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 emphasis key sound elements within a sequence.
Ambient
sound is used to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of
place.
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
– are used to create a sense of realism or to create some psychological
impact and effect.
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
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Diegetic Sound
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Non-Diegetic Sound
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Voices of characters
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Sounds made by objects in the
story
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Music represented as coming from
instruments in the story space
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Diegetic sound is the sound that you
would hear if you were in the film walking around …ect.
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Narrators commentary
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Sound effects which are added for
dramatic effect
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Musical score/soundtrack
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Film sound can be either:
- Synchronous
– this is when a sound affect is matched with another technical event or
action which reinforces this effect.
- Asynchronous
– this is when a sound originates from outside of the diegetic reality of
the film; musical soundtrack.
- Contrapuntal – noise
or sound effect which doesn’t match the visuals, often juxtaposed to
create alternative meaning.
Other elements of sound design to look out for:
- Voiceovers
– this is the voice of the character. This voice often guides or informs
the external audience but can be used to push them in wrong narrative
decisions.
- Theme
music – this is the music that introduces, develops through
out and ends the film. If often indicates the personality and mode of
address of the movie.
- Musical
Score – used to create atmosphere, to link shots or
sequences, to help create the narrative or to offer information about the
characters.
- Silence
– film/TV are very rarely silent, but this effect is occasionally used to
provoke a reaction from the audience.
