Technical Area 2 - Sound

1. Film 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 used to emphasise key sound elements within a sequence
Ambient sound is used to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of place
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
Film sound can be either:
• Synchronous – that is, caused by some event on screen, so that sound
matches the action
• Asynchronous – that is, separate from the visuals, such as a voiceover
or dialogue from another scene
• Contrapuntal - noise or sound effect that doesn’t match the visuals, often
juxtaposed to create alternative meaning
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
• Sound bridges – the use of sound to help transitions between sequences
pass more fluidly
• Sound effects – these are used to create a sense of realism or to create
some psychological impact or effect
• Music – used to create atmosphere, to link shots or sequences, to help
create the narrative or to offer information about characters. Can be
diegetic or non-diegetic
• Silence – films are very rarely completely silent, but this effect is
occasionally used to provoke a reaction from the audience