Hi, folks, I have an interesting historical question that requires some technical expertise in electronics to answer. I am attempting to find out what would qualify as the first truly electronic musical instrument (or even just sound producing device in general). In order to do this, I would need to identify the first properly electronic oscillator.
As I understand it, a circuit must contain at least one active device to qualify as truly electronic. Electromechanical oscillators (like the string-pickup system in an electric guitar or the tonewheel-pickup system in the Hammond organ) use passive components at the oscillator stage. They require electronic amplification in order to be heard, true, but the initial vibrations are produced electromechanically, not electronically.
So what was the first electronic oscillator? Was it tube-based or does that honor go to some other component? I ask because I don't know if the electric arc qualifies as active or not...
In 1899, more than a decade before the invention of the vacuum tube, William Duddell discovered that if he placed an LC circuit across the electric arc of a carbon lamp, a musical tone would be produced. The arc's negative resistance excited audible oscillations in the tuned circuit at its resonant frequency, which could be heard as a musical tone coming from the arc itself.
Was the arc acting as an active device in this case? Or was it still passive?
I appreciate any insight here! Thanks!
As I understand it, a circuit must contain at least one active device to qualify as truly electronic. Electromechanical oscillators (like the string-pickup system in an electric guitar or the tonewheel-pickup system in the Hammond organ) use passive components at the oscillator stage. They require electronic amplification in order to be heard, true, but the initial vibrations are produced electromechanically, not electronically.
So what was the first electronic oscillator? Was it tube-based or does that honor go to some other component? I ask because I don't know if the electric arc qualifies as active or not...
In 1899, more than a decade before the invention of the vacuum tube, William Duddell discovered that if he placed an LC circuit across the electric arc of a carbon lamp, a musical tone would be produced. The arc's negative resistance excited audible oscillations in the tuned circuit at its resonant frequency, which could be heard as a musical tone coming from the arc itself.
Was the arc acting as an active device in this case? Or was it still passive?
I appreciate any insight here! Thanks!