Discuss the improvements that magnetic tape recording had in the field of music and recording. How ...

Magnetic tape recording was an innovation that came out of World War II: the Magnetophone was invented in Germany and kept secret until the Allies confiscated the technology at the end of the war. The Magnetophone was the prototype for the Ampex tape recorders.

Magnetic tape recorders revolutionized recording and broadcasting technology:

-They allowed for longer recordings: 78-rpm discs could only record three or four minutes at a time, but tape recording could record at least thirty minutes. This advancement allowed for pre-recorded radio broadcasts and also was a catalyst for development of the long-playing record.

-Easier on-site recording: tape recorders were much more portable than earlier recording technologies, made live recording easier

-Manipulation of recorded sound through record editing and splicing: Sound was recorded on strips of magnetic tape, which could be cut and taped together at chosen points. Paved the way for collages composed of a variety of musical and non-musical sounds, electronic compositions, and perfect recordings with mistakes simply edited out.

-Improved sound quality: Multi-track recording--allowed for recordings to be made in stages; stereo playback