Sound in film (Lyn)

Glossary of terminology

Diegetic sound- sound that belongs to the scene or the source of the sound is clearly visible.
Non-diegetic sound- sound that is added during post production.
Ambient sounds- sounds such as wind or birds, that add to the atmosphere and verisimilitude of a scene.
SFX- sounds that are artificially added after recording, and are created.
Mood- sound that helps add atmosphere and sets the mood of a scene.
Tone- (Harsh or soft) an element of music that reflects emotion.
Genre- a category, such as horror, that divides up elements of the media into recognizable characteristics.
Theme music- a recognizable piece of music that is repeated during a series.
Voice over- a non-diegetic way of narration.
Musical score- played throughout a film and are used to create atmosphere.
Synchronous sound- When the sound matches an action of SFX.
Asynchronous sound- similar to non-diegetic, this is when a sound originates from the outside of the reality of a film.
Contrapuntal sound- sound or music that contrasts with the visual aspect of the film.
Silence- usually used to provoke a reaction from the audience.
Selective sound- used to emphasize key sounds and elements within a sequence.
Sound bridges- using sound to help make transitions more fluid.




There is a large combination of diegetic and non-diegetic sound in this clip. The soundtrack adds to the atmosphere, and is synchronous with the scene, as when the pace increases, so does the horse galloping. The sound of the horse galloping is diegetic, because even though it was probably added during post production, the source is clearly shown before the sound begins. It is part of the many ambient sounds included as a way to preserve the verisimilitude of the scene. These sounds include footsteps as the protagonist is running and the sound of the chain breaking on the door when Sherlock kicks it open. These would have been added after recording as selective sound, in order to enhance the actions, thus creating a dramatic atmosphere for the audience.


Homework clip