A history of BBC sound effects

Since the start of the BBC, there was a need to have some sound effects available for program makers to use.

These were to start with recorded live as part of the programmes by a studio hand using all sorts of equipment to produce the effects. The item used may have nothing to do with the actual noise being created, for example a cabbage is a great vegetable for creating stabbing and saw noises!

Over time, the BBC had started to create records to record shows, it made sense that they also started to record sound effects which could either be played over a live show, or (later on) edited into it. They had the advantage that the right effect would be used, the length, noise level, and contents were known in advance. The first set of these were recorded onto 78s. They were housed into specially made covers with a thin plastic film to protect the record from scratches.

The BBC had created a catalogue number style for these to make them easily searched for and they could be replaced back in store in the right order when no longer needed. For the first set, the format was a number, a letter, then up to three numbers. If there was a set of discs with the same subject, then the number at the end would go up one for each of them. For example, 1 A 1-207 all have recordings of aircraft. You will note the record labels and run off codes used the same design as other internal records produced, the A and B sides would have different numbers (size of record, type of record and a unique number complete this matrix number.)

Many of the original set of sound effects were recorded in the 1950s, though later ones seem to have continued into 1960s. They were all recorded in mono. It is thought that very low numbers of the discs were pressed, but how many isn't known. They are now highly collectable.

The example picture presented here is one of the aircraft discs.

Just like the other internal records the BBC released, the same set of records were reformatted onto 10 inch records.

Although the disc allowed for more recordings, these were not changed and the recordings contained on these discs is the same and in mono.

Just like the 78s before these, they were still houses in special BBC covers with the thin layer of plastic film protecting the discs. Also, the catalogue number is the same, the run off codes were slightly different as the 12 at the start of the 78 was replaced with a 10 due to the record size changing.

The example disc here is another recording of an aeroplane.

When the BBC moved to 7 inch records, the format changed. There were now three main separate catalogues. They were:
- EC catalogue (EC then up to 4 numbers then 1 letter), these were mono recordings. Just like the earlier ECS series, similar recordings were grouped together with only the last letter changing.
- ECS catalogue (ECS then these discs followed the 78s and 10 inch records from before), they were stereo recordings.
- NH catalogue (NH then a number and a letter - BBC Wildlife Series), they were mixed mono and stereo discs but only contained animal noises. You could tell if they were mono as the label was red, stereo had dark blue labels.

Although not part of this section, sound effects were also still produced in the old MP catalogue (MP then 5 numbers.)

All series were added to over the years when new sounds were needed, for example, newer cars or aircraft. Unlike previous releases, the BBC housed the records in card sleeves showing who had used them, inside that was a complete plastic sleeve, and inside that was the record.

These still show up regularly on auction sites from as little as £ 2 up to £15 depending on the contents. They are still highly collectable. I have a large number of these in my collection, but not all!

The example record here is from the mono catalogue of a diesel truck.

When the BBC started to regularly release vinyl albums to the public from 1967, they started to release some containing sound effects. The idea was to allow non-professional groups to use these as long as they didn't make a profit.

The first set released was the BBC Wildlife Series which contained sound effects of animals making their everyday noises. There were 12 of these in the series with Eric Simms always included in the notes or adding sounds he had recorded.

Shortly afterwards they released the second series which contained more general noises, the first being RED 47 Sound effects volume 1, which had a set of sounds from different subjects like the weather and bells. There were more than 30 in this series and later ones stuck to one subject.

Another favourite subject was railway or similar sound effects like REB 49 Railways in aspect, REB 107 Traction engines.

It is worth mentioning that the BBC also released sound effects albums from science fiction programmes like Doctor Who and Blake's 7, which the BBC Radiophonic Workshop created. Examples are Out of this world REC 225, Doctor Who sound effects REC 316, Radiophonic Workshop 21 REC 354, and Science Fiction sound effects REC 420. Many of these were reissued as CDs and limited edition Record Store Day releases.

Later on, the BBC started to release some of the vinyl record content as CDs, however, they also released some of the 7 inch records onto them for the first time. There were 26 CDs released over the run.

The label Silva Screen rereleased many of the BBC sound effects albums as CDs. Likewise when the BBC leased their back catalogue to Audio GO Ltd., many of these were released again.

The example here was the first sound effects CD. All of the BBC releases had the word 'Essential' as the first word of the title.