Compact Disc Technology

In October 1982, the introduction of the first compact discs (CDs) rocked the music recording industry. The introduction of inexpensive, portable CD players made CD sound readily available to the general public for the first time and created a new market. Since then, the market has divided into opposite poles. At one end are the manufacturers who focus on the mass production of low-priced products, and at the other are those who cater to the needs of a small but discerning group of clients willing to pay the price for state-of-the-art merchandise. The authors' aim in writing this book has been to chart the multi-faceted development of CD technology by explaining the technologies that have made it possible. Along the same lines, they try to present an accurate history of the development and standardization of the CD format. Also covered are CD variations like CD-I, CDV and CD singles.