Film sound is carefully designed and added in post-production to emphasize important elements and set the atmosphere. There are different types of sounds: selective sounds emphasize key elements while ambient sounds create a sense of place. Film sound can be diegetic, originating from within the film's world, or non-diegetic from outside the world like soundtracks. It can also be synchronous matching the action, asynchronous from outside the diegetic reality, or contrapuntal not matching the visuals to create alternative meaning. Silence is also used strategically to create dramatic effect.

1. 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: This is used to emphasis key sound elements within a
sequence
Ambient sound is: Sounds that should be there created from the place, to create a
particular atmosphere.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Sound bridges – To cut from one scene to the next the sound bridges over
the scenes
 Sound effects – are used to create a sense of realism or used to create
some physiological effect/ atmosphere
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, e.g. film
soundtracks
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
Anything sound that is coming from the
film. Diegetic sound is
any sound presented as originated from
source within the film's world.
Diegetic sound can be either on screen
or off screen depending on whatever its
source is within the frame or outside the
frame.
E.g. film set in a music studio a guitar
playing would be diegetic sound
Non-Diegetic sound is sounds that the
editor put in post-production. 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. E.g. narration, gunshots,
soundtrack

2. Film sound can be either:
 Synchronous – When a sound effect matches with another technical effect or
action this reinforces the effect, basically a musical score
 Asynchronous – This is when the sound originates from outside the diegetic
reality of the film; musical soundtrack
 Contrapuntal – When the sound/musical score doesn’t match the visuals to
create an alternative meaning
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
 Voiceovers – The voice of the character comes from outside of the diegetic
sound.
 Theme music – When a character has a particular piece of music that goes
with the character. Used to indicate their presence and to have an ’emotional
journey’ on the viewer
 Musical Score – used to create an atmosphere to link shots or sequences
together, to create the narrative or offer information about the character.
 Silence – Silence used to create an effect, a dramatic effect, in a scene.

3. Sound in the media is used to create all kinds of effects in a film, for example,
silence in a film is used to create a dramatic effect in the film. This is often used in
horror films, and creates a scary/haunting atmosphere if used correctly. Diegetic
sound and non-diegetic sound is also used in film. These are things that you will find
in nearly all films. Also films contain asynchronous sound and most films will contain
contrapuntal sound (depending on the type of film i.e. who directs it and what the
director want the atmosphere in the film to be like.). Contrapuntal sound can give off
a ‘silly’ atmosphere when it should be serious, this juxtaposes the film with the music
usually to highlight something.