Iconic Doctor Who and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy sounds archive made available for first time

At the studio, the work produced there has significantly impacted various prominent musicians such as Brian Eno and Hans Zimmer, and the BBC believes that by sharing this collection, we’re safeguarding a valuable musical legacy for future generations.

The main aspects of this innovative library encompass authentic sounds sourced from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s archives, fresh recordings and creative explorations by the Workshop members and affiliates, as well as a vast array of sounds such as archive material, discovered sounds, improvised percussion from everyday objects, tape loops, and classic synthesizers.

You can get a closer look at the Workshop by watching the below trailer:

Mark Ayres, an archivist, described the workshop as a specialized unit within the BBC dedicated solely to creating peculiar or eccentric sounds. He elaborated on the reasons behind opening up this unique sound library.

He mentioned, “I’m the most recent addition to the main team at the Radiophonic Workshop, and I’m sixty-four years old.” He went on to say, “Our time together won’t last indefinitely.

It was crucial for us to pass on a creative device, stemming from our projects, for others to utilize in the future. I fervently wish that we have crafted something that will ignite the creativity of upcoming generations.

He noted: “Every part of this tool stems from the tasks, methods, and machinery developed and employed by the workshop.

You understand, modern sampling techniques seem quite similar to those used in the past, just with some additional tweaks. For a long time, I’ve been arguing that composers working at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop like Delia Derbyshire and John Baker were essentially early pioneers of sampling.

Simultaneously, Harry Wilson, head of recording at Spitfire Audio (a company that has partnered with the BBC on this endeavor), expressed: “We’re not merely reflecting on what the members were doing in the past. Instead, we’re envisioning a continuation of their work into the future and asking: if the Workshop were to be involved in a similar process today, what would it produce?

Dominic Walker, the worldwide business chief for BBC Studios, expressed his excitement about working together again with Spitfire Audio. They are collaborating to make the iconic sounds of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop accessible to a fresh wave of musicians and composers through an invaluable online library.

The library’s regular fee is set at £149, but for a limited time, an introductory offer is available at £119, which ends on the 17th of March. Take advantage of this offer and gain access to the library today.