Sound Techniques

Sound Techniques

Dialogue

Conversation between 2 or more characters. It is appropriate to use this when trying to show simple talk between two or more people.

Diegetic Sound

Any noise or sound in the scene or that the character (not the actor) can hear in the scene. This is good for when you want both the character(s) and the audience to hear something in the scene. 

Non-Diegetic Sound

Sounds that the character can’t hear (e.g. trailer music). Most often used as background music to events happening or used influence pace in a scene.

Sound Motif

A sound that becomes associated with a person, thing or programme, (e.g. theme song). This sort of sound is often used several times in the piece or is used as a theme song and is consistently heard in each episode or film.

Synchronous Sound

The visual actions move at the same time as the music or sound.

Contrapuntal Sound

Sound that doesn’t match the visuals (e.g. happy music at a funeral).

Voice Over

Character or Narrator speaking but you can’t see them or see their mouth moving. Is appropriate to use trying to allow the audience to hear the character(s) thoughts.

Soundtrack

None Diegetic sound that plays over the clip. Appropriate for a trailer to play as background music.

Ambient Sound

Everyday noise you hear in the scene, to make the scene seem more realistic.

Sound Perspective

Refers to the distance of the sound, from the characters perspective (e.g. echo, clock ticking, e.c.t)

Mode of Address/Direct Address

The narrator or character addresses the audience directly

Sound Bridge

Sound bridges can lead in or out of a scene, it bridges across 2 scenes (sound blends to scenes together)