Choose wisely! The correct answer, the explanation, and an intriguing story await. Correct Answer: $20,000 A little background Although it wasn't initially intended for the general public, the first commercial audio CD recorder made its debut in 1991 at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention in Las Vegas (later simply known as the NAB Show). Japanese electronics maker Denon introduced the DN-770R, a pro-grade Compact Disc recorder designed to appeal to radio stations and audio production facilities. These institutions could use the device to master demo discs, archive broadcasts, or distribute pre-recorded content to affiliate stations more efficiently than analog tape allowed. According to an article written by The Syracuse Newspapers at the time, the Denon DN-770R was the first of its kind and was being tendered by the electronics maker for $20,000: "Denon DN-770R audio CD recorder debuts as the first of its kind...The CDs it produces can be played on any CD player." However, the DN-770R was far from a plug-and-play solution. Contemporary reports noted that to make the system fully functional, users also needed around $100,000 worth of ancillary equipment, such as digital audio processors, mastering consoles, and synchronization gear. The cost of consumables added further barriers: blank CDs sold for approximately $35 to $40 each and could only be recorded once. Unlike cassette tapes, which were cheap, reusable, and ubiquitous in both professional and consumer audio environments, CD-Rs were a costly and rigid medium at the time. Despite the early limitations, the introduction of CD recording technology marked a turning point in digital audio. Until then, the compact disc – first launched commercially in 1982 – had been a strictly read-only format used for music distribution. The arrival of CD recording devices opened new possibilities for content creation and data storage. Denon's innovation was clearly aimed at a niche audience and focused solely on audio playback. The first modern CD burners were introduced between 1991 and 1992, when Sony, Philips, (the two creators of de CD format) and Yamaha each released CD recorders around the same time. The Philips CDD521, Sony CDW-900E, and Yamaha YPR-201 were some of the entry-level professional models still sold for over $10,000. Throughout the early 1990s, CD recorders remained out of reach for most consumers, however the landscape began to change rapidly in the years that followed. In 1995, Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP SureStore 4020i, one of the first CD-R drives marketed to consumers. Priced at $995, it was a significant milestone in making CD recording accessible to small businesses, hobbyists, and eventually the mass market. The 4020i could write both data and audio CDs. This democratization of CD recording paved the way for a surge in home media production during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It enabled users to burn custom music CDs, back up data, and share multimedia content in a way that had previously required professional studio equipment. As the price of CD-R drives and blank media continued to fall, the format became an essential part of personal computing and digital media until it was gradually overtaken by DVD, flash storage, and eventually cloud-based solutions. Source: https://www.techspot.com/trivia/85-how-much-did-first-cd-recorder-cost/ #trivia #how #much #did #the #first #recorder #cost

The UK-founded design and engineering giant will support the Nordic Office of Architecture, which has studios in Norway, Denmark and Iceland, and Oslo-based Rodeo Arkitekter. The team won the commission ahead of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with Danish practice AART Architects and local practices Snøhetta with LINK Arkitektur. Entries were judged anonymously. The building, located at Normannsløkka in Oslo, will be arranged across two sections: a four-storey base, aligned with the surrounding urban scale, containing studios, workshops, newsrooms and support spaces; and a recessed, circular upper structure offering modern workspaces with panoramic views across the city.Advertisement The upper structure reflects the public broadcaster’s circular branding. It will include 60,000m² of gross floor area and 50,000m² of utility floor area, to include modern studios, publishing desks, post-production facilities, concert studios, workshops, and warehouses. A statement from the Nordic Office of Architecture said its sustainable development would ‘enhance the visibility and integration of NRK in the cityscape, promoting interaction with the local community’. It also described the ‘signal building surrounded by a park that extends onto the roof, with stormwater management and biodiversity enhancing the environment and ecological connections’. NRK broadcasting director Vibeke Fürst Haugen, who was on the competition jury, said panel members supported the Nordic Office of Architecture/Arup/Rodeo proposal unanimously, adding: ‘The solution appears good, robust, open and inviting.’Advertisement Arup director Nick Jackson said the facility would become a ‘world-class media production and an outstanding workplace for future generations’. He added: ‘The collaboration on its new headquarters reflects a shared ambition to create a flexible, future-ready media environment that fosters creativity, collaboration and innovation.’ Planning permission is still being sought for the building, with the broadcaster hoping to occupy it in 2029. Jackson said the win built on Arup’s London team’s recent win with Nordic Office of Architecture on a new stadium for the northern Norwegian football team FK Bodø/Glimt. The wood and recyclable aluminum Arctic Arena, for this season's Europa League semi-finalists, is set to have a capacity of 10,000. Source: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/arups-architecture-team-wins-contest-for-norwegian-state-broadcasters-new-hq #arups #architecture #team #wins #contest #for #norwegian #state #broadcasters #new