First tape recorded with 1934 AEG Magnetophon prototype

What you hear is what was recorded in On April 27, 1935 in the Ludwigshaven Theater using the pictured AEG Magnetophon prototype. Four different prototypes were built between 1932 and 1934, and this is the last one. It should have been exposed in the 1934 Berlin Radio Fair, but still had some troubles, especially a major design issue where the tape would break if you did not wait until the reels stop before playing/rewinding. There was no fast forward and the capstan motor was asynchronous, hence audible pitch variation. Its improved successor became the Magnetophon K1 (which is a visually different machine).
The cuts, pitch variations and other sound "defects" are authentic. The tape used was the early gray Carbonyl Iron type, quickly replaced by black Fe3O4 tapes in 1936. The tape speed was 1 meter per second (100cm/s).
The piano and cello sonata heard remains unknown. If anybody knows this music please let me know.

Note that I am looking for AEG Magnetophon machines: please contact me if you have one.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• AEG
• Telefunken
• audio
• tape
• reel
• recorder
• recording
• magnetophon
• magnetophone
• magnetic
• player
• K1
• K2
• K3
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• WWII
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• Neumann
• german
• allemand
• Weber
• Tonbandgerat
• Bandmaschine
• sound
• music
• early
• first
• carbonyl
• iron
• Fe2O3
• Fe3O4
• eisenoxid
• acetate
• head
• tonkopf
• 1934
• 1935
• 1936
• 1943
• 1944
• wire
• disc
• tube

[stratocat9999]

Cheers! As a long time tape addict, it's great to hear a recording made with the earliest tape technology! As i recall these were DC bias, yes? That wopuld explain the harsh upper frequencies, or lack thereof. It's a shame the tape has detiorated so much (from some of your comments in your responses). This is truly an historic recording!

 One of the most haunting I've heard was a stereo recording from around 1942. During a pianissimo, you could hear anti-aircraft guns aimed at allied bombers.

[videogamehistorian]

@stratocat9999 The tape has deteriorated since the late 1980s when it was transferred. The sound didn't deteriorate. It's the cellulose acetate itself which became brittle (like Pyral records) and which would no longer pass trough the machine. As for the stereo recording, this is Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto (The Emperor) with Walter Gieseking and Arthur Rother. This was recorded in 1944. It's now available on CD (Music & Arts, AES, Iron Needle, Piano Library, etc.).

[videogamehistorian]

@stratocat9999 This was indeed a DC bias recording. Actually, Magnetophones started to use AC bias in 1941. The stereo recording is Beethoven's 5th piano concerto, the Emperor, and was recorded in 1944. It is available on CD and was issued by several labels. It was first issued on LP in 1979 by Varese Sarabande.

[Vladislaw81]

Interesting. Since 1980's this tape aged quickler than from 1935 to 1980's. It's a pitty. Anyway, the recording is very good for 1935.

[videogamehistorian]

@Vladislaw81 It was already very fragile in the 80s but still playable. It's now too brittle. Last time another transfer was attempted, the tape would disintegrate after passing through the capstan/pinch roller.

[bullyword]

wow, it must be oldest realistic and high quality sound! i feel peaceful :)

[lesleypaul59]

...first came a 'wire-recording' ! but 1935 is listed in literature ! the dates are not fixed ! first stereo-recordings were dated in 1941, on lost 'Karajan-master-tapes' ! stereo was invented for locating submarines ! LES (berlin/germany)

[chromal]

@OlegKostoglatov: Count Basie & His Orchestra '1937-1939' is pretty good. I wouldn't call it hi-fi, but it's definitely a step above US record label recordings I've heard from that era, and I think probably similar to this 1934 Magnetophon session on the earlier tape type, and clearly less degraded today. In 1944 stereo Magnetophone classical recordings still seem unsurpassed.

[chromal]

@OlegKostoglatov: I'd be fascinated to learn more about what you describe-- I've not heard a recording from the 1930s or early 1940s with higher fidelity than the few surviving magnetophone examples that I've heard, but if there are contemporary equivalents I'd love to hear them. (Will look into 'Decca')

[OlegKostoglatov]

@chromal That's not entirely true, magnetic recording was in use on this side of the Atlantic before the war but used wire or a metal band rather then plastic or paper tape, the principles were already understood way back into the 1920s. The British also produced high fidelity recordings using record lathes, Decca in particular was at the forefront, the U.S recording industry had little interest in true hi fidelity until after the war, they figured that the American public didn't care.

[stratocat9999]

@videogamehistorian Very Cool! I understand about the break down of the cellulose backing. Question; as it broke down did it excrete palmetic acid or something similar? I know when a nitrocellulose disc breaks down it can get covered in this white sticky mess (I've had to do battle to restore some of these). Some of my older tape ( 50+ years) are shedding lint-like matter onto the guides. Any thoughts? Cheers!

[93yoyo360]

Does it comes with a usb connection ?