Due to unsuitable amplifiers, this technology never made it. It wasn't until the end of the twenties that further attempts were made but paper strips coated with steel powder easily broke, and thin steel tape was still so heavy that it could only be used by professionals i.e. in radio broadcasting stations.

In 1935, the first »Magnetophone K1« is at long last exhibited at the Berlin »Funkausstellung« (Radio Exhibition) by AEG. The circular recording head has by now been invented, IG-Farben (The German chemical conglomerate) produced a tape material consisting of cellulose acetate: the arrival of the tape recorder! It didn't matter that a large fire destroyed all the recorders.

When in 1940 -more by accident- high-frequency premagnetization was discovered, such a quality was achieved with the tape recorder that it became a viable alternative for broadcasting studios. As early as in 1943 the first stereo recording came about.

From the 50s onwards, tape recorders found their way into private homes - although heavy, not easy to operate and expensive. DM 600-700 is the price for a good unit around 1954 - a radio mechanic not earning more than around DM 1.40/hour at that time.

It was not until the development of the compact cassette (CC) by Philips after 1964 that major changes follow. Initially marketed as cheap devices, cassette recorders soon replace the reel-to-reel tape recorders. The »Walkman«, too, -brought out by Sony in 1979- opens up new fields of application.

Another major step is digitizing the recording. DAT starts to make headway as from the mid-80s whereby several systems are competing with one another.