Sound Recording Technology and Its Influence on the VCR

The Magnetophon stayed somewhat hidden from international markets because of the Nazi power structure in Germany, but it was "discovered" by a US engineer working for the Allies in World War II. Major John T. Mullin was part of the Signal Corps in the war and in the middle of one night he heard a broadcast of orchestral music. He was confused since the only tape recording system used in the US recorded onto disks that produced noticeably worse quality than live broadcasts. This music, however, seemed to be at the same quality of live broadcasting, but the transmission was not live. By the end of the war, Mullin was able to find a Magnetophon which many others passed over since being a commercial product, it was not labeled top secret. It was this model that would later be copied by the Ampex corporation who would in turn use similar ideas to create the first VTR.

The Ampex Corporation and Sound Recording

Created in 1944 by Alexander M. Poniatoff, a Russian immigrant, Ampex produced radar motors and generators for the U. S. Navy during World War II. Similar to RCA whose radio technology had its birth through the military institution (during W.W.I), video technology has its roots in the Ampex corporation. With the money made through military contracts, Ampex was able to fund and develop a new recording technology. John Mullin brought a German Magnetophon home with him after the war, and Mullin along with other engineers at Ampex were able to create their own sound recording device. Ampex's Model 200 was created in 1947.

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