Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Okay guys, this is a call to everyone to put on your research and knowledge caps.

Recently, there has been discussion about the audio for Region 1 released Godzilla movies compared to Toho's, specifically concerning Toho's 5.1 surround sound mixes of Showa movies.

Here's what I would like to know: What was Toho's audio recording ability back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s?

The use of stereo in music first occurred in the mid to late 50s, and wasn't universally accepted until the 70s. From my knowledge movies, on the other hand, took much longer to adopt it's use.

We all know Toho wasn't the richest company out there, and only had a certain budget it could use for each Godzilla film. Taking into account all of the above, I wouldn't even think Toho would have recorded anything in stereo until at least 1965, and even then that's a longshot. I have to assume for the early movies like Gojira and Godzilla Raids Again they mixed everything down to mono.

The first movie I saw and know of which was stereo was Godzilla 1985. However, on some 'Best Of Godzilla' compilations, there are songs sung from the 70s movies that ARE in stereo, (Miyarabi's Prayer or Godzilla Of Monster Island).

Do we know what # of 'tracks' recording equipment Toho and Akira Iifukube had to work with? Does Toho still have the original masters? When did they first utilize stereo equipment?

So many questions, but with them hoping for many answers.
(PS: Now is your time to shine Keith/KPA)

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA featured a full 4-track stereo soundtrack, so Toho had the technology by then. I think it more had to do with what set ups most theaters had (same with the US, where mono was still the norm even in the 70's for movies). Only a few big theaters had stereo/surround setups (kind of like the surround mixes for STAR WARS, etc..).

While I couldn't guess how many tracks they had, I'm sure multitrack had been available to film soundtrack recording for awhile (to combine dialoge, sound effects and music on to the final track).

I plan on going to college for audio production, so maybe I'll learn the full answer then.

Toho also utilized Perspecta Stereophonic Sound 3-channel stereo for Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961) and his follow-up Sanjuro (1962). Criterion's recently re-released R1 DVDs for the films feature the full stereo tracks in pristine-sounding quality (and the video is beautifully restored too).