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History of recorded sound
If your goal is to research the global sound recording industry, including early multinational companies and regional activities, then these resources are a good place to start.
- Encyclopedia of recorded soundCovers the history of recorded sound, including technical terms, recording genres & company histories (Harvard Key required)
- Thomas Edison National Historical ParkDigitized recordings, the origins of sound recording, the Recorded Sound Archive database and Edison discographies
- Recording PioneersInformation on early recording engineers and a wide range of relevant documents
- Gesellschaft für Historische TonträgerThe society's website includes discographies and record company histories, especially relating to Carl Lindström AG Company
- EMI Archive TrustThe archives of the EMI Group of companies, which contains material relating to The Gramophone Company and the early history of recorded sound
- The Record News (1991-2012)Performer discographies, label profiles, and articles relating to India's early sound recording industry
- Mainspring Press: 78 records, Cylinder Records & Vintage PhonographsBlog aimed at collectors, archivists, and researchers of pre-LP sound recordings and the recording industry
- History of Canadian record companies (Libraries and Archives Canada)Covering the Berliner Gram-o-phone Company of Canada and the Compo Company Limited.
- First SoundsLegacy project focused on the world's earliest audio recordings