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Early stereo recordings restored | Early stereo recordings restored |
(20 minutes later) | |
By Martin Shankleman Archive Hour, Radio 4 Advertisement | |
See Alan Blumlein at work | See Alan Blumlein at work |
Unique recordings by the inventor of stereo have been cleaned up so the public can hear them properly for the first time. | Unique recordings by the inventor of stereo have been cleaned up so the public can hear them properly for the first time. |
They include Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) at Abbey Road Studios in 1934. | They include Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) at Abbey Road Studios in 1934. |
The recordings were made by Alan Blumlein, an EMI research engineer, whose contribution to the invention of stereo sound is only now starting to be appreciated. | The recordings were made by Alan Blumlein, an EMI research engineer, whose contribution to the invention of stereo sound is only now starting to be appreciated. |
The early recordings have been re-engineered using digital technology so their true quality can be appreciated. | The early recordings have been re-engineered using digital technology so their true quality can be appreciated. |
Sound engineer Roger Beardsley who was responsible for the digital transfers called the recordings "incredibly historic". | Sound engineer Roger Beardsley who was responsible for the digital transfers called the recordings "incredibly historic". |
"They have never been properly reproduced, but we've recovered the original information that was there", he said. | "They have never been properly reproduced, but we've recovered the original information that was there", he said. |
Blumlein lodged the patent for "binaural "sound, in 1931, in a paper which patented stereo records, stereo films and also surround sound. Alan Blumlein's life and career | Blumlein lodged the patent for "binaural "sound, in 1931, in a paper which patented stereo records, stereo films and also surround sound. Alan Blumlein's life and career |
He and his colleagues then made a series of experimental recordings and films to demonstrate the technology, and see if there was any commercial interest from the fledgling film and audio industry. | He and his colleagues then made a series of experimental recordings and films to demonstrate the technology, and see if there was any commercial interest from the fledgling film and audio industry. |
The tests included him walking and talking in a room to show how sound could move and recordings of multiple overlapping conversations to demonstrate how his techniques could "open up" the sound being recorded. | The tests included him walking and talking in a room to show how sound could move and recordings of multiple overlapping conversations to demonstrate how his techniques could "open up" the sound being recorded. |
"If you put headphones on with those recordings you are right in the middle of the room, you hear the whole ambience", said Mr Beardsley. | "If you put headphones on with those recordings you are right in the middle of the room, you hear the whole ambience", said Mr Beardsley. |
In January 1934, Blumlein took his stereo-cutting equipment to the newly opened Abbey Studios and recorded Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the LPO, as it rehearsed Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. | In January 1934, Blumlein took his stereo-cutting equipment to the newly opened Abbey Studios and recorded Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the LPO, as it rehearsed Mozart's Jupiter Symphony. |
Mr Beardsley used digital techniques to remove the crackles and hiss from the original 78 pressings, and says the recordings now sound as they were meant to. | Mr Beardsley used digital techniques to remove the crackles and hiss from the original 78 pressings, and says the recordings now sound as they were meant to. |
"I think what we've got is what they were listening to at the time." he said. | "I think what we've got is what they were listening to at the time." he said. |
Blumlein's work on stereo was shelved in 1934 because EMI concluded that it had no immediate commercial potential. | Blumlein's work on stereo was shelved in 1934 because EMI concluded that it had no immediate commercial potential. |
The cancellation forced Blumlein to switch to the development of TV, and later radar. He died during a top secret flight over Wales in 1942, aged 38, testing a prototype radar system. | The cancellation forced Blumlein to switch to the development of TV, and later radar. He died during a top secret flight over Wales in 1942, aged 38, testing a prototype radar system. |
During his working life he was granted 128 patents - about one every six weeks. | During his working life he was granted 128 patents - about one every six weeks. |
The Man Who Invented Stereo can be heard on BBC Radio 4 at 20.00 on Saturday 2 August 2008. | The Man Who Invented Stereo can be heard on BBC Radio 4 at 20.00 on Saturday 2 August 2008. |
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