Diegetic sound refers to any sound that comes from a visible or implied source within the story world of the film. Non-diegetic sound comes from a source outside the story world and acts to enhance the narrative or mood. A sound bridge connects sounds between scenes, while a sound motif uses recurring sounds to represent particular characters, ideas or situations. Dialogue is conversation between characters, and a voiceover features unseen characters speaking over related images.
2. Diegetic sound
Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the
action of the film:
voices of characters
sounds made by objects in the story
music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)
Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's
world Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source
is within the frame or outside the frame.
Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound
Diegesis is a Greek word for "recounted story"
The film's diegesis is the total world of the story action
3. Non-diegetic
• Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be
present in the action:
• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music
• Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story
space. The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our
understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening. We know of that
certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others
are represented as coming from outside the space of the story events. A play
with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity
(horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy).
• Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound.
4. Sound bridge
When the scene begins with the carry-over sound from the previous scene before the new sound begins.
5. Sound motif
• A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated
with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film.
• The sound motifs condition the audience emotionally for the
intervention, arrival, or actions of a particular character. The sound
motifs can be very useful in the rough cut, where they help clarify the
narrative functions of the characters and provide a sound association
for those characters as we move through the story.
• The use of sound motifs can help shape a story that requires many
characters and many locations and help unify the the film and sustain
its narrative and thematic development.