This document discusses different types of sound used in film and media, including ambient sound, synchronized sound, voice-over sound, diegetic and non-diegetic sound, sound effects, music, and how sound is used to transition between scenes. It provides examples of each type of sound and discusses how sound enhances scenes and genres tend to have conventional sound effects and music.

1. SOUND AND
MUSIC
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2. MISE-EN-SCENE
In the same way the camera
angles and audience
positioning are used for a
particular effect, so too is
sound.

3. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING…
 What types of music or sound would you expect to be used for the
following types of scenes:

9. AMBIENT SOUND
 The sounds of everything going on around the person who is
speaking.
 For example, the sound of waves and wind on a beach scene.
 It’s common when filming to record a couple of minutes of ‘room
tone’ in each location. This can then be used to cover transitions
and create a realistic background sound.

10. SYNCHRONISED SOUND
 We are looking at the thing making the sound
 The words are spoken to match the lip movements of the speaker
 Often used in music videos or musical programs.
 Non-synchronised sound is when we are NOT looking at the thing
we’re listening to.

11. VOICE-OVER SOUND
 Sound that is dubbed onto any picture sequences.
 Documentaries and advertisements often use a lot of voice-over.

12. DIEGETIC AND NON-DIEGETIC SOUND
 Diegetic sound – this is sound that ‘belongs’ to the world of the
film. If someone hits someone, we hear the sound of the punch.
People’s voices, cars starting, birds etc.
 Non-diegetic sound – this is non-realistic sound. The most
common example is the musical soundtrack. We don’t have a
soundtrack in real life (if you do, you need help!)

13. SOUND EFFECTS
 Usually added to the soundtrack at the dubbing stage. Sound
effects can be sub-divided into two types:
 Sounds to match actions of events on the screen (for example a door
slamming, or glass breaking)
 Sounds that are about a scene but do not match anything actually shown (for
example the sound of birds singing might accompany a scene in the
countryside)
 FOLEY SOUND is artificially created sound effects.

14. MUSIC
 Music is the final sound added to film/television shows in post-
production.
 Music is used to make the audience feel certain emotions as they
watch the action on screen.
 In high-budget film or television productions, specially composed
music will be commissioned for the soundtrack.
 When we start to edit a piece of film, it’s often useful to have a
piece of music to work with, even if it’s not the one we’ll eventually
use. This is called a TEMP TRACK.

15. SOUND BRIDGE
 Sound is used to introduce or link scenes and shots. So, the
sound continues the same even if the shot or scene changes.
 Note, also – we usually hear the sound of things before the image
fades in.

16. Listen to the sound in this clip.
Can you explain, using media
terminology, what is going on
with the sound?
Clip

17. PLENARY
How do sound effects and
music work to enhance scenes
within a film?
 Can specific genres be said to
have conventional sound
effects/music?