Different Elements of Sound-Soundtrack-Analyzing Sound (Media)

Diegetic- are often heightened for effect. Examples include footsteps, a gunshot, knocking on a door, and floorboards creaking.

Non-Diegetic- are not commonplace as diegetic ones, but they are sometimes used. A good example would be a heartbeat during a chase sequence.

These can help integrate the audience into the story world, provide narrative information and help evoke an emotional response.

• Voiceover

• Sound Effects

• Sound Bridge

This is a sound attributed and associated with a particular character or action. A classic example is the 'shark theme' in the film Jaws. The repeated use of the sound became synonymous with the appearance of the shark and signifies impending danger.

• Dialogue

• Sound Motif

• Sound Mixing

This is an audio transfer to help a text move into a new scene. A sound will start in one shot and be carried over to the next. For example:

• - a character is shown asleep and dreaming.

• - the audience can hear the beeping of an alarm clock.

• - the beeping continues as the shot transitions to the character lying in bed, reaching out a hand to switch off the alarm.

• Sound Bridge

• Sound Mixing

• Sound Perspective

This refers to the spoken words of the characters within the diegesis. This can provide narrative information, but the vocal delivery can signify the emotional psyche of a character and provide background information, such as where they are from and their history.

The way a character delivers their lines can help to create a _______ or direct address. When analyzing dialogue you should consider:

• - the speed at which a character is talking.

• - their accent and dialect.

• - their pitch, tone and lexis (vocabulary).

• Melodic Sound

• Dialogue and Mode of Address

• Voiceover

A ____ acts as a narrator for the audience, providing narrative information.

• - the narrator of a story is often a character. This is called a homodiegetic voice over.

• - if that character is the protagonist (lead character), then this device is called an autodiegetic voiceover.

• Score

• Voiceover

• Theme

Sound ____ creates the overall layered soundscape of a text, and considers how all sounds work together in a media text. The sound mixer will assess the levels of all sounds to ensure they are clear.

• Sound Bridge

• Sound Mixing

• Sound Motif

This refers to the distance of a sound. The audibility of a sound will signify how close the audience is to its source, and how important it is the scene and construction of meaning.

• Sound Perspective

• Sound Mixing

• Sound Charge

This is music that has been written specifically for a media text. It is very powerful because it helps to:

• - create atmosphere.

• - convey the emotional state of a character.

• - elicit an emotional response from the audience.

• Themes

• Score

• Incidental Music

This is music that accompanies a specific aspect of on-screen action. For example;

• - music shown to be coming from a radio, bluetooth speaker or other technology.

• - music accompanying a car chase.

• Like score, it can command an emotional response from the audience.

• Score

• Incidental Music

• Stings

They are pieces of music that have been created for and are synonymous with a particular TV show, podcast or radio show. They tend to be the opening to a show and create familiarity for the audience.

• Stings

• Themes

• Ambient Sounds