Types of Sound

A description of the different types of sound used in filmmaking

1. Types of Sound used in Filmmaking

2. Diegetic Sound Diegetic sound is s ound which occurs within the diegesis created by a film; sound that fits with the actions taking place on screen. This can include the voices of characters, sound made by objects in the film or music represented as coming from instruments in the story space (source music ). Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame.

3. NON DIEGETIC SOUND Non diegetic sound is sound which is generated outside of the picture on screen, for example voice overs or music not represented within the frame. Adding music to objects as non diegetic sound is an art form. Music creates mood and atmosphere in a film, often by manipulating the emotions experienced while viewing and so it is something important to consider when we create our own short film.

4. Synchronous sound A synchronous sound is a sound that is matched to certain movements occurring in the scene, such as when footsteps correspond to feet walking. Synchronous sound can be recorded simultaneously to capturing the visual footage because these two elements need to be in sync. If it is recorded separately then the synchronisation between the picture and sound has to be precise in order for them to occur at the same time. F or example, an actors lips has to be moving at the same speed as the sound he produces to make the footage realistic and easy to watch and interpret.

5. Asynchronous sound Asynchronous sound also matches the action being performed, however it is not precisely synchronised within the action. This type of sound is often used when the director wants to create tension as the viewer can hear a sound but cannot see the sound.

6. Contrapuntal and Parallel Sound Contrapuntal sound occurs in a film if the music and the visual elements play against each other in a form of contrast. Parallel sound describes the condition where audio and visual effects match, not in synchronity but in tone and mood.

7. Ambient sound In filmmaking ambient sound consists of the ‘ normal’ sound of a given location or specific place. It is normally recorded in stereo by the sound department during the production stage of filmmaking and is used to provide a film location with sonic space and normally occupies a separate track when editing the sound. It is used to create a sense of realism. Lack of ambient sound can make the scene feel tense and it is therefore often used in horror films.