Diegetic sound comes from within the scene, like dialogue, while non-diegetic sound comes from outside the scene, like narration or mood music. Synchronous sound is recorded at filming and matches the action, like footsteps, while asynchronous sound occurs naturally but is not precisely synchronized. Sound effects, motifs, bridges, dialogue, voiceovers, mixing, and perspective are all techniques used to enhance meaning and storytelling through sound in television and film.

1. SOUND AND MEANING Zoe Ramsdale-Clark

2. DIEGETIC SOUND
Diegetic sound is any sound, voice or piece of music that has come from
within that scene of a televised programme or film. For example in the
television drama clip that I analysed (Pretty Little Liars) when the girls were
having a discussion, which is also known as dialogue, this is a form of
diegetic sound because it has come from within the scene.

3. NON-DIEGETIC SOUND
Non-diegetic sound is sound whose source is neither visible on the screen
nor has been implied to be present in the action. Some forms of non-diegetic
sound are narrators commentary, sound effects and mood music. An
example of when non-diegetic sound was used in the television drama clip
that I analysed was when the blind girl Jenna was walking down the corridor.
The non-diegetic sound was used to build tension which foreboded a sense
of danger.

4. SYNCHRONOUS SOUND
Synchronised sound refers to sound recorded at the time of the filming of
movies. It usually appears to be matched to certain movements in a scene,
for example when the sound of footsteps corresponds to a person walking

5. ASYNCHRONOUS SOUND
Asynchronous sound is sound which is indigenous (occurs naturally in a
particular place) to the action but not precisely synchronized with the action.
Here is an example of when it was used:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzAoCsvvFBY

6. SOUND EFFECTS
A sound effect is a recorded or electronically produced sound that matches
the visual action taking place onscreen. For example this may be used in a
television drama when something breaks on the floor and we hear a loud
‘smash’.

7. SOUND MOTIF
A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated with a
particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film. It will usually
be used to prepare the audience for the entrance of this character.

8. SOUND BRIDGE
A sound bridge is when at the start of a new scene, the sound from the
previous scene is briefly carried over into the next one.

9. DIALOGUE
Dialogue is the conversation spoken between characters in a song,
television programme or film. Virtually all television dramas will feature
dialogue as this is what will keep the audience interested. For example in
Doctor Who, the majority of the scenes are taken up by dialogue between
the characters.

10. VOICEOVER
Voiceovers are narrations or non-synchronous dialog taking place over the
action onscreen

11. MODE OF ADDRESS/DIRECT
ADDRESS
Mode of address is the way in which the form of media talks to the audience.
This can be through the chosen style, genre or props used for a television
drama.

12. SOUND MIXING
The process during the post-production stage of a film or a television
program in which the collection of recorded sounds are combined into one or
more channels along with adjusting the many attributes of the sounds

13. SOUND PERSPECTIVE
A sound’s position in space as perceived by the viewer given by volume,
timbre, and pitch

14. SOUNDTRACK
A sound track is the recording of the musical accompaniment for a movie or
television programme

15. SCORE/INCIDENTAL MUSIC
This is music that is original and specifically written for a movie or television
programme, it is often a piece of music that is played in the background

16. THEMES AND STINGS
Themes are a piece of music or a song which is often played at the
beginning and end of a television programme. Nearly all television
programmes will have something called a theme tune
Stings are formally known to be used as metaphorical ‘punctuation’ in a
piece of music. For example a sting may be used to introduce a regular
section of the show or at the end of a scene, or as a dramatic climax

17. AMBIENT SOUND
Ambient sound is sounds that are frequently used in the backgrounds of a
scene such as:
Wind
Rain
Birds
Office Noises
They perform functions such as providing audio continually, preventing an
unnatural silence and establishing or reinforcing the mood