The document discusses different elements of sound design in film. It identifies various types of sounds that can be used, including diegetic sounds that exist within the world of the film and non-diegetic sounds from outside the world. Film sound is carefully crafted in post-production to emphasize important sounds and create the right atmosphere. Examples of different sound techniques are provided, such as using sound bridges between scenes, synchronous sounds that match the visuals, and asynchronous non-diegetic music. The document also gives examples of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds identified in Sherlock Holmes.

1. Sound
What noises can you hear in the clip?
Piano, Horses hooves, carriage, gun, chains, doors, crow, violin, clashes, man’s
voice, sound effects, wind, crashing, death, stabbing, animals, running, ship horn,
whispers, Watson, Sherlock, swords, chains, screams, silence, penny, swooping,
multipole voices, handcuffs, glass smash.
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 bridge is a noise we use to pass from
scene to scene, help transitions pass more fluidly
 Sound effects – are used to create a sense of realism or o 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
 Voices of actors/characters
 Sounds made by objects within
the story
 Music represented as coming
from instruments within the story
space e.g. radio
 Diegetic sound is any sound
presented as originated from
source within the films world.
 Diegetic can either be on screen
or off screen.
 Narrators commmentrery
 Sound effect which are added for
dramatic affect
 Musical score/soundtrack
 Sound which is presented as
coming from a source outside the
story space
 Distinction between non diegetic
and diegetic sound depends on
our understanding of the
conventions of film viewing and
listening

2. Film sound can be either:
 Synchronous – this is when a sound effect is matched with another technical
event or action- this reinforces the effect (selective sound)
 Asynchronous – This is when a sound originates from outside the diegetic
reality of the film: musical soundtrack
 Contrapuntal – noise or sound effect which doesn’t match the visuals, often
juxtaposed to create an alternative meaning( gun shooting/ happy Greek
music)
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Voiceovers – This is a voice over the top of a clip so its non-diegetic and can
be used to push an audience in the wrong narrative directions
 Theme music – This is the music which introduces, develops throughout and
ends the film.it often indicates the personality and mode of the address of the
movie. Characters can have their own theme music – this indicates their
presence or ‘emotional journey’
 Musical Score – used to create atmospheres, to link shots or sequences, to
help create the narrative or to offer information about characters
 Silence – Film/TV is rarely completely silent, but this effect occasionally used
to create or highlight emotion
Identifying sound in Sherlock Holmes
Diegetic
Horse and carriage
Non-Diegetic
Low dull music telling us that’s the villain, shift in musical score,