If you’ve read my review of The Dark Knight Rises: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack you know that I squeed long and hard about how wonderful it is. It’s the type of soundtrack that is less background music and more sit-up-and-pay-attention music.
Or so I thought. Because composer Hans Zimmer has come together with RjDj to create an app that does, in fact, turn the TDKR soundtrack into the soundtrack of your life. And it is So Freaking Fun.
Here’s the press release:
Hans Zimmer Launches ‘The Dark Knight Rises Z+’ App for iPhone & iPod touch
Hans Zimmer creates an immersive sonic experience with new ‘The Dark Knight Rises Z+’ App for iPhone & iPod touch. The new App uses Augmented Sound Technology to bring the world of Gotham City to life
LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 20, 2012 – Academy Award® winning composer Hans Zimmer and leading music app developer RjDj have created a groundbreaking new app: The Dark Knight Rises Z+ for iPhone and iPod touch, available now on the App Store. The app immerses fans in a one-of-a-kind sonic experience that syncs daily life with the sonic world of Gotham City. Through the use of proprietary audio technology, The Dark Knight Rises Z+ blends Zimmer’s evocative score for Christopher Nolan‘s film with the user’s surroundings to create a personal augmented sound experience.
The Dark Knight Rises Z+ includes three-augmented music pieces based on the themes of the story. The Z+ technology enhances the sound; letting the user experience the soundtrack as Zimmer and Nolan intended it to be heard in the movie. The app features two modes: Manual (where users choose what they hear) and Autopilot. In Autopilot mode, the app crafts a custom sonic world by instantly responding to a user’s location, movements, time of day, and other factors to generate the ultimate real life soundtrack.
“I’m hoping to give fans of this beloved trilogy the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the sounds capes and atmospheres of the world of the Dark Knight,” said Zimmer. “This new app allows users to be part of the film in a way that goes beyond the movie screen-it’s the difference between a looking at a photo of a river, and being able to drop your hand over the side of the boat and feel the currents of the water tug as the river takes you on a journey.”
The App also includes a unique “Fly the Bat” mode. By rotating and tilting their device users can interact with the original movie sound effects created by Academy Award® winning sound designer Richard King. Users will also be able to download a special “Story Time” feature within the app to hear an exclusive behind-the-scenes discussion with Zimmer and director Christopher Nolan.
“Hans sets creative goals for a project higher than you ever thought possible or practical,” said Christopher Nolan. “He took the same approach with The Dark Knight Rises, crafting a magnificent and totally unexpected suite for our new villain as we were just starting to shoot.”
The Dark Knight Rises Z+ App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. Additional Z+ content is available via In-App Purchase; including a special “Origins” pack that features an extra 55 minutes of music. “Origins” comprises four original suites (“Wayne Manor”, “Bane”, “Selina Kyle”, and “Orphan”), representing the musical DNA for The Dark Knight Rises. Zimmer wrote these pieces while the film was in the early stages of development, and they served as the blueprints for what would become the final soundtrack.
The Dark Knight Rises is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Opening in theatres and IMAX on July 20th, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
About Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer is one of the most iconic composers of his time. He has scored over 100 films, grossing more than 19.6 billion dollars at the box office worldwide, and been honored with the Academy Award®, two Golden Globes® Awards, three GRAMMY® Awards, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award. In 2003, ASCAP presented Zimmer with the prestigious Henry Mancini award for Lifetime Achievement for his impressive and influential body of work. He also received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2010. Zimmer served as Music Director for the 84th Academy Awards in 2012.About RjDj
RjDj (www.rjdj.me) was started in 2008 by Last.fm founder Michael Breidenbruecker. The company’s vision is to redefine the experience of music listening for the 21st century. Previous top ranking applications from RjDj include Inception the App, Dimensions The Game, Rj Voyager and RjDj.Follow Hans on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/realhanszimmer , like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hanszimmer or listen to his work on Soundcloud at http://soundcloud.com/hanszimmer.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GraphicCity/news/?a=64449#oDFL7zl7frttRSQw.99
Just a note that the Bat Mode isn’t included, it’s included to purchase. Still, the app alone is just ridiculously fun to play with. You’ll find yourself making silly sounds and walking fast around the house just to see what the app does. Here’s the link, have fun!
