1877

Thomas Alva Edison wanted to improve the Morse telegraph, and as a side effect he succeeded in recording the human voice on a phonograph using a wax cylinder.

It was the first device in history capable of both capturing and reproducing sound. Sound waves were picked up by a diaphragm, a needle transferred the vibrations onto a rotating wax cylinder and engraved fine grooves. During playback, the needle traced these grooves again, causing the diaphragm to vibrate and making the sound audible. Edison’s phonograph marked the beginning of sound recording and laid the foundation for gramophones and modern audio technology.