Different types of sound

Different types of sound:

Dialogue – all the words and vocal expressions of the actors

Music – the music soundtrack that may be in parts or all of the sequence

Effects – other sounds such as footsteps, gunfire, cars

Sound effects help create a sense of the ‘reality’ of what is happening – we see a door opening and expect to hear it open as well.

We can separate sound into two areas: diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound.

Diegetic sound refers to sounds which exist ‘within the world of the film’. Diegetic sound is what he hear the character saying (dialogue), and all the wider noises made by objects, processes and forces in the world around us (sound effects).

Non-diegetic sound refers to sounds which no character or spectator ‘inside’ the film can hear. These sounds have been added to create a reaction in the audience or give them information.

When writing about sound you need to talk about the diegetic and non-diegetic