Image from the collections of Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village used on p. 14;neg. no. P.833.95043.2 Acc 1660.

This book is truly the bible on automatic music machines.

Listening to instruments -- "The joy of precision" : mechanical instruments and the aesthetics of automation -- "The alchemy of tone" : Jörg Mager and electric music -- "Sonic handwriting" : media instruments and musical inscription -- "A new, perfect musical instrument" : the trautonium and electric music in the 1930s -- The expanding instrumentarium

This book serves as an ideal starting point for newcomers and an excellent reference source for people already working in the field. Researchers and graduate students in signal processing, computer science, acoustics and music will primarily benefit from this text. It could be used as a textbook for advanced courses in music signal processing. Since it only requires a basic knowledge of signal processing, it is accessible to undergraduate students.