Film sound is carefully designed and mixed in post-production to emphasize important sounds and set the atmosphere. There are two main types of sound: diegetic sounds that exist within the film's world, and non-diegetic sounds from outside it, like music and effects. Sound can also be synchronous, matching visuals, or asynchronous like musical scores. Elements of sound design include selective sounds, ambient atmosphere, sound bridges between scenes, effects, voiceovers, theme music, and silence to build tension. In Sherlock Holmes, the asynchronous musical score plays for most scenes, and characters have distinct music - Sherlock's is heroic while his nemesis Lord Blackwood's is menacing.

1. Sound
Film sound is as important and as carefully controlled as the visual elements of a
text. Although sound is often recorded on set, most film sound is added in post-
production
Film sound will be mixed very carefully to ensure that important sounds are
emphasised and that the correct atmosphere for a sequence is maintained
Selective sound is: used to emphasise key sounds.
Ambient sound is: used to create the atmosphere of a place.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Sound bridges – the use of sounds help transition between sequences to
pass more fluidly.
 Sound effects – used to create a sense of realism or to create psychological
impact or effect.
Sound can be either:
 Diegetic – that is, it exists within the world of the film or
 Non-diegetic – that is, it emerges from outside the world of the film, e.g. film
soundtracks
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
Any sound represented as coming from
within the film world.
Voices of characters.
Sounds made by objects.
Music represented as coming from
instruments in the film.
This can either be shown on or off the
screen.
Anything that is put there afterwards.
Sound effects.
Musical effects, musical score.
Film sound can be either:
 Synchronous – When a sound effect is matched with another technical event
or action that influences/ reinforces the effect.
 Asynchronous – When a sound originates from outside of the diegetic reality
of the film (Musical score)

2.  Contrapuntal – Noise or sound effect that doesn’t match the visuals, often
juxtaposition to create alternative meaning.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Voiceovers – This is a voice of a character. The voice often guides or informs
the external audience but can be used to push them in the wrong narrative
direction.
 Theme music – When a character has a specific piece of music to go with
their action.
 Musical Score – Soundtrack. Can be used to create atmosphere between
shots.
 Silence – No noise, used to build tension and provoke an action from the
audience.
Sherlock Holmes Sound
The sound is Sherlock Holmes is predominantly asynchronoussincethe musical
scoreplays for most of the scene. For example when Sherlock Holmes is
running the music goes with him, this can be called theme music since
Sherlock’s music is set to when he is doing anything heroic while Lord
Blackwood who is another main character has evil menacing music that
suggests that he is Sherlock’s nemesis.