Ambisonics has been used in radio broadcasting in England, Finland and USA. for more than 10 years. Over and above the Surround effects, the benefit of uhj encoding in the radio is good stereo and monocompatability. All listeners hear the same as the surround listeners do. Ambisonics doesn't have any limitations in sound placement, direct sound can come from anywhere around the listener, and is reproduceable as the original Producer intended. This is important for radio drama, as the scenes don't need to take place on a stage but rather wrap the listener into the play. Dolby Surround was originally designed for cinema use, in which case the rear channel is intended only for narrow bandwidth effects spread across a large number of small surround speakers, giving a diffuse rear image. Delaying the surround channel effectively prevents direct sound, particularly the dialogue track, being placed behind the listener. In modern decoders using Pro-Logic surround steering, a sudden loud noise in a front channel will cause pumping of the surround channel. There are many opinions about listening to Ambisonic recordings in stereo, but most people find it more open and spacious than ordinary stereo. Ambisonics reduces the feeling of sounds being placed on a line between the loudspeakers, and in good listening conditions the sound spreads well outside the loudspeakers. Written By: Eero Aro & Mark Decker
- BBC Radio Scotland transmitted on the 7th of June 1983 a 40 minute radio feature called The Seventh Church. The program was recorded by Chilton Inglis. The Seventh Church was recorded in 1977. It was the first ever professional ambisonic recording and the first periphonic (three dimensional) b-format recording. The program was trans- mitted in uhj encoded stereo. The only commercial equipment available at the time was a proto- type of the Calrec Soundfield microphone that was on loan for the studios from Howard Smith. All other ambisonic gear was custom built by Chilton Inglis including a periphonic panpot with a 45 degrees vertical tilt. Recording and mixing was accomplished by a complicated system using two studios with the actors in the first one and an other studio which was used as a periphonic echo chamber. There were four studio assistants playing the effects in real time and a floor manager directing the actors in the studio. The complete program was recorded in one take. Only one edit was made to the tape. This was largely due to the meticulous preparation and rehearsal by Philip Whitaker, whose script was laid out like a musical score. Written By: Eero Aro
- Performances of the St. Louis Opera Theater were recorded with a Calrec Soundfield mike, These were broadcast on the St. Louis PBS affiliate (KWMU) in UHJ format from 1984 to 1992. Pro Sound News wrote in August 84 that more than 100 people listened recently to the first official ambisonic surround sound broadcast from KWMU. KWMU no longer broadcasts shows from the Opera theater since a new general manager took over at the station. He apparently is not a fan of opera.
- The Coffee Room, a radio play was broadcast in the UHJ format in May of '84 on KWMU, a PBS affiliate in St. Louis.
- And Enter the Land of Moriah. Tony Trulll, Daryl Wilkinson. This radio play was broadcast in the UHJ format on KWMU, a PBS affiliate in St. Louis. No info on the year of transmission.
- Chronos - a film by Ron Fricke and music by Michael Stearns, was broadcast from its I-MAX theater debut via satellite to over 200 radio stations in the U.S. The may '85 opening was broadcast in UHJ format on Stephan Hills program Music from the hearts of space.
The following radio dramas have been produced and broadcast UHJ encoded by The Radio Theater of The Finnish Broadcasting Company: (dates are in Month / Day / Year format) - Erik Ohls: Sulka (The Feather), broadcast Feb 1991, duration 49'15". The original swedish language version Fjadern was awarded by the first prize in Prix Italia in 1991 - J.M.Coetzee/Thomas Preis/Carita Backstrom:Mr. Foe, broadcast May 11 1992, duration 59'45" - Angela Carter/Erik Ohls: Vampyrella, broadcast Aug 17 1992, duration 89'03" - Zacharias Topelius/Solveig Mattsson: Faltskarns berattelser (total 13 parts, parts 1-5 uhj encoded) Pt1 broadcast Sept 1 1992, duration 20'57" Pt2 broadcast Sept 3 1992, duration 25'47" Pt3 broadcast Sept 8 1992, duration 15'20" Pt4 broadcast Sept 10 1992, duration 18'58" Pt5 braodcast Sept 15 1992, duration 26'48" - Liisa Pankola/Laura Ruohonen: Totterhoffenin kutsu (The call of Totterhoffen), broadcast Oct 27. 1992, duration 25'30" - Juha Seppala/Ari Kallio: Sininen torni (The Blue Tower), broadcast Nov 20. 1992, duration 32' - Mikael Sievers: Kaikujen varjot (The Shadows of the Echoes), broadcast May 30. 1993, duration 72'23" - Paavo Haavikko/Mikael Sievers: Viimeinen haastattelu Tamminiemessa (The last interwiew in Tamminiemi), broadcast Dec 6. 1993, duration 64'12" - Olli Jalonen/Eero Aro/Pekka Ruohoranta: Tuhkasaari (The Ash Island), Pt1 The Glass Fences, broadcast Jan 1. 1994, duration 15'15" Pt2 At Sea, broadcast Jan 8. 1994, duration 21'22" Pt3 The land of Snamuh, broadcast Jan 15. 1994, duration 29'20" Pt4 Homecoming, broadcast Jan 22. 1994, duration 29'20" - Mikael Sievers: Rakkauden aani (The Sound of Love) Originally a public performance at the Tampere Theatre Festival broadcast Oct 26. 1993, duration 65'45" - Jussi Kylatasku/Mikael Sievers: Keisari ja Poika (Ceasarand the Son), broadcast Apr 18. 1994, duration 80'15" - William Gibson/Mikael Sievers: Neurovelho (Neuro Mancer), Pt1 broadcast March 6. 1995, duration 35'50" Pt2 broadcast March 13. 1995, duration 49'55" Pt3 broadcast March 20. 1995, duration 40'28" Pt4 broadcast March 27. 1995, duration 71'38" - Petter Sairanen/Atro Kahiluoto: Tulevaisuuden menneisyys (The Past of the Future), broadcast April 23. 1996, duration 55'50"
- The BBC broadcasts some UHJ encoded radio dramas In the '70s & '80s in Maida Vale, London. After the BBC officially discontinued the use of UHJ encoding, many UHJ broadcasts were still done without their consent. "Gilgamesh" was recorded in full periphonic surround and then encoded to UHJ format for broadcast. The play was written, produced and directed by Alec Reid, sound engineer was Ted de Bono. Gilgamesh was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 an 21 March 1983 and repeated on the 27th. The following radio dramas have been produced and broadcast UHJ encoded by The BBC (Prog Name, Producer, Prod Date (D/M/Y), Duration) - Golden Girls Pt. 1 & 2, Vanessa Whitburn, 12/4/86, each 90'00" - The Nine Tailors, Vanessa Whitburn, 29/8/86, 118'00" - Death and the Tango, Nigel Bryant, 14/06/90, 75'37" - A Confidential Agent - Poison in the Air, Philip Martin, 01/10/90, 44'07" - A Confidential Agent - A Husband Scorned, P.M., 07/10/90, 44'14" - King Solomons Mines, N.B., 26/10/90, 87'13" - Arthurs Knight - Ep.4 Sir Accolon, N.B., 11/11/90, 42'14" - Kingdom of Carrion and Crows, N.B., 23/11/90, 106'23" - A Confidential Agent - Sharks Have Pearly Teeth, P.M., 21/02/91, 44'09" - A Confidential Agent - Fire, P.M., 22/02/91, 44'15" - Cupid and Psyche, P.M., 26/02/91, 92'10" - Captain Cook and the Kraken, N.B., 05/03/91, 44'15" - Whiphand Eps 1 - 5, P.M., 09 - 15/04/91, each 27'30" - Arthurs Knight - Ep3 Sir Erec, N.B., 16/04/91, 47'55" - The Astonishing Joseph Darby, N.B., 15/05/91, 57'14" - GIGO, P.M., 05/06/91, 56'11" - Russia, N.B., 13/06/91, 89'15" - Arthurs Knight - Ep1 Sir Gawain, N.B., 10/07/91, 53'02" - Morris on the Somme, N.B., 11/07/91, 56'45" - A Movie Starring Me, P.M., 07/08/91, 77'43" - Robin Hood, N.B., 25/09/91, 87'01" - Tess of the d'Urbevilles Eps 1 - 3, N.B., 23 - 27/10/91, each 57'14" - Macbeth, N.B., 28/11/91, 129'38" - Assassins, N.B., 23/01/92, 88'56" - A View to a Haunt, N.B., 21/02/92, 123'16" - Castle of the Star Pts 1 + 2, N.B., 7 - 9/04/92, each 56'50" - Arthurs Knight - Ep2 Sir Bedivere, N.B., 14/04/92, 54'49" - The Eagle has Flown, P.M., 05/05/92, 116'48" - Walker in the Night, N.B., 12/06/92, 81'14" - Arthurs Knight - Ep5 Sir Perceval, N.B., 07/07/92, 57'45" - Arthurs Knight - Ep6 Sir Mordred, N.B., 09/07/92, 52'28" - Yaxleys Cat, N.B., 28/08/92, 87'16" - We Cast Four Shadows, N.B., 01/10/92, 74'15" - Heads, N.B., 03/10/92, 29'32" - Of Myths and Men, N.B., 20/10/92, 56'43" - La Bete Humaine Eps. 1 - 3, N.B., 26 - 31/10/92, each 57'15" - The Lovesong of Alfred J. Hitchcock, P.M., 20/11/92, 128'08" - Twelth Night, N.B., 24/11/92, 110'15" - The Arabian Nights Ep. 1, N.B., 18/01/93, 29'24" - The Arabian Nights Ep. 7, N.B., 21/01/93, 29'29" - Contraband, N.B., 02/02/93, 88'55" - The Arabian Nights Eps. 2 - 6, N.B., 22 - 26/02/93, each 29'30" - Gaveston, N.B., 29/04/93, 87'13" - Holy Fool, N.B., 11/05/93, 89'14" - Bolt, Eps. 1 - 5, Shaun MacLoughlin, 21 - 25/5/93, 27'00" - Blue Glass and the Sun God, S.M., 21/07/93, 49'32" - Zorba the Greek, P.M., 6 - 8/08/93, each 57'15" - The War of the End of the World, S.M., 11 - 15/08/93, each 57'00" - Cathal of the Woods, N.B., 03/09/93, 57'16" - The Druid, N.B., 01/10/93, 86'19" - Oliver Twist Eps. 1 - 6, N.B., 25 - 31/10/93, each 28'00" - Winston Back Home Eps. 1 - 6, S.M., 29/11 - 3/12/93, each 28'00" - The Detective, N.B., 17/12/93, 88'59" - The Mayor of Casterbridge Eps. 1 - 4, N.B., 18 - 23/01/94, each 57'15"- - The Devils Province, N.B., 22/04/94, 89'16" - Over the Rainbow, N.B., 20/05/94, 74'15" - Hangover Square, Sue Wilson, 08/07/94, 89'13" - An Inspector Called Morse, N.B., 22/07/94, 76'38" - The Fairy Queen, N.B., 05/10/94, 191'16" - Untold Secrets, S.W., 26/10/94, 74'11" - A Stone from Heaven, Pts 1 + 2, N.B., 22 - 25/11/94, each 89'17" - Dream of Spring, S.W., 15/12/94, 74'14" - Another Life, S.M., 23/12/94, 57'29" - Oh What a Lovely War, S.W., 28/01/95, 104'00" - Lightbulbs, S.W., 15/02/95, 29'15" - Now You See Me, Rosemary Watts, 20/02/95, 29'17" - Over Sea Under Stone Eps. 1 - 4, N.B., 21 - 24/03/95, each 29'15" - Mr. Love, R.W., 31/03/95, 57'27" - Albion Tower, S.W., 14/05/95, 49'09" - The Scholar Gypsy, R.W., 19/05/95, 57'17" - The Book of Shadows, S.W., 06/07/95, 88'03" - The Piano Eps. 1 - 3, S.W., 6 - 10/08/95, each 57'10" - Barnaby Rudge Eps. 1 - 3, S.W., 1 - 5/10/95, each 57'15" - The Tempest, S.W., 07/12/95, 146'35" - After Easter, S.W., 17/03/96, 142'03" - Girlies Ep. 1, Kristine Landon-Smith, 28/3/96, 27'15" - The Old Curiosity Shop Eps. 1 - 6, S.W., 15 - 20/04/96, each 27'15" - The Stones of Muncaster Cathedral, R.W., 21/06/96, 87'14" - The Beauty of Bone, Vanessa Whitburn, 10/07/96, 57'15" - Women in Love Eps. 1 - 4, S.W., 13 - 19/07/96, each 57'00" - Meredith, N.B., 04/08/96, 89'13" - Wallis Eps. 1 - 3, S.W., 7 - 11/10/96, each 57'15" - Girlies Eps. 2 - 4, K. L-S., 15 - 17/12/96, each 27'30" - Mansfield Park Eps. 1 - 3, S.W., 13 - 17/01/97, each 57'10" - Fond Memories, Brian Lighthill, 14/04/97, 74'22" - Friends of Oscar, Bill Alexander, 07/05/97, 117'10" - Where Waters Meet, S.W., 17/05/97, 57'12" - The Relapse, S.W., 15/08/97, 150'00" - Childhoods End Eps. 1 - 2, B.L., 8 - 10/09/97, each 57'20" - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, S.W., 16/11/97, 57'53" - The Archers, the BBC's Radio 4 daily soap, has been recorded in UHJ since about April '97, this is transmitted at 1900 Sunday to Friday, and at 1400 Monday to Friday, with a 75 minute omnibus on a Sunday morning. The following radio dramas were produced and broadcast UHJ encoded by The BBC and have been released on commercial cassette - The Piano. Argo (Div.of Polygram Records) 526 125 4, ISBN 1 85849 601 2 ('96) The rest are available in the BBC Classic Collection - Women in Love. ZBBC 1922, ISBN 0-563-38984-2 - The Old Curiosity Shop. ZBBC 1946, ISBN 0-563-38185-X - Mansfield Park. ZBBC 1996, ISBN 0-563-38113-2 - The Pickwick Papers. ZBBC 2017, ISBN 0-563-38144-2 - Barnaby Rudge. ZBBC 2101, ISBN 0-563-38119-1 Following Classical Concerts have been produced and broadcast UHJ encoded by The BBC (Prog Name, Producer, Prod Date (M/D/Y), Duration) - Kings Lynn Festival - Takacs Quartet - Beethoven + Haydn (6 Concerts) 28/7/86 - 2/8/86
During the BBC's experimental period with Quadraphony and Surround Sound, it was not uncommon for no indication to be given to inform the listener of a matrixed broadcast. While the main reason for the experimental broadcasts was to define which matrix format provided the best performance, another reason was to test the matrix formats for mono/stereo compatabilty. Although matrix decoders were available to the public for most of the formats they were testing, listeners were still expected to be using mono and stereo equipment. Therefor compatability with existing formats was a requirement and so not to sway any opinions on sound quality, it was decided not to announce to the audience when a matrix format was being used. Radio Policy since mid-1982 at the BBC has been that no further experiments should be conducted in surround sound until and unless a discrete system (4-4-4) might arise in the future and that no spoken or written publicity should be given to any recordings existing in matrixed form. This would avoid encouraging listeners to expect further broadcasts in the format. The two reasons why Ambisonic material was not to be publicised on Radio is that listeners might be encouraged to purchase decoders in expectation of significant future output in the medium, but since the BBC has no such intention and no major record company uses the technique. The BBC has never indicated when broadcasting a disc that has been encoded in SQ, QS or any other format. Only one or two manufacturers still offer matrices and publicity would be seen as advertising their wares, a very different situation from mentioning a world-wide industry standard such as the Compact Disc. - BBC used H-matrix for a period of time at the end of the sixties for recording music. The last night of the proms (Phillips 420 085-2) & Highlights from the Last Night of the Proms (BBC Records CD 58OX) listed under the various section were done in this format.
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