Watch Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music

2016
1 Season
8.4 (1,430)

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music is a PBS documentary series that explores the art and impact of recorded music. The show takes viewers on a journey through the history of recorded music, from early Edison phonographs to modern digital recording technology.

Narrated by actor Dermot Mulroney, the series includes interviews with music legends such as Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, and Quincy Jones, as well as music producers and engineers who have helped shape the sound of popular music over the last century.

Each episode of Soundbreaking focuses on a particular aspect of the recording process, such as the role of the producer, the evolution of recording technology, or the impact of new musical genres on the recording industry. Viewers also learn about the creative techniques that producers and engineers use to capture and shape sound, such as overdubbing, sampling, and the use of effects like reverb and distortion.

Soundbreaking also explores the social and cultural impact of recorded music, including how it has been used to express political and social movements throughout history. The series features interviews with musicians, activists, and cultural critics who discuss the ways in which music has been used to challenge the status quo and bring people together.

In addition to Mulroney, the series is hosted by music journalist Todd Boyd and features appearances by a wide range of musicians, producers, and other music industry figures. One of the show's most prominent contributors is Questlove, drummer of the Roots and a seasoned producer and music historian in his own right. Questlove provides expert commentary on many of the show's topics, drawing on his decades of experience in the recording studio and on stage.

Overall, Soundbreaking is an informative and entertaining look at the history of recorded music and the creative and technical processes that go into making the music that we listen to every day. Whether you're a casual music fan or a diehard audiophile, this show is sure to deepen your appreciation for the art and craft of recorded music.

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between November 14, 2016 and on PBS

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Seasons

8. I Am My Music

November 22, 2016

The final episode shifts the focus to the experience of listening to music. From vinyl discs to the cassette tape, the CD, and the MP3, each generation has had a new way to make music its owna way of listening that determines not only how and where we listen, but also the manner in which we collect, store, and share the music we love.

7. Sound and Vision

November 22, 2016

The penultimate episode in our series proceeds from the once-preposterous notion that music is a visual art form. Chronicling the era in which MTV forged an indelible and inextricable link between recorded music and the newly emergent music video, Sound and Vision considers what it means to see music as well as hear it. Offering unprecedented exposure to artists with a knack for the form-- Michael Jackson, Madonna, Billy Idol, the Eurythmics--MTV turned singles into smash hits and musical performers into international celebrities. It also created new expectations of musical entertainment and imposed new burdens on recording artists. Tracking the music video from MTV to the internet, Episode Seven tells the story of how a one-time marketing tool became a powerful mediator between artist and audience, and illuminates the music video's role in the popular music of today.

6. The World is Yours

November 21, 1950

The sixth episode of Soundbreaking focuses on a musical revolution that was not only inspired by recording but generated from its history: the art of sampling--a kind of musical comparative to Adam's rib.

5. Four on the Floor

November 18, 2016

If the vocal track is the heart of a song, the rhythm track--the beat--is its body. It is the sonic element that taps into the most primal part of us and makes us want to move. The Rhythm Track breaks the beat down, and examines the endless experimentation that has taken place in its core, the very bedrock of all music. Charting the progression of the beat from drum and bass to beatbox and beyond--from Little Richard and James Brown to disco and EDM--Episode Five listens in on the ongoing dialogue between dance floor and recording studio, and captures the ever-evolving process of building an irresistible beat.

4. Going Electric

November 17, 2016

From the invention of the electric guitar to the evolution of synthesized music, electricity allowed musicians to invent brand new sounds. This episode examines the process by which science and engineering become sound, illustrated through blues music and artists like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and the Who.

3. The Human Instrument

November 16, 2016

Featuring rare studio footage of some the world's most renowned vocalists--divas like Adele and Christina Aguilera, suave crooners like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, and rock star screamers--this episode considers the gamut of tricks and techniques that can enhance and alter the human voice while exploring the ineffable emotional quality that makes a vocal track truly great.

2. Painting With Sound

November 15, 2016

The advent of magnetic tape and multitracking technology allowed artists to experiment with music in new ways, from the 4- and 8-track productions born of the friendly rivalry between the Beatles and the Beach Boys, to the 16- and 24-track productions created by Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac, to the digital innovations that today fuel the work of artists such as Beck, Bon Iver, and Radiohead.

1. The Art of Recording

November 14, 2016

The producer's role can vary from Sir George Martin's inspired guidance of the Beatles to Phil Spector's dictatorial insistence on his signature sound; from Rick Rubin's gentle coaxing that brought Johnny Cash back to greatness to the fierce creative independence of artist-producers like Joni Mitchell and Prince.

Description

Where to Watch Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music

Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music is available for streaming on the PBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music on demand at Google Play, Hoopla and Apple TV.