Tommies in 3D

Editor's note: BBC Radio 4 offers you a special chance to hear Tommies: 21 October 1914 in 3D. Meticulously based on unit war diaries and eye-witness accounts, each episode of Tommies traces one real day at war, exactly 100 years ago.

Sound Designer Caleb Knightley explains BBC R&D's 3D headphone technology.

This programme is my first go, as a sound designer, at mixing a full length drama using BBC R&D's 3D headphone technology.

3D headphone technology brings a range of possibilities for creating space and realistic distance representation into the stereo domain.

Caleb Knightley - Sound Designer

I have had some experience of creating binaural headphone mixes always using microphone techniques to create the spatial illusion. I have also mixed for cinema in 5.1 using Dolby Digital. So I had expectations of what should be achievable before we embarked on this mixing adventure.

3D headphone technology brings a range of possibilities for creating space and realistic distance representation into the stereo domain. For example you can place tree branches rustling in the wind high above the listener’s head; the noise of a shell bursting out in front of them and the sound of horses charging around behind them.

Some may say that binaural headphone sound has been a possibility since stereo was invented. True, but not quite like this. The biggest difference this new approach brings to the mix is subtlety and precision. It gives the mixer an ability to use spatial positioning rather than volume to create balance in the mix.

Some interesting side effects of this process are that blending of sound effects becomes critical, as the extra space lays bare the quality of the source sounds.

I approached mixing Tommies: 21st October with the aim of exploring what 3D sound could add to the audience’s experience of Radio Drama. I didn't want it to be gimmicky. I wanted to use this new tool to add a spatial layer that enhanced the soundscape.

I think this technology offers a great deal of new potential to producers of Radio Drama. It adds an extra tool in bringing our illusion to life and I find it very exciting.

Caleb Knightley

Listen to Tommies 21 October 2014

BBC R&D Blog: Binaural Headphone Mix

Survey: Complete an evaluation of the binaural headphone mix

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