Early history of sound recorders
录音机的早起历史
It all began in 1877, when Thomas Edison made the first recording of a human voice on his invention, the record player.
一切始于1877年，这一年Thomas Edison用他发明的留声机第一次录制了人的声音。
Early record players used round tubes to record on.
早期的留声机使用圆形的管子记录声音。
However, in 1887 Emile Berliner, a German living in the USA, invented a record player that used discs as alternatives to tubed, and so the modern record player was born.
但是，在1887年，Emile Berliner一位居住在美国的德国人，发明了使用磁盘代替管子的留声机，现代留声机因此诞生了。
The first record players had to be wound up by hand and only played records that were two minutes long.
最早的留声机必须手摇上发条，而且只能播放两分钟长的唱片。
Times surely have changed!
时代真的变了！
Sound and video recorders
录音和录像机
In 1928, the first tape recorders used to copy sound were made in Germany.
在1928年，第一台用于录音的磁带录音机在德国制作于德国。
Most early recorders employed steel tape to record in, which made them heavy and difficult to use, or paper tape, which was easier to use but often broke.
大多数早期录音机使用钢带录音，这使得它们既重又难以使用，而纸带易于使用但容易损坏。
It was not until the early 1950s that most tape recorders began using plastic tape as they do today.
直到50年代，大多数磁带录音机才像现在一样开始使用塑料带。
Meanwhile, electrical components eventually became so small that, by the late 1960s, portable cassette players were developed, along with video recorders which were used by TV stations.
同时，到60年代晚期，电器元件变得很小使得便携式播放器产生了，同时产生的还有电视台用的录像机。
By the late 1970s, video recorders small and cheap enough for home use were introduced.
到70年代晚期，家用的小而便宜的录像机被发明了。
Sound and video go digital
声音和影像的数字化
In 1982, the first CDs were made available.
在1982年，第一个激光唱片被发明了。
CDs are often used for storing and playing music because they have a much better sound quality than traditional records and cassettes.
激光唱片经常被用于储存和播放音乐，这是由于它们拥有传统录音机和磁带没有的声音质量。
In 1993, the VCD was born, and in 1995, the DVD was invented.
在1993年，影碟诞生了，在195年，数字化视频光盘被发明。
The DVD is now the standard for recording and playing back video.
数字化视频光盘现在是录制和播放录像的标准。
The future
未来
With the development of digital technology, sound and video can now be stored on a PC, on the Internet, or using some form of portable storage.
随着数字技术的发展，声音和影像被储存在个人电脑里，在网上，或者使用一些便携存储形式。
This will soon make records, cassette recorders, CDs, DVDs and even TVs things of the past.
这将使录音机，盒式录音机，激光唱片，数字化视频光盘甚至电视成为过去。
Technology is now changing faster than most people can keep pace with.
技术现在的变化速度超过了大多数人的脚步。
Who can foresee what the future will bring?
谁能预知未来将带来什么？