Sound in space

The sequence begins with the ThéâtrophoneClément AderThéâtrophone network1881; commercial service 1890Clément Ader demonstrated telephone relay from the Paris Opéra at the 1881 International Exposition of Electricity, with transmitters across the stage front feeding paired receivers, giving listeners a sense of performers' positions. He patented it in the US in 1882 (US 257,453), and the Compagnie du Théâtrophone ran it as a subscription service from 1890 to 1932.Open profile →.

Clément Ader Théâtrophone networkClément Ader (1841-1926) · Public domain

Bell Telephone Laboratories’ three-channel relay of the Philadelphia Orchestra to Washington; covered on the Era 02 page once its source is linked.

Le Corbusier and Xenakis’s pavilion for Expo 58; text pending its source link.

Pink Floyd’s joystick-panned four-channel layout at Games for May, told on the Era 04 page.

The West German pavilion held a spherical auditorium whose sound and lighting were designed at TU Berlin. Stockhausen’s music was performed there live every day of the fair.

East German localisation system; text pending its source link.

A. J. Berkhout published the theory in the Journal of the AES, told on the Era 05 page.

Fraunhofer’s IOSONO system built on wave field synthesis.

An organ recital in Cologne Cathedral was recreated live in a TU Berlin lecture hall over 2,700 loudspeakers on 832 channels.

The thread arrives at L-ISA, Soundscaped&b audiotechnikSoundscapeFebruary 2018A DS100-based platform for source-oriented reinforcement and room-emulation functions.Open profile →, Spacemap Go and HOLOPLOTHOLOPLOTMatrix ArrayX1 launched May 2021A many-driver platform using digital control to form and steer sound beams.Open profile →.

d&b audiotechnik Soundscape© d&b audiotechnik · © d&b audiotechnik, used for identification and historical commentaryHOLOPLOT Matrix Array© HOLOPLOT GmbH · © HOLOPLOT GmbH; used for identification and historical commentary