Ambisonic UHJ Discography
Rumored UHJ Recordings


Rumored UHJ Recordings


-	In August of '84, Studio Sound magazine reported on  Steve
	Hackets - Till we have Faces album, recorded in UHJ. The
	artical mentions that 3 multitrack mastered Ambisonic UHJ
	singles were to be recorded next at Marcus Music in London.
	The singles mentioned to be released in Europe on the Phonogram
	label were from the bands "Daimyo", "Tea Set" and "Scotty
	Harrod". 

-	The DVD version of the Ron Fricke IMAX movie "Chronos" (sound-
	track by Michael Stearns) claims to have "16-bit stereo digital
	sound" with no 5.1/AC-3 content, suggesting that the audio is
	not sourced from the IMAX audio. The mix appears to be identical
	to the UHJ encoded CD, which did not seem to be the case with
	the VHS edition of Chronos.

-	Pomp & Glory Sonoton (German music library) SCD 005.
	This is a compilation of two Sonoton vinyl albums,
	SON193 (Bach) and SON269 (Elgar). The Elgar disc was
	orchestral on one side (The "John Fox Symphony
	Orchestra") and synthesized (The "John Fox Synthonic
	Orchestra") on the other. Sonoton billed the Elgar vinyl
	disc as Ambisonic (on the sleeve). The orchestral side
	definitely isn't; the synthesized side might just be in UHJ.

-	music on ANPR label

-	music on NPR label 
-	(This is probably not National Public Radio since they	
	 were not impressed by a soundfield mic demo.)

Rumors : The below recordings were thought to be UHJ
-	Oliver Knussen, Maurice Sendak: Where the Wild Things 
	are, A fantasy opera, Glyndebourne, Unicorn-Kanchana 
	DKP (CD) 9044
	Ambisonics was used at the performance of the opera, the
	Unicorn-Kanchana recording may be UHJ encoded as 
	well? 

-	Electric Phoenix: KAre Kolberg; Aria in aria, For the time
	being Norwegian Composers NC 4916

-	Electric Phoenix: Arne Nordheim; Wirklicher Wald,
	Aurora, NC 4910

	The chief recording engineer who recorded the Electric 
	Phoenix titles and provided services for the "Where wild
	Things are" recording has confirmed that these titles are
	not UHJ. However, the sound projection of "Where the
	Wild Things Are" has been Ambisonic B-format in live
	performances from its beginning at Glyndebourne, and also
	at the November '96 Cleveland, Ohio concert performances
	(8-channel horizontal).

- In celebration (?) of conductor Leonard Slatkin's departure from the St. Louis Opera Theater, someone (RCA?) is issuing a 6-CD commemorative set of recordings, many of which are from live broadcasts. Thus some of these may be UHJ encoded. RCA staff has denied that UHJ encoding was used
- Cowboy Junkies - The Caution Horses, BMG 2058-2-R (Canada) - Cowboy Junkies - Whites Off Earth Now, BMG 2380-2-R (Canada) The above two titles have been reported as being encoded in Ambisonic UHJ. The engineer who recorded the "Trinity sessions" denies that these two titles are Ambisonic UHJ. However, a soundfield mic might have been used, but only in the stereo mode.
* Tina Turner - Mad Max, beyond thunderdome, (vinyl only) EMI 24 0380 1 (England) Capitol SWAV-12429 (U.S.) ('85) - Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero, from the movie Mad Max, (no official release, played on various video shows & available through a subscription service for videos to be played in clubs, etc.) (`85) - Tina Turner - Break every rule, Capitol CDP 7 46323 2 - Tina Turner - Break every rule, the Video's MPV 99 1148 2 (Europe)(`86) The tracks 1-6 were thought to be UHJ-encoded, the liner notes mention Ambisonic equipment was used. After talking to the engineer who supplied the equipment, It has been confirmed that the disc is not UHJ encoded. Why "Break Every Rule" isn't Ambisonic -by Richard Elen I brought the gear in to Mayfair to mix the album Ambisonically. However, they used it to do vocal submixes because they had liked the way that UHJ behaved when undecoded. We used to promote UHJ as a "super stereo"technique. Thus the producers of the "Break Every Rule" Mayfair sessions did exactly that: they used it as a effect - and one that wasn't meant to be decoded! Technically, many of the harmony vocals and vocal submixes therefore appear on the album in UHJ - but the overall mix is stereo, and will not give any intended localization effects when decoded.
- A review of the Meridian 565 surround processor in "Home Theater Technology" mentioned that "Enya - Watermark" is ambisonic. The review was available at one time on the internet, as well as Meridians home site. After an extensive search, I have not been able to confirm that "Watermark" is UHJ. I think it is safe to say at this time that the recording is not ambisonic. However, the song Orinoco Flow does sound better in UHJ than plain 'ol stereo.
- Conan the Destroyer, movie soundtrack, vinyl A review about the Troy ambisonic car stereo decoder mentioned that this recording was UHJ and was used as a demo. I have not been able to confirm that this is UHJ. It may be the demo was done in the super stereo mode.
- Chronos - a film by Ron Fricke and music by Micheal Stearns.
Mirimar video MPV8406, 40 minutes, VHS/Beta Hi-Fi stereo, NTSC/PAL ?/SECAM ? - Miramar Decade '95 - 10th Anniv. Collection. 68 minutes, VHS Hi-Fi stereo, NTSC This compilation has cuts from "Chronos" in UHJ. Tracks by Perter Gabriel, Santana, Philip Glass and others are included but are not believed to be ambisonic. The Chronos Video was reported to be UHJ. While the soundtrack CD is UHJ enecoded, the HI-FI video only contains a stereo sound- track.

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