In 1885 Tainter and Bell's graphophone recorded sound by incising or  making a vertical "hill-and-dale" cut into a thin surface of beeswax on a cardboard tube 6inches long and 1 5/6inches wide, 160 grooves per inch powered by a hand crank at a speed of about 80rpm and after 1887 by a foot treadle at 120rpm.  This invention was applicable for the playing of lateral-cut electroplate records invented by Tainter in 1881. 

 Emile Berliner further improved the recording of sound by inventing a graphophone that recorded sound by "undulation" or making a wavy side-to-side lateral cut in a thin cut wax surface that was etched by acid on one side of a flat zinc disc about 7inches in diameter and used to press hard rubber copies, powered by a hand crank at a speed of about 30rpm and later increased to 60rpm.

 The Acoustic Era was replaced by the Electric Era around 1925 when the first electrically recorded discs and Orthophonic pnonographs went on sale using Western Electric system developed at AT&Ts Bell Labs.  The recording of sound (music) was on the rise with each new invention topping its predecessor.  Magnetic tape recording was invented in 1938 and came to America in 1945.  The world standard for stero records was established and the first stero LPs were sold in 1950. 

 The music industry has come a long way since the inception of recording the first human voice.  The industry has moved from 45rpm, 78rpm, and 33 1/3rpm records since the early 1900's to video tape recording, 4-track compact audio-cassettes, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, and, finally, DVDs. 
 

 For further information on the history of music technology log on at
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