Matrix H

Matrix H was developed by BBC engineers in the late 1970s to carry quadraphonic sound via FM radio in a way that would be most compatible with existing mono and stereo receivers.[1]

History

Test broadcasts

Several quadraphonic test programs were made for Radios 3 and 4, including a number of plays and some Promenade Concerts, while Radio 1 carried quadraphonic session recordings by various bands.[2]

On April 30, 1977 the first program was transmitted, followed by seven further transmissions during the following week. The experimental broadcasts lasted for one year, after which the BBC assessed the public reaction. Since very few listeners had suitable decoders, the BBC arranged demonstrations at the Langham Gallery in London.[1]

The existing matrix formats where tested first. The "H" has no meaning; they called the first matrix assessed Matrix A, and then worked through the alphabet.[3][4] Matrix H emerged as the best solution for mono compatibility and radio transmission.[5] Although the QS system was similar to Matrix H, no specific available commercially.[1]

BBC/NRDC System HJ
Ambisonic UHJ mixing equipment

The BBC later cooperated with the developers of Ambisonics to produce BBC/NRDC System HJ. This was based on tolerance zones designed to include modified versions of both Matrix H and the prototype two-channel encoding of Ambisonics, known as System 45J. Subsequently, the Nippon-Columbia UMX matrix was brought into the standard, leading in 1977 to the UHJ, now associated with Ambisonics.[6]

Usage
Matrix H decoding Matrix[4]
Left FrontRight FrontLeft BackRight Back
Left Total -j0.94-l0.34+k0.94+m0.34
Right Total +l0.34+j0.94-m0.34-k0.94

j = 20° phase-shift k = 25° phase-shift l = 55° phase-shift m = 115° phase-shift

References
  1. "Speaking the Language of Bang & Olufsen: Quadraphonic Sound". BeoPhile. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16.
  2. Ratcliff, P.A.; Meares, D.J. (May 1977). "BBC Matrix H: Compatible system for broadcasting". Wireless World: 41–45.
  3. Crompton, T.W.J. (November 1974). "The subjective performance of various quadraphonic matrix systems" (PDF). BBC Research Department Report 1974/29.
  4. Gaskell, P.S.; Ratliff, P.A. (February 1977). "Quadraphony: Developments in Matrix H decoding" (PDF). BBC Research Department Report 1977/2. 77: 22306. Bibcode:1977STIN...7722306G.
  5. "Quadraphonic Systems". midimagic.sgc-hosting.com.
  6. N.R.D.C. Ambisonic Technology (22 November 1977). Encoding Standards for NRDC Universal HJ Surround-Sound Encoding System: "System UHJ" (Report). National Research Development Corporation. NRDC/FCC 2.
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