The "Stereosonic" recording and reproducing system

The paper reviews briefly the history of stereophonic reproduction. The principal basic systems with their underlying ideas are described and compared. Some account is given of the supposed mechanism of natural binaural listening from the viewpoint of direction localization. The principles and practice are discussed of a particular system for domestic use, derived from the early work of Blumlein, and characterized by the use of spaced loudspeakers driven in phase, to which the name "stereosonic" has been given. The aims of this system are defined, and the mathematical theory involved in its use is developed. Limitations and sources of error in the results achieved are described. Equipment used in the making of master recordings and some of the problems of studio technique involved are described. Consideration is given to the form which a domestic stereophonic record should take, and the standards to which such a record should conform, together with the requirements which these impose on the reproducing equipment.