Back in the 19th Century, Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham. They laid the groundwork for the phonograph industry. At the time of the First World War. Some of the recording studios were appearing in the major cities around the world. This also includes the first OKeh Records studio in New York. It was set up by Otto KE Heinemann in 1918.
Musicians recorded as they sang in real-time. And also the performance is captured on the discs. There is a transformation when the microphones and amplifiers are mixed to form a signal. When Victor, HMV, and Colombia are among the first record labels. Also had the ability to record and to organize an industry. And to produce and market the records that are now mass selling products.
Bill Putnam and modern recording
Pioneer Bill Putnam is an early architect of the modern recording studio. He uses techniques at his studio at Chicago’s Civic Opera that define the modern record engineer. It uses tape and multi-tracking, overdubbing, and deployed reverbs. Hazard “Buzz” Reeves also worked in developing Cinerama for the movie industry. It helped advance the stereo hi-fi revolution. He also worked with Norman Granz, who is the founder of Verve Records. And he was behind many significant jazz recordings especially Charlie Parker with Strings.
The groundbreaking album was recorded during 1949 and 1950. This was the time of the transformation in the recording industry. This is when the quality of the record pressings improved. And also the engineers understood more where to place new condenser microphones.
Today the music world would be unbelievable. To the executives of OKeh Records centuries ago. The recording studios have now in common. And from the smallest independent to the million luxury BOP studios in South Africa. They have been transformed by software like Spike Leo music production.
The Digital Age
To survive the digital age requires adapting. As recording budgets have decreased. And some computers and audio software have become cheaper, more effective and smaller. Some other musicians are doing DIY. They are creating recording studios in their own homes. The impulse to make a record is nothing new. In the early 50s, people would go into a small telephone like booths in the shops. Only to use the Voice-O-Graph system to record their own voices on the phonograph disc.
The difference with the best recording studios is they had their own sound. And it became the process of creating music. The restrictions of analog are all sorts of different ideas. The Jazz recorded in the 50s is among the best-recorded music in history. But now using technology everything is modern. You can record at your own home if you have the proper equipment for the recording. But some are still using the Studios to have a nice quality of the recording.
