Types of Sound

whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film:

-voices of characters

-sounds made by objects in the story

-music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world

 

Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame.

Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound

Non-diegetic sound

 

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

-narrator's commentary

-sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect

-mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space.

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening. We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are represented as coming from outside the space of the story events. A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy).

Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound.

Soundtrack- The music that accompanies a movie

Theme music- is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_music)

 

Incidental music- is music in a film, play, video game or other that isn’t necessarily musical. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidental_music)

 

Sound Effects (FX) - Are artificially created sounds, commonly created by the use of a synthesizer. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_effects)

 

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Ambient sound- means the background noise present in a scene. (http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/ambient/)

 

Dialogue- is spoken conversational exchange between two or more people. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialogue)

 

Voice-over- (known as off-stage commentary) is a voice recording played on top of film, video game etc. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over)