Stereo is the use of two or more independent audio channels to create a sense of directionality and depth in sound reproduction. It was the first practical stereo recording technology invented by EMI engineer Alan Dower Blumlein. While watching the movie, he discovered that the human voice could only be emitted from one side of the speaker, making the sound field of the entire movie very fragmented. So he reconstructed the sound field, and in 1931 he patented a method of recording and reproducing stereo sound using two microphones and two speakers, laying the foundation for the modern stereo system. It then became popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the introduction of stereo LP records, reel-to-reel tape, and FM radio. Stereo at this time required a combination (stereo) fader and equalizer, as well as a stepped pan pot (panoramic potentiometers) that directed the signal to the left or right channel (Thompson, 2018). During this period, various Recording techniques, including use of multi-track recording and stereo mixing consoles. The 1980s and 1990s brought advances in recording technology, such as digital audio recording and compact disc (CD) technology. Digital recording formats allow for higher fidelity and improved stereo imaging, so Pink Floyd’s breakthrough album “The Dark Side of the Moon” was fully realized when it was released on DVD in the early 2000s (Abbeyroad, 2021) . Today, stereophonic sound remains a fundamental aspect of music production and playback across a variety of media platforms. Technologies such as binaural recording and spatial audio processing continue to push the boundaries of stereo reproduction, delivering a more immersive and realistic listening experience.

At the same time, the history of stereo development also made me aware of the infinite possibilities in the field of sound. Whether it is Dower Blumlein’s sound field reconstruction or Pink Floyd’s advanced album created through Quad Format, they all show that the development of the audio field requires creativity and tolerance for new things. So I think that in my future mixing work, I must learn to use creative thinking to produce, and actively learn new and cutting-edge things in the audio field.

References:

The History of Recorded Music has its roots firmly planted at No. 3 Abbey Road (no date). https://www.abbeyroad.com/news/the-history-of-recorded-music-has-its-roots-firmly-planted-at-no-3-abbey-road-2596#:~:text=years%20to%20follow.-,Introduction%20of%20Stereo,-By%20the%20mid.

Thompson, Daniel M.. Understanding Audio : Getting the Most Out of Your Project or Professional Recording Studio, Hal Leonard Corporation, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ual/detail.action?docID=6170282.