MATRIXSYNTH: Rare vintage ROLAND Sound Space Processor RSS-8048, 2x ADA-8024, SCC-8004 remote Controller


Sunday, May 22, 2022

Rare vintage ROLAND Sound Space Processor RSS-8048, 2x ADA-8024, SCC-8004 remote Controller

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video upload by Auralcavity

Update via Gavin T in the comments: "I can't find many examples of this from back in the day. But this episode of Tomorrow's World in the UK did show of the technology."

Video description:

"This video features BBC Tomorrow's World's televised demonstration of RSS or 'ROLAND SOUND SPACE' - dubbed "3D STEREO" by presenters Howard Stableford and Kate Bellingham. The programme joined up, via a live audio link, with Mark Goodier's Evening Session on BBC Radio 1 FM. This was in order to demonstrate, to the many viewers without NICAM digital stereo TVs, the then-new innovation of 3D spatial audio rendered with just a pair of speakers. Those who were lucky enough to get a decent FM stereo signal from the station were then able to experience this new sound for themselves.

This upload has been created from a mixture of sources. At the time of the original broadcast I was one of the many who did not have a NICAM TV set (nor, in my case, any video recorder). As I was not present for the live broadcast I'd set my cassette recorder to tape the audio from Stereo Radio 1 FM. Until recently I've only had this tape recording of the event and, frustratingly, none of the video footage.

HOWEVER... 20 years on I've at last happened upon this missing part from someone who, interestingly enough, has been in the opposite situation. He'd never heard the stereo version (even worse!) but possessed the monaural TV footage on video. Unfortunately this had been saved as a very low data rate 'Real Media' (.rm) file. Consequently it is of atrocious visual quality - for which MANY APOLOGIES!! However, as you'll see, it's still worth watching and listening...

I've pieced these two remaining artefacts back together again -- muting the mono video sound and overdubbing / synching the FM stereo audio. However, listeners will notice that during the 'preamble' (up to around 1m29s) the sound is from the mono video only. Unfortunately my cassette recorder only switched on there -- but, thankfully, still in time for the start of the demonstration! Despite the initial lack of stereo I've still managed, for speaker set-up, to doctor the mono audio to pan left around 1m20s; and to pan right around 1m23s.

When the TV demonstration ended, Mark Goodier continued the experiment on Radio 1. Thus, where the video footage ends I've continued the audio: Mark plays a special mix of 'Winter In July' by Tim Simenon's Bomb The Bass. This contains a more subtle use of the RSS effect.

I hope you enjoy this upload despite the video quality."



via this auction

"Here is an extremely rare and perfect working (well tested in my studio) complete set composed of Roland RSS-8048 Sound Space Processor, SCC-8004 Sound Space remote controller and 2x ADA-8024 analogue / digital-analogue converters (from 44.1 to 48 khz) Included in the sale all the original manuals and diagrams plus a professional studio rack. Really cool dimensional machine, a great studio outboard and today very very hard to find especially in these conditions...

Some infos from the web:

Used in cinema producions and pro studio, very expensive at the times: nearly $60k! It come in Near Mint to Mint conditions.. immaculate shape, really as new and perfect working. Introduced in 1991, the Roland RSS 8048 is a modulation effect meant to allow for the reproduction of 'three-dimensional audio' through regular stereo systems. There are several recordings available which have used RSS and these include Bomb the Bass' Winter In July, 'Spiritual High' by Moodswings featuring Chrissie Hynde and many more. The background studio of this machine come from Hugo Zucherelli, who used a dummy head fitted not only with microphones for the ears, but also with transducers to pick up the vibrations through the skull's bone formation. 'Holophonics', as he called his technology, was used on various early 1980s recordings from The CURE and PINK FLOYD (The Wall's helicopter holophonic effect as example). 'Some will clearly hear a sound moving behind them, while others will just hear it moving over their shoulder. Either way, the sound certainly moves outside of the confines of the stereo image.'"

1 comment:

  1. I can't find many examples of this from back in the day. But this episode of Tomorrow's World in the UK did show of the technology. https://youtu.be/ALJ7_tIm14A

    ReplyDelete

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

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