen, and it's a wonderful story on many levels. You can read it here: http://eidolon.net/?story=The%20Colours%20of%20the%20Masters&pagetitle=The+Colours+of+the+Masters&section=fiction @google-efaf53f5fc4619b19e56d7ea11abb211:disqus   Yep, this is the story that I logged in to share!
It’s “Colours of the Masters” by Aussie writer Sean McMullen, and it’s a wonderful story on many levels.
You can read it here: http://eidolon.net/?story=The%20Colours%20of%20the%20Masters&pagetitle=The+Colours+of+the+Masters&section=fiction

]]> By: lecti http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297779 lecti Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297779 Just got a call, something about 7 days.  I have no idea what it means. Just got a call, something about 7 days.  I have no idea what it means.

]]> By: Chris Palmer http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297716 Chris Palmer Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297716 There was a science fiction story several years (and by several, that could be up to 10 or more) about a guy who invents a color organ type apparatus back in the late 18th/early 19th century so that deaf people could see music. He tries to sell Beethoven on the idea and Beethoven, thinking it was supposed to restore his hearing, dashes it off the piano and damages it. When the inventor sees that the sound diaphram was making squiggly scratches, he improves it to record concentric scratches on a glass disk using a diamond stylus and goes around recording operas, performances, speeches, and such, even though he has no way of playing them back. Then a guy in the present (told in parallel) discovers a way to scan and play them by computer, so now you could hear Chopin playing his compositions and such. I'm sure I mangled several details, but does anyone remember this and who wrote it? Apparently, he was inspired by the stories above, most of which I'd never heard before. There was a science fiction story several years (and by several, that could be up to 10 or more) about a guy who invents a color organ type apparatus back in the late 18th/early 19th century so that deaf people could see music. He tries to sell Beethoven on the idea and Beethoven, thinking it was supposed to restore his hearing, dashes it off the piano and damages it. When the inventor sees that the sound diaphram was making squiggly scratches, he improves it to record concentric scratches on a glass disk using a diamond stylus and goes around recording operas, performances, speeches, and such, even though he has no way of playing them back. Then a guy in the present (told in parallel) discovers a way to scan and play them by computer, so now you could hear Chopin playing his compositions and such.

I’m sure I mangled several details, but does anyone remember this and who wrote it? Apparently, he was inspired by the stories above, most of which I’d never heard before.

]]> By: Kris Wolff http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297689 Kris Wolff Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297689 For some reason this reminds me of numbers stations. For some reason this reminds me of numbers stations.

]]> By: Romeo Vitelli http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297479 Romeo Vitelli Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297479 There are all sorts of creepy recordings out there.  That includes this Youtube clip of the only recording ever made by Alessandro Moreschi, the last great castrato singer.  He was well advanced in years by then and not considered to be one of the first-rate castrati singers though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-S3uoeTXg There are all sorts of creepy recordings out there.  That includes this Youtube clip of the only recording ever made by Alessandro Moreschi, the last great castrato singer.  He was well advanced in years by then and not considered to be one of the first-rate castrati singers though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-S3uoeTXg

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297482 xzzy Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297482 Mythbusters eventually took it on too, and were unable to record (or play back) anything brushed into clay.. at least not an analog wave.  I suppose if one used dots to record binary data, you could write digital audio into clay. Just need something to convert it. :) Mythbusters eventually took it on too, and were unable to record (or play back) anything brushed into clay.. at least not an analog wave. 

I suppose if one used dots to record binary data, you could write digital audio into clay. Just need something to convert it. :)

]]> By: Marktech http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297456 Marktech Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297456 And Universal Music have just filed a takedown notice. And Universal Music have just filed a takedown notice.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297441 Brainspore Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297441 That's what I was referring to in my earlier comment. Apparently there was an April Fool's joke that got taken out of context a few years ago that had a lot of people convinced. The idea is fascinating and seems reasonably plausible but I can't find any verified examples of such a thing actually happening in real life. Here's some more context: http://tenser.typepad.com/tenser_said_the_tensor/2006/02/pottery_recordi.html That’s what I was referring to in my earlier comment. Apparently there was an April Fool’s joke that got taken out of context a few years ago that had a lot of people convinced. The idea is fascinating and seems reasonably plausible but I can’t find any verified examples of such a thing actually happening in real life. Here’s some more context:

http://tenser.typepad.com/tenser_said_the_tensor/2006/02/pottery_recordi.html

]]> By: Atvaark http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297438 Atvaark Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297438 That was an idea from French scientist Georges Charpak (physics Nobel prize 1992) who died last year. I don't think anyone ever came close to find such a recording and to read it. That was an idea from French scientist Georges Charpak (physics Nobel prize 1992) who died last year. I don’t think anyone ever came close to find such a recording and to read it.

]]> By: taras http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297428 taras Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297428 Indeed! Here's a link to the same thing in a 2011-friendly medium (can't believe the BBC haven't converted their old RealAudio stuff): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdlF-DCUKs Indeed! Here’s a link to the same thing in a 2011-friendly medium (can’t believe the BBC haven’t converted their old RealAudio stuff): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdlF-DCUKs

]]> By: lknope http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297400 lknope Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297400 It sounds like one of those recordings "ghost hunters" get from recording a haunted area. It sounds like one of those recordings “ghost hunters” get from recording a haunted area.

]]> By: michael winchester http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297399 michael winchester Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297399 I had read an article a few years back about ancient pottery that accidentally recorded the sounds around him/her as the potter used a stick to etch a design in a spinning clay pot. Wish I could remember the source... anyone? I had read an article a few years back about ancient pottery that accidentally recorded the sounds around him/her as the potter used a stick to etch a design in a spinning clay pot. Wish I could remember the source… anyone?

]]> By: greybird http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297381 greybird Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297381 I thought this was the oldest recording: http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1180-did-you-know-mayan-architects-built-world-s-oldest-sound-recordings I thought this was the oldest recording:
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1180-did-you-know-mayan-architects-built-world-s-oldest-sound-recordings

]]> By: RJ http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297366 RJ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297366 It's more than just a few decades; the singing was recorded in 1860, then was played back 148 years later, in 2008. Also, was that Martinville himself singing in the link, or was it a lady? Two different sources say two different things. To me, it sounds like a lady. If it is, then who is she? It’s more than just a few decades; the singing was recorded in 1860, then was played back 148 years later, in 2008.

Also, was that Martinville himself singing in the link, or was it a lady? Two different sources say two different things. To me, it sounds like a lady. If it is, then who is she?

]]> By: huskerdont http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297356 huskerdont Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297356 This is the coolest thing I've come across in a while. To think that he never knew that decades later people all over the world would be listening to him sing. This is the coolest thing I’ve come across in a while. To think that he never knew that decades later people all over the world would be listening to him sing.

]]> By: techsomnambulist http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297331 techsomnambulist Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297331 What's interesting is that the construction of Bell and Blake's first phonautograph included a human ear as part of the design. Not a design based on the human ear, but one from a cadaver. What’s interesting is that the construction of Bell and Blake’s first phonautograph included a human ear as part of the design. Not a design based on the human ear, but one from a cadaver.

]]> By: Joe McNally http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297323 Joe McNally Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297323 Another recording using the same process was responsible for an awesome on-air meltdown by one of the normally sober hosts of BBC Radio 4's Today programme - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7318173.stm Another recording using the same process was responsible for an awesome on-air meltdown by one of the normally sober hosts of BBC Radio 4′s Today programme - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7318173.stm

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297314 Brainspore Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297314 I was going to mention a news story from a few years back about the minute effects of sound waves being readable from the surfaces of ancient spun pottery, but when I looked it up to refresh my memory it looked like there still hasn't been any real-life example of such a thing yet. Fun idea, though. I was going to mention a news story from a few years back about the minute effects of sound waves being readable from the surfaces of ancient spun pottery, but when I looked it up to refresh my memory it looked like there still hasn’t been any real-life example of such a thing yet. Fun idea, though.

]]> By: Seto http://boingboing.net/2011/12/15/the-worlds-first-audio-recor.html#comment-1297312 Seto Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=134476#comment-1297312 I'm just waiting for the remix now :-) I’m just waiting for the remix now :-)

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