May 5th, 2017 6 comments

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Special 3D Sound Mix for Knock Knock

Plug in your headphones to experience Doctor Who with 3D sound in this special binaural audio mix – it’s virtual reality for your ears. Why do floorboards creak?

When a sinister landlord shows Bill and her friends the perfect houseshare, they have no idea what lies ahead… knock knock, who’s there?

Viewers say Doctor Who 3D audio edition sounds as if the monsters are coming after you

A special 3D sound mix of this week’s episode of Doctor Who makes it feel as if you’re part of the action, according to a group of Welsh students. Speaking at an exclusive screening of the binaural audio edition of episode four, Knock Knock, the students called it a great experience, saying the enhanced version sounds as if at any minute the monsters could be coming after you.

The enhanced binaural audio episode will be available on BBC iPlayer immediately after the adventure premieres on BBC One and BBC One HD from 8.10pm on Saturday, 6 May. Viewers can find it by searching Doctor Who Enhanced on BBC iPlayer or visiting: doctorwhoenhanced

The binaural edition creates a 3D surround soundscape for anyone wearing headphones, placing the audience at the heart of the action while the bumps, scrapes, shrieks and screams echo around them as if they were actually there. To create the enhanced version, the team used new software developed by BBC Research & Development to artificially mimic the subtle effect the shape of the viewer’s head and ears have on what they hear. This lets sound engineers give the impression of specific sounds like the creaks and groans of the old house in Knock Knock being in front, behind, or all around viewers.

Brian Minchin, executive producer, Doctor Who, said: “Mike Bartlett’s episode ‘Knock Knock’ is perfect for 3D sound as it’s set in a creepy house where creaks might kill you! What you can hear, and where it comes from is extremely important. The binaural audio edition enhances the fun and the scares throughout Knock Knock.”

Catherine Robinson, audio supervisor at BBC Wales, said: “The software BBC R&D have created enables us to completely immerse viewers in this extremely atmospheric episode. People will be able to hear the surround sound mix the way our engineers hear it in the studio, without the need for acres of cables, speakers and stands in their lounge. And as they can watch with a normal pair of headphones, they can experience the 3D audio wherever they want to watch this episode, whether on the bus, or on the loo.