sound & music

SOUND & MUSIC

STARTER

To analyse use of sound & music in films. To introduce terminology for sound & music.

• What is the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sounds?

Types of sound

• Diegetic Sound is sound which is part of the film world we are watching.

• Non-diegetic sound is sound which we do not recognise as part of the film world.

Diegetic

• Sound where the source is visible on the screen or where the source is implied to be present by the action of the film.

1. voices of characters  2. sounds made by objects in the story  (eg. door

slam)3. music represented as coming from instruments

that are visible or the radio, character’s headphones.

(Diegetic sound can be either on screen OR off

screen depending on whether its source is within the frame or outside the frame.)

Non-diegetic

• Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action.

• Non-diegetic sound comes from a source outside the story space: 

1. narrator's commentary 2. sound effects which is added for the

dramatic effect 3. mood music

Sound

1. Make brief notes describing as many sounds as possible that you can hear.

2. Choose 3 sounds and think about their effect on the film clip

Pearl Harbour

• Watch from 1:27 – first without sound, then with sound.

• What does sound add or take away from the scene?

Sound Bridges

• A sound bridge is when sound from one scene will often continue onto the next scene.

• This is known as a sound bridge and this creates a smooth transition from one scene to another.

• Describe the sound bridge in this scene from the Matrix.

Parallel and Contrapuntal sound

• When we watch a film, the sound that we hear usually complements the image that we see on the cinema screen. This is parallel sound.

• Contrapuntal sound is when the sound does not fit with the image.

SYNCHRONOUS or ASYNCHRONOUS

SOUNDS

Theme and sting

• Sting – musical punctuation. Can highlight a moment, add emphasis.

• Theme – A key passage of music linked to the subject matter/style of the film. They help create the mood. Often music of opening and closing credits.

• Sound Motif – sound associated with a particular character

Incidental music

• Incidental music is often "background" music, and adds atmosphere to the action.

• It serves as a kind of establishing shot but for sound, setting scene and showing transition.

• The use of music to punctuate a specific event of action, or to provide a sound background.

Ambient sound

• Ambient sound or ambient audio means the background sounds which are present in a scene or location. Common ambient sounds include wind, water, birds, crowds, office noises, traffic, etc.

• Ambient sound is very important in video and film work. It performs a number of functions including:

1. Providing audio continuity between shots.2. Preventing an unnatural silence when no other

sound is present.3. Establishing or reinforcing the mood.

Mode of Address

• The way in which the audience in addressed by speech - this is a key factor in establishing the mood and tone of a programme, for example, by being friendly, authoritative and fun as appropriate.

o Confiding or secretiveo Colloquialo Formal/informalo angry

Sound terminology

• What do we know? Match the cards.

What is the function of sound?

Considering these 8 aspects of sound, what is the function of each?

• Dialogue • Voiceover• Incidental music• Ambient sound• Theme• Sting• Sound effects (FX)• Soundtrack