Convention Paper
On the Acoustics of Old Berlin Studios for Film and Radio
AES Convention 116 · Paper 6104 · May 2004
Abstract
In 1931 in Berlin the Haus des Rundfunks was opened with a ceremony in studio 3 after a hectic 8 years of radio
history beginning with the first transmission from the FOX Haus near Potsdamer Platz (now: Sony Center)in 1923.
In 1929 UFA decided to eventually start with sound films (at first only 50% of the productions) after 5 years of
financial pressure and hard decisions when for instance more than 10000 musicians in film theaters had to be fired
due to cost reduction. UFA in Babelsberg immediately built the so-called Tonkreuz with 4 huge halls and a center for
sound mixing in the middle of the cross. Quality requirements became stronger. Therefore sound approved film
studios became necessary. In Babelsberg the existing halls of the Tonkreuz were used to built in a House-in-House
or a room-in-room construction with double walls, roof, doors and windows.
