Listening to Radio 3 in Surround Sound 4.0
What will I need to listen to the stream?
Your computer needs a modern web browser which supports multi-channel audio and the most recent web standard HTML5, specifically the Media Source Extensions.
We have tested the latest versions of Chrome and Opera (Windows and OSX), IE11 and Edge (Windows 8.1 or 10 only) and Safari on OSX. Sadly, Firefox does not currently support multi-channel audio. The web browser does all the audio decoding, so you don’t need any other software. Unfortunately the experiment does not currently work on smartphones or tablets.
You will need an internet connection capable of playing a stream at 320kb/s without dropping data. A good 2Mb/s connection is the minimum that’s likely to work reliably.
What is needed for the best audio experience?
You need a means to replay audio over four speakers. You can use the "corner" speakers of a traditional 5.1 setup such as a home cinema, or if your computer sound card can output four analogue audio signals you could use two stereo amplifiers and two pairs of speakers. You should arrange the speakers in an approximate square and sit somewhere near the middle – but feel free to try moving them around.
The multi-channel audio is decoded in the browser so you need to get four discrete channels of audio from the computer to the amplifier. You can use a "surround sound" sound card with at least four outputs or if your surround sound amplifier and computer both have HDMI that should work too.
The optical output from some computers (TOSLink) will not work because it only supports a very limited number of encoded surround sound formats, not the four separate audio channels which we need.
How will I know if it is working?
Try your system with the test stream here
This will allow you to test your setup before the programme becomes available. We can’t offer advice to get any particular combination of equipment working as there are so many different combinations of computer, browser, sound card and audio system available, but there is information available to help you enable multi-channel audio for Windows here (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/get-high-definition-sound-and-music-from-your-computer) and for OSX here (https://support.apple.com/kb/PH5164?locale=en_GB).
What will I hear?
You will hear each Region of Hymnen in four channel surround as Stockhausen originally intended. Regions 1, 2 and 4 are taken directly from Stockhausen’s original four channel tape of electronic and concrete sounds. Region 3 is Stockhausen’s later version for four channel tape and live orchestra - a performance recorded at the Royal Festival Hall on 5 December 2015. Additionally, Robert Worby provides background and interviews with composers Rolf Gehlhaar and David C. Johnson who worked with Stockhausen on Hymnen. This additional material was recorded in stereo so will be present on the front speakers only.
What should I do if I don’t hear any sound?
If you are connecting to a home cinema system then disconnecting and reconnecting the HDMI connection may cause the surround capabilities to be discovered. Also check that the correct input is selected. Check that the surround output is enabled, and that it is not muted, either on the computer, home cinema system or the speakers themselves.
What if sound is coming from the wrong speakers?
If you are using speakers connected directly to a computer then check the options for the sound card are set up for the correct speaker configuration. Some sound cards pop up a dialogue asking which speakers have been connected when they detect them being plugged in.
If you are using a home cinema system then check the speakers are working correctly with some other source. Next find the settings for the sound card. Ensure that it is configured to use multi-channel output and that the speaker locations are set correctly.
Why is the centre channel silent?
Hymnen is a quadrophonic work so there’s no audio to play out on the centre channel. However, we need to signal and include a centre channel to enable us to make use of the standard channel configurations for compatibility with surround equipment.
Can I use a stereo set up?
You can, but we don't recommend it. This mix has been created specifically for multi-channel, and doesn't contain any down-mixing information. As a result you may hear either a best effort down-mix by your computer or just the front channels. Instead you may prefer to listen to using our normal stereo streams on iPlayer Radio.
How are you able to send surround radio to my browser?
As with previous trials, we’re using HTML5, Media Source Extensions and MPEG-DASH to deliver the audio to your browser. The stream is served from the BBC’s Audio Factory and the player is the HTML5 beta player.
