Dickson Experimental Sound Film

This short film was a test for Edison's "Kinetophone" project, the first attempt in history to record sound and moving image in synchronization. This was an experiment by William Dickson to put sound and film together either in 1894 or 1895. Unfortunately, this experiment failed because they didn't understand synchronization of sound and film. The large cone on the left hand side of the frame is the "microphone" for the wax cylinder recorder (off-camera). The Library of Congress had the film. The wax cylinder soundtrack, however, was believed lost for many years. Tantalizingly, a broken cylind

Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch Dickson Experimental Sound Film for free?

You can stream Dickson Experimental Sound Film free and legally on OldReel, via the Internet Archive.

Is Dickson Experimental Sound Film in the public domain?

Yes — it is in the public domain and can be watched and shared freely.