The Distortion of Sound is a 2014 advertisement for Harman produced by Vice Media.[1][2] The advertisement presents itself as a documentary on the decline of sound quality in music distributed with lossy compression algorithms. The ad features paid interviews with vocalists, guitarists, producers, writers, rappers, film composers, mixing engineers, mixers, music journalists, acoustic researchers, loudspeaker engineers and chief engineers—including such artists as Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Slash, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg and Steve Aoki.[3]
| The Distortion of Sound | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jacob Rosenberg |
| Written by | Michael Abell Kevin Gentile Carol Martori |
| Produced by | Hana Leshner Dennis McKinley Suzanne Hargrove |
| Starring | Slash Quincy Jones Mike Shinoda Lianne La Havas Snoop Dogg Hans Zimmer |
| Edited by | Carol Martori |
| Music by | Lorne Balfe |
Production company | Bandito Brothers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 22 minutes |
| Language | English |
The ad was uploaded to YouTube using YouTube's lossy audio compression. The trailer of the film was also available on YouTube. The ad, as well as a trailer, was available on the official website of the film.
The film was premiered at a paid event in Los Angeles on July 10, 2014.[4]
Cast
editThe film includes the following various musical artists:[5]
- Quincy Jones
- Slash
- Snoop Dogg
- Steve Aoki
- Lianne La Havas
- Mike Shinoda
- Hans Zimmer
- Kate Nash
- A. R. Rahman
- Dan the Automator
- Manny Marroquin
- Andrew Scheps
- Neil Strauss
- Dr. Sean Olive
- Greg Timbers
- Chris Ludwig
Clips
editThe original film included clips of interviews. All the clips were uploaded separately on the official YouTube channel in the given sequences.
| No. | Title | Presenter | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Introduction of the CD[6]" | Slash | 1:15 |
| 2. | "The Artist's Intention[7]" | Mike Shinoda | 1:07 |
| 3. | "Musicians[8]" | Hans Zimmer | 0:28 |
| 4. | "Physical Music[9]" | Kate Nash | 1:02 |
| 5. | "Head Bob Test[10]" | Andrew Scheps | 1:07 |
| 6. | "Shared Social Experience[11]" | Mike Shinoda | 2:14 |
| 7. | "Importance of Sound[12]" | Hans Zimmer | 1:00 |
| 8. | "Compressed Music[13]" | Andrew Scheps | 1:52 |
| 9. | "The Digital Age[14]" | Kate Nash | 1:32 |
| 10. | "Connecting with Fans[15]" | Lianne La Havas | 1:24 |
| 11. | "MP3[16]" | Neil Strauss | 1:06 |
Music
editThe original score for the film was composed by Lorne Balfe.[17] Whereas the film used only three songs out of which one is the collaboration between Linkin Park and Steve Aoki, and the other two songs are performed by Lianne La Havas. Whereas the song "Holding Company (Lost in the Echo 2011 Demo)" from the LP Underground XIII extended play was briefly used in the trailer for the film.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Light That Never Comes" | Linkin Park, Steve Aoki | Linkin Park x Steve Aoki | 3:49 |
| 2. | "Ghost of Me" | Lianne La Havas, Matthew Hales | Lianne La Havas | 4:14 |
| 3. | "Is Your Love Big Enough?" | Lianne La Havas, Matt Hales, Willy Mason | Lianne La Havas | 3:22 |
References
edit- ^ Ian Shepherd. "The Distortion Of Sound documentary: fair comment, misleading over-simplification - or worse ? - Production Advice". Production Advice.
- ^ "Harman: The Distortion of Sound - Ads of the World™".
- ^ "Musicians Expose the Decline of Sound Quality in New Film "The Distortion of Sound" Wall Street Journal July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "Karina Smirnoff and Stars Flock to 'The Distortion of Sound' Premiere" First Coast News July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "Watch Snoop Dogg, Hans Zimmer, and Slash Star in The Distortion of Sound" Slate.com July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Slash "Introduction of the CD" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Mike Shinoda "The Artist's Intention" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Hans Zimmer "Musicians" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Kate Nash "Physical Music" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Andrew Scheps "The Head Bob Test" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Mike Shinoda "Shared Social Experience" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Hans Zimmer "Importance of Music" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Andrew Scheps "Compressed Music" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Kate Nash "The Digital Age" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Lianne La Havas "Connecting with Fans" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Neil Strauss "MP3" YouTube July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "Lorne Balfe composing The Distortion of Sound" Hans Zimmer July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.