Sound

Technical Code

SOUND Includes:

i.

Diegetic sound

ii.

Non-diegetic sound

All sound within a film/TV programme comes in two types:

Diegetic sound Part of the world of the characters i.e. what you might expect to hear during the scene. (for example...?)

Non-diegetic sound It does not come from anything in the world of the characters, it’s added on during editing. (for example...?)

Synchronous sound The sound comes from an on screen source. For example?

Asynchronous sound The sound is diegetic (part of the world of the characters), but comes from an off-screen source. For example?

Ambient sound Naturally occurring sounds that you would expect to hear.

Dialogue The lines spoken by the characters.

The dialogue is perhaps the MOST important element in drama as it is essential to the plot and way the characters are constructed. Be ready to quote relevant dialogue when you are analysing clips.

Mode of address The way the dialogue is spoken and includes levels of formality, use of language, accent and attitude.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9yj_BXRp0 (Armstrong and Miller WWII sketch)

Direct address This is when a character looks or speaks directly into the camera, which we the audience read as communicating directly to us.

Non-diegetic sound Voice-over May be used to tell ‘back-story’ in a film or to call the lottery numbers on TV.

Sound Effects Seem to be diegetic sounds but they are added on (or enhanced) to build the soundscape and enhance realism and drama. Often to create a mood a sound editor might mix louder a particular diegetic sound.

For example?

Traditional sound effects equipment

Soundtrack Recorded music or additional sounds accompanying and enhancing the emotional mood of a film, TV programme or video game.

Score A broad term referring to the music in a film or TV drama which is generally separated from songs used within a film.

Incidental music is often "background" music, and adds atmosphere to the action. It may, for example, be a low, ominous tone suggesting an impending event. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VEV5HaOCZnY Hollyoaks – Max dies

Themes Many films/TV dramas have their own particular theme tune. Sometimes a particular character may have a theme.

Stings A sting is a short musical phrase , primarily used in films/TV as a form of punctuation— for example at the end of a scene .

Sound motif A sound effect that is associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film.

Sound motifs condition the audience emotionally for the intervention, arrival, or actions of a particular character.

(I bet you can hum the sound motif for James Bond or Indiana Jones!)

Sound mixing All the audio tracks have to be ‘mixed down’ to ensure the right balance. It’s important to always be able to hear the dialogue, for example.

Sound Perspective Indicates where the sound is coming from and is achieved through the sound mix. E.g. there is music in the scene but it would sound different depending on whether it was coming form a car stereo, headphones or the jukebox in the queen Vic.

Sound Bridge A sound effect, incidental music or overlapping dialogue to create continuity between one scene and another.

Silence Silence is rarely used in films/TV dramas.

When might it be used?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BBiYcMrqxXk&feature=related (New Dr Who David Tennant Title Sequence)

Exercise - Listen to the above track and describe the...

Instruments used: Genre: Volume:

Speed: Mood: