A small presentation explaining the difference between diegetic and non diegetic sound.

1. DIEGETIC AND NON-
DIEGETIC SOUND

2. WHAT IS DIEGETIC SOUND?
• Diegetic sound is a noise which has a source on-screen. They
are noises which have not been edited in, for example dialogue
between characters or footsteps. Another term for diegetic
sound is actual sound.
• Diegetic sounds are often thought to be realistic, such as fight
scenes in a movie when the character as well as the viewers can
interpret the different sounds.
Stephanie B. (). What is the difference between ‘Diegetic’
and ‘Non-diegetic’ sound?. Available:
https://www.mytutor.co.uk/answers/1621/GCSE/Media-
Studies/What-is-the-difference-between-Diegetic-and-Non-
diegetic-sound/. Last accessed 28.02.2020.
• The opening scene from the rear window is a good example for
diegetic sound. For example, even though the sound seems to be non-
diegetic it is actually diegetic sound because the music hasn’t actually
been added in editing. The music is actually coming from a radio in
someone's apartment, you might notice that when the person changes
the radio the music changes.
Example
https://youtu.be/I5It0nmoYE4

3. EXAMPLE 2
• Baby driver- This scene from baby driver has got both diegetic
and non-diegetic sounds. The scene where he is singing along
to the music is a use of creative use of non-diegetic sound, for
example the actor will be able to hear it through his
headphones so he can sing alone but they use it to make it
seem like a diegetic sound.
https://youtu.be/6O6oOMZOxp
WHAT IS NON-DIEGETIC
SOUND?
• Non-diegetic sound is a noise which does not have a source on-
screen, they have been added in. These kinds of sounds help
create an epic atmosphere and mood for the viewers to
watch. Diegetic sounds allow characters as well as viewers to
hear what is happening around them, whereas non-diegetic
sounds is promoted by a narrator to help explain the storyline.

4. EXAMPLE
https://youtu.be/sbKL5g5i8MI
• The amazing spider man 2- The non-diegetic sound in this scene
would be the music overlay. For example the music creates a tense
vibe while watching the movie. Another example is when he stops
listening to his music through his headphones but it instantly plays
louder which means it turns into diegetic.