What technologies existed for recording or eavesdropping in the 1960s–70s? How did sound recording (tape decks, directional microphones, etc.) influence real-world privacy concerns?
The third wave of development in audio recording began in 1945 when the allied nations gained access to a new German invention: magnetic tape recording. From 1950 onwards, magnetic tape quickly became the standard medium of audio master recording in the radio and music industries and led to the development of the first hi-fi stereo recordings for the domestic market, the development of multi-track tape recording for music, and the demise of the disc as the primary mastering medium for sound.
How is the invasion of privacy through these devices shown in the film?
After he discovered that his own apartment had been installed a recorder, he furiously searched for the device. When he couldn’t find it, he destroy apart everything of his home in desperation. In the end, all he could do was to play his saxophone.
Research sound designer Walter Murch and his innovations in editing and sound mixing.
From a mixing perspective, Walter Murch often applied special effects to different sounds such as distortion, low-frequency reverb, and/or high-cut filtering. These techniques helped distinguish sounds occurring in normal scenes from those that were unnatural or psychological. For instance, a voice coming from behind a wall would be processed with a high-cut filter, since solid materials naturally block high-frequency sound. These detailed and interesting audio process effectively reinforced the film’s theme of surveillance.
How does sound recording technology blur the line between truth and manipulation in this film?
The invention of recording technology also introduced the ability to edit sound. From that moment on, audio could be recorded and manipulated, meaning that what we hear is not necessarily real. For example, in one scene Harry believes he is uncovering the truth but in the real case his technical methods only reinforce his misunderstanding.