Film sound is carefully designed and mixed in post-production to emphasize important sounds and create the right atmosphere for scenes. Sound can be either diegetic, coming from visible or implied sources within the film, or non-diegetic, coming from outside the film world, like voiceovers or musical scores. Effective film sound uses techniques like selective sound to highlight key audio elements, ambient sound to set a scene's location or mood, and sound bridges to smoothly transition between sequences.

1. 27th September 2016
Oliver Booth
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 sound elements within a sequence.
Ambient sound is: used to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of place.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Sound bridges – the use of sound to help transitions between sequences
pass more fluidly
 Sound effects – are these used to create a sense of realism or to create
some 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, eg film
soundtracks
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
Sound whose source is visible on the
screen or whose source is implied to be
present by the action of the film:
1. Voice of characters.
2. Sounds made by objects in the story
3. Music represented as coming from
instruments in the story space.
Diegetic sound is any sound presented as
originated from source within the film’s
world.
Sound whose source is neither visible on
the screen nor has been implied to be
present in the action:
1. Narrator’s voice
2. Sound effects which are added for
dramatic effect
3. Musical score/Soundtrack
Non-diegetic sound is represented as
coming from a source outside the story
place.
The distinction between diegetic and non-
diegetic sound depends on our
understanding of the conventions of film
viewing and listening.

2. 27th September 2016
Oliver Booth
Film sound can be either:
 Synchronous – This is when a sound effect is matched with another
technical event or action – this reinforces the effect.
 Asynchronous – This is when a sound originates from outside of the diegetic
reality of the film; musical soundtrack
 Contrapuntal – noise or sound effect which doesn’t match the visuals, often
juxtaposed to create alternative meaning
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Voiceovers – This is the ’voice’ of a character. This voice often guides or
informs the external audience but can be used to push them in wrong
narrative directions.
 Theme music – This is the music that introduces, develops throughout and
ends the film. It often indicates the ‘personality’ and mode of address of the
movie.
 Musical Score – used to create atmosphere, to link shots or sequences, to
help create the narrative or to offer information about characters.
 Silence – film/TV are very rarely completely silent, but this effect is
occasionally used to provoke a reaction from the audience.