8.1 Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound
3 min read•august 6, 2024
Sound in film is more than just background noise. It's a powerful storytelling tool that can make or break a movie. comes from within the film's world, like or a car horn. It helps create a realistic atmosphere and draws us into the story.
, on the other hand, is added in post-production. This includes musical scores and voiceovers. These elements can shape our emotions and guide our understanding of the film. Together, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds create a rich audio landscape.
Types of Diegetic Sound
Diegetic Sound and Source Music
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- Diegetic sound refers to any sound that originates from within the world of the film, including dialogue, , and music played by characters or objects on screen
- , also known as digetic music, is music that comes from a visible source within the film's world (radio, live band, character singing)
- Diegetic sound and source music help to create a sense of realism and immersion for the audience by grounding the sound in the film's world
- Examples of diegetic sound include footsteps, doors closing, and characters having a conversation
- Examples of source music include a character playing the piano, a song playing on a car radio, or a band performing at a concert in the film
Ambient Sound and Soundscape
- refers to the background noises that are present in a scene, such as the sound of traffic, birds chirping, or the hum of a refrigerator
- These sounds help to establish the setting and create a sense of place for the audience
- is the overall sonic environment of a film, consisting of all the diegetic sounds that make up the film's world
- The soundscape can convey information about the location, time period, and atmosphere of a scene
- For example, the soundscape of a busy city street would include car horns, sirens, and pedestrian chatter, while a soundscape of a forest might include bird calls, rustling leaves, and a babbling brook
Offscreen Sound
- is any diegetic sound that comes from a source not visible on the screen
- This type of sound can be used to create suspense, provide information, or suggest the presence of something or someone beyond the frame
- Offscreen sound can also guide the audience's attention and imagination, encouraging them to visualize what is happening beyond what is shown on screen
- Examples of offscreen sound include a telephone ringing, a dog barking, or a character's voice coming from another room
- In horror films, offscreen sound is often used to build tension and fear, such as the sound of footsteps or heavy breathing coming from an unseen source
Non-Diegetic Sound and Transitions
Non-Diegetic Sound
- Non-diegetic sound refers to any sound that does not originate from within the world of the film, such as a , voiceover narration, or sound effects added in post-production
- Non-diegetic sound is used to convey emotions, provide commentary, or create a specific atmosphere that is not directly tied to the events on screen
- A musical score can help to set the tone and mood of a scene, guiding the audience's emotional response to the action on screen
- Voiceover narration can provide exposition, reveal a character's inner thoughts, or offer a different perspective on the events of the film
- Sound effects added in post-production, such as a whoosh or a boom, can enhance the impact of certain actions or events and create a more engaging viewing experience
Sound Bridge
- A is a transitional device that carries a sound from one scene to the next, helping to create a smooth and seamless connection between the two
- This technique can be used to link thematically related scenes, suggest the passage of time, or create a sense of continuity between different locations
- Sound bridges can be diegetic or non-diegetic, depending on the nature of the sound being carried over
- For example, a diegetic sound bridge might involve the sound of a character's footsteps continuing from one scene to the next, while a non-diegetic sound bridge could be a musical cue that carries over across a scene change
- Sound bridges can also be used to create a sense of irony or contrast, such as when a cheerful piece of music carries over into a scene of violence or tragedy
Key Terms to Review (19)
Ambient sound: Ambient sound refers to the background noise present in a scene, which helps to establish the environment and context of the narrative. It includes sounds that occur naturally within a setting, such as birds chirping, traffic noise, or the rustle of leaves. This type of sound is crucial for creating a sense of realism and immersion, as it enhances the viewer's understanding of the diegetic world and its atmosphere.
Atmospheric sound: Atmospheric sound refers to background noise in a film that creates a sense of environment and mood without being tied to specific actions or dialogue. This type of sound enriches the viewing experience by adding depth and realism, immersing the audience in the film's setting. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing between diegetic sounds, which originate from within the film's world, and non-diegetic sounds, which come from outside that world.
Dialogue: Dialogue refers to the spoken exchange between characters in a film, serving as a crucial tool for storytelling and character development. It conveys emotions, advances the plot, and reveals relationships while providing insights into the characters’ motivations and conflicts. This auditory element interacts with both diegetic and non-diegetic sound elements, as well as other filmic components, creating a rich narrative experience.
Diegetic Sound: Diegetic sound refers to any audio that originates from a source within the film's narrative world. This type of sound can include dialogue spoken by characters, sounds made by objects or actions on screen, and music that is part of the scene, all contributing to the story's environment and experience. Understanding diegetic sound is essential because it helps shape the audience's perception of space and time, reinforces character interactions, and enhances overall storytelling.
Emotional Cue: An emotional cue is a specific signal or element within a film that evokes an emotional response from the audience. These cues can come from various sources such as visual elements, sound design, or narrative devices, and they play a critical role in shaping how viewers feel about characters, situations, and the overall story.
Foley: Foley is a sound effect technique used in filmmaking where live sound recordings are created to enhance the audio experience of a film. It involves recreating everyday sounds that are not captured during the filming process, such as footsteps, rustling clothes, or the sound of objects moving. This technique plays a crucial role in establishing diegetic sound, which is sound that originates from within the film's world, as opposed to non-diegetic sound, like musical scores that are added for dramatic effect.
Musical score: A musical score is a written or printed notation that represents the music in a film, including the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that underscore the action and emotions on screen. It plays a crucial role in enhancing storytelling by evoking specific feelings and guiding the audience's emotional response to scenes. A musical score can be composed of both diegetic elements that exist within the film's world and non-diegetic elements that serve to heighten the viewer's experience from outside the narrative.
Non-Diegetic Sound: Non-diegetic sound refers to audio elements in a film that do not originate from the world of the story and are not heard by the characters. This includes background music, voiceovers, and sound effects that serve to enhance the emotional impact, provide context, or create atmosphere for the audience. These sound elements play a crucial role in shaping viewers' perceptions and experiences by influencing mood and guiding emotional responses.
Offscreen sound: Offscreen sound refers to audio that originates from a source not visible on the screen, enhancing the narrative and emotional impact of a film. This type of sound can include dialogue, music, or sound effects that are crucial to the storytelling but occur outside the frame, creating a richer and more immersive experience for the audience. It can influence the viewer's perception of the scene and the characters, adding depth to the film's atmosphere.
Sound bridge: A sound bridge is a technique used in film editing where the audio from one scene continues to play into the next scene, or where audio from the upcoming scene is introduced before the visual transition occurs. This method creates a seamless flow between scenes, enhancing narrative continuity and emotional impact by connecting disparate elements through sound. Sound bridges can help guide audience perception and maintain engagement during transitions.
Sound continuity: Sound continuity refers to the seamless flow and consistency of sound throughout a film, ensuring that the audio matches the visual narrative and maintains coherence. It is essential for creating a believable environment and emotional impact, as it helps the audience stay immersed in the story without distractions from jarring sound discrepancies.
Sound effects: Sound effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds used in film to support the storytelling, enhance the atmosphere, or convey specific emotions. They play a crucial role in shaping the audience's experience by adding realism or emphasizing particular moments, often distinguishing between sounds that originate within the film's narrative world and those that come from outside it.
Sound mixing: Sound mixing is the process of blending and balancing various audio elements in a film, including dialogue, music, and sound effects, to create a cohesive auditory experience. This technique allows filmmakers to enhance storytelling by manipulating how sounds are perceived in relation to one another, ensuring that diegetic sounds resonate with the on-screen action while non-diegetic sounds evoke emotions or set the tone. The art of sound mixing is crucial in shaping the audience's understanding and emotional response to a film.
Sound Motif: A sound motif is a recurring auditory element that carries thematic significance within a film, often linking specific sounds or musical phrases to particular characters, ideas, or events. This technique helps establish emotional connections and reinforces the narrative by making certain sounds recognizable and meaningful to the audience. Sound motifs can be categorized as either diegetic or non-diegetic, influencing how viewers perceive and engage with the film's story.
Sound perspective: Sound perspective refers to the way sound is used to create a sense of spatial relationships and depth within a film. It involves manipulating the volume, tone, and directionality of sounds to give the audience a feeling of proximity to the source, enhancing the storytelling experience. Sound perspective connects closely with diegetic and non-diegetic sound, as it can help establish whether sounds are part of the film's world or external commentary, influencing how viewers perceive the narrative.
Soundscape: Soundscape refers to the acoustic environment of a film, encompassing all the sounds that can be heard in a particular scene or sequence, including dialogue, music, and ambient sounds. It plays a crucial role in creating mood and enhancing storytelling, as it helps to establish the setting and emotional tone. By effectively utilizing soundscapes, filmmakers can immerse audiences in the narrative and evoke specific feelings or responses.
Source Music: Source music refers to music that is sourced from within the film's narrative world, meaning the characters in the film can hear it. This type of music is also known as diegetic sound, as it plays an active role in the scene, often enhancing the emotional or narrative elements of the story. By integrating source music, filmmakers can create a deeper connection between the audience and the characters, as well as contribute to the overall atmosphere of a scene.
Synchronization: Synchronization refers to the alignment of sound and image in film, ensuring that audio elements are matched with their visual counterparts. This concept is crucial in creating a cohesive viewing experience, as it helps to establish realism and emotional engagement through the relationship between diegetic sounds, which are sounds that originate from the film's world, and non-diegetic sounds, which exist outside that world. By effectively using synchronization, filmmakers can enhance storytelling and audience immersion.
Voice-over narration: Voice-over narration is a storytelling technique where a voice, not visible on the screen, delivers commentary or information related to the film's narrative. This technique can provide insights into characters' thoughts, background context, or emotional depth, enhancing the viewer's understanding of the story. It can also be used to distinguish between diegetic sound, which comes from within the film's world, and non-diegetic sound, which exists outside of it.