The PBS documentary, Soundbreaking, covers the era in music when the microphone became an instrument, changing the world of audio forever. The microphone places the listener’s ear right next to the singer’s voice, allowing them to come front and center to the action without the performer straining to be heard. Crooners, like Frank Sinatra, “caress” the microphone, pulling it close or holding it at arms length to bring about different sounds. Prior to the microphone, singing l