Sound in Media

 Audio in Media

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Sound in Media can be both what you hear, and don't hear.

The 3 main categories of sound in Media are:

1. Dialogue
2. Music
3. Sound Effects

Dialogue - This is anything spoken, verbally or otherwise (i.e. sign language).

Music - This is the soundtrack, but can also be from a source in scenes.

Sound Effects - These are usually put in after the fact, to help ground the actor's performances.

Dialogue can be used to establish various aspects of a character, and can be used for exposition. When using dialogue, it's important to consider both the content and delivery, as the meaning could be misinterpreted by the audience if proper thought isn't put into it.

Music is there to compliment, or contradict the scene. It can heighten emotion and drama, and some songs/notes can indicate a character's allegiance. It can also be used to develop the atmosphere, highlight a change in time or place, advance the action, describe a character, transition and act as continuity.

Sound Effects are used to highlight sounds that perhaps they may not have been able to capture during production. For example, if someone pulls out there phone and says they got a text, you would want to know that they are about to do it, so a small sound or vibration will be added to show a phone is going off as that sound is familiar to the audience and they understand what it means.

Diegetic / Non-Diegetic:

Diegetic sounds have their origins in the scene, i.e. if a character is listening to the radio, then it is diegetic, coming from the radio but still being heard by the audience.

Non-diegetic sounds are added in post-production, usually music or narration, these are there to compliment visuals, not necessarily distract from them.

In Shaun of the Dead, there is a scene that starts with the news report from the television playing, this is diegetic, as is the sound of the object Nick Frost's character throws at Mary. When they turn around and there is another zombie there, there is a sharp booming sound effect, which is
non-diegetic as there is nowhere for it to have come from in the scene.

Within sound, there are 2 common types: Contrapuntal and Parallel.

Contrapuntal sounds oppose/contradict the mood/tone being presented. These can be ironic moments, or emphasise the point the creator is putting to the audience.

This is done in the documentary Bowling for Columbine, where it plays Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World over some of America's worst moments.

Parallel sounds run with the mood/tone and compliment them.

In the opening scene in the pilot of Chuck, the music switches between the upbeat music of the party where Chuck is, and the music that accompanies Bryce Larkin's high-octane infiltration of the Intersect computer. This helps to separate Chuck's quiet life, going to parties, and Bryce's life as a spy. Coupled with how Chuck describes Bryce in the opening scene, it's clear that Chuck sees Bryce as an enemy. Chuck's statement that Jill "found him more exciting" is followed by Bryce's high-octane music, which is running parallel to Chuck's own mind. This moment shows how these are truly the characters' themes: Chuck is dull, muffled, but trying to get out there, but Bryce is truly living life to it's fullest, with small breaths before he ramps up again. This highlights their dynamic throughout the first season, until Chuck realises that Bryce "ruined his life" to protect him from the life of a spy.