Compact discs, (according to the original CD specifications) hold how ...
According to many stories surrounding the origin of the compact disc, 74 minutes was settled on because it would comfortably contain all of Beethoven's 9th symphony on one disc. Although some stories reference a specific Sony higher-up who claimed this as his favorite piece of music, stories differ. All that's known for sure is that Sony insisted on this and won out over Phillips' original 60 minute proposal.
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Compact discs, (according to the original CD specifications) hold how ...
Understanding Compact Discs (CDs)
Compact discs, commonly known as CDs, were developed to store digital audio. The original specifications for CDs were established in the early 1980s.
Standard Capacity
- The standard CD was designed to hold a maximum of 74 minutes of audio.
- This duration was determined based on the requirements set by audio engineers and the capabilities of the technology at the time.
Technical Specifications
- A standard CD has a diameter of 12 cm and uses a laser to read data encoded in pits on the disc's surface.
- The data is encoded in a digital format, allowing for high-quality sound reproduction.
Why 74 Minutes?
- The 74-minute capacity was influenced by a desire to fit a complete symphony or a lengthy album without interruptions.
- Interestingly, the decision to set it at 74 minutes rather than a lower figure was also influenced by the length of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, which is about that duration.
Expansion Beyond Standard Capacity
- While the original CD specification holds 74 minutes, there are other formats, such as the 80-minute CD, which increased the capacity slightly to accommodate more music.
- However, the 74-minute CD remains the standard reference in discussions about CD capacity.
In summary, when referring to standard compact discs based on the original specifications, the correct answer is that they hold 74 minutes of music.