The BBC Documentaries
Sound Archive
The MP3 files listed here contain my
collection of all Reel-to-Reel Tape Recordings
of material broadcast by (principally) the BBC
during the 1970's and 1980's.
The source of this material was taken from
BBC TV - chiefly the HORIZON TV series and from
many broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 in the
'Scientifically Speaking' radio series
introduced and directed by John Maddox,
editor of the respected Science magazine, Nature.

The files have been recorderd in Mp3 format at
44Khz in Stereo and 16 bits. The MP3 fraunhofer creation
was carried out at 128kbps. The quality is good and no
worse than that from the original Reel-to-Reel tapes.
The original material was recorded in mono as I did not
have a stereo radio nor do I think were the programmes
broadcast in stereo. This is certainly true of the
BBC2, HORIZON TV series.

For each of the MP3 files, there is some information
regarding the content, including the date when the tapes
were originally created.

The file sizes vary between about 25Mby and 85Mby.
The above encodinbg being far superior to that required
from the quality of the Akai 1721L Reel-to-Reel recorder.
in addition 3-4 of one type of the audio tapes, made by Ampex
at 1200' recording length, have suffered severe loss of magnetic
material from the polyester base. Interestingly, another
type of Ampex tape, of the 2400' variety, is still in good
condition. The former tapes are useless - there being
persistent and very frequent drop outs in the sound,
of frequency a few times per second.
All of the material here is therefore from the 2400' tapes.

The Akai Documentaries Tape Archive.
The BBC Horizon programme on the Ancient Astronaut Theory,
recorded on 25th November 1977.

Featuring Erik Von Daniken and much hogwash!
A revealing programme with the usual BBC impartiality
and the shenaniginns which is/are rife regarding the
case for ancient astronauts, in antiquity, being
responsible for the rise of human technical civilisation.
Much blatant guff spoken by Von Daniken, but his books,
eg. 'Chariots of the Gods', have made him a millionaire!

As usual for the BBC at this time, the programme is peppered
with much good backing music, almost certainly some from
Pink Floyd.

The BBC Radio 4 programme on the Quark,
recorded on 25th March 1976.

Featuring the world's leading Physicist at the time,
Richard Feynman, and interviewed by John Maddox.

The BBC Horizon programme on the Hunting of the Quark,
recorded on 25th March 1976.

Featuring the world's leading Physicist at the time,
Richard Feynman.
Richard Feynman, was for 30 years, arguably the world's
leading theoretical physicist. His work on Quantum
Electrodynamics led to the most accurate experimental
testable parameter of the sub-atomic world, the magnetic
moment of the electron.

As usual for the BBC at this time, the programme is peppered
with much good backing music, this time from the Pink Floyd's
Album 'Meddle'.

The BBC Horizon programme on the the Explosion of the Crab Nebula.
recorded 12th August, 1974.

One of the most stunning of the Horizon programmes.
First spotted by the Chinese in the 11 century, the explosion of
the supernova in the constellation of Taurus, resulted in what is
now known as the Crab Nebula. This programme relates the story of
the discovery of the 1st PULSAR, at the Mullard Radio Observatory
in 1967, by Jocelyn Bell. There is much good detective work here
and the Horizon programme is a rollocking good watch!

Again, the prgramme is peppered with much good backing music,
again from the Pink Floyd's Album, 'Meddle'.

The BBC Radio 4 programme on Extra Terrestrial Life,
recorded on the 6th March 1975.

It features the 2nd of my heroes, Carl Sagan, at a meeting
presented from the Royal Institution.
The programme features comments by J.Z. Young, Longett-Higgins,
and David Bates in front of a live audience. It is chaired by
Sir George Porter.
The whole thing turns into a bit of a bashing for Sagan, by the
English scientific establishment.

The BBC Radio 4 programme on Fred Hoyle recorded on 1st June 1975.

Presented by John Maddox and is one of many such programmes
aired by BBC Radio 4 in the 1970s and 1980s.
Featuring Fred Hoyle once again, it is about the meeting, in an
Italian Monestary, and titled, 'Frontiers of Astronomy - 1975'.
It celebrated Hoyle's 60th birthday on the 24th June 1975

The BBC Radio 4 programme on Richard Feynman,
recorded on 14th July 1976.

Hosted again by John Maddox and is one of the best programmes
in this series. Feynman is a character and sadly missed, another
hero. He discusses with Richard Feynman, his work in relation to
Quantum Electrodynamics, The pleasure of finding things out (see
the book) and his work over 30 years on the fine structure of the atom.

According to Hoyle - Fred Hoyle and James Burke,
recorded on 8th January 1977.

Again Fred comes 'off the moor' to talk to James Burke this time
in a rather different type of programme.

Conversation Piece - Sue Mcgregor with Fred Hoyle,
recorded on 19th May 1980.

Odd combination but illustrates how popular Fred was at being
interviewed about his views and philisophy regarding Cosmology.

The Discovery of the Pulsar, recorded on 15th July 1980.

Featuring Jocelyn Bell, discoverer of the 1st Pulsar
In the Crab Nebula. Something for which Anthony Hewish
(her research supervisor) received the Noble Physics
prize, soon after.

Scientifically Speaking - The Steady State Theory - Fred Hoyle,
recorded 11th March 1981.

John Maddox interviews Fred Hoyle regarding his early work on
the Steady State Theory of the Universe.

Scientifically Speaking - The Steady State Revisited - Fred Hoyle,
recorded 31st March 1981.

Again John Maddox interviews (later on in the same month
as the recording above) Fred Hoyle regarding his new work
on the Steady State Theory of the Universe.

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