An unconventional history of sound! Beginning 1,745 years before Thomas Edison, A Brief History of Sound Recording shows you times, places, and people you might not be expecting to find in the story of sound recording - this history is focused as much as possible on the world of sound beyond music - you’ll learn about the use of sound recording in medicine, espionage, toys, transportation, political revolution, computers, and more (there’s plenty of music, too!).

With 36 historic sounds you can listen to for free–ONLINE–from anywhere around the world, hundreds of photos, essays, a glossary, and profiles of notable recording pioneers, this book will take you on a journey through sound full of characters, stories, facts, and straight-up opinions that are all human made - no generative AI has been used to write or illustrate this book!

About the book -

"A true labour of love and well worth your time." - Wallpaper Magazine.

About the Museum of Portable Sound -

"Interrogates what museums are with an inventive curatorial approach and presents its artefacts with a sense of fun often absent in sound art." -The Wire Magazine.