Diegetic & Non-Diegetic

Non-Diegetic

Non-diegetic sound is when sound is added into the scene in post production. This can be sound effects, voiceovers (narration) and soundtracks. Non-diegetic sound is added to have an effect on the viewer, whether that be for emotional purposes or to help build tension within the scene.

Non-diegetic sound can also be used to portray a characters emotions, although the charcater can't actually hear the music which the viewer is hearing, it helps get across the feelings and emotions of the charcter to the viewer.

This clip from the 1998 Michael Bay film, Armageddon uses a mixure of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound.

The non-diegtic sounds used is mainly a slow, soft build up of violins. This helps create an emotional and tense atsmophere throughout the scene and works really well with what is unfolding within the scene.

As the scene unfolds, the atsmophere begins to become more emotionally charged, particualy when the charcater is thanking others in his goodbye speech. The music becomes more thankful and gives off a feeling of loyalty towards his friends.

Around the 1 minute mark of the clip, the music gives off a sort of heroic feeling to it, highlighting charcters feelings towards Bruce Willis'. As well as highlighting others feelings, the music is telling the audience how it should feel in regards to 'Willis' character and how he should be seen a hero for sacrificing himself.

Towards the end of the clip, an angelic tone is added to the non-diegetic sound, giving the clip even more emotion. The angelic tone signifies how time is running out for 'Willis' charcter and works along side the body language of Willis character as he lets out a single tear which in itself is powerfuil. But with the added sound effects it makes the scene even more emotionally charged which plays with the emotions of the viewer becasue they can already see what is about to happen.

The last few seconds of the scene, the non-diegetic music begins to fade into the background and is replaced by diegtic sound from the scene. Through fading the non-diegtic sound out, it signifies the end of the life of Willis' charcter. Again creating an emotional response from the viewer because not only can they see that time has run out, but they can also feel it because of the music.

 Diegetic

Diegetic sound is when the sound comes from within the scene itself; this can include dialogue, foley sound and radio. As diegetic sound is within the scene, the characters are able to hear it along with the viewer.

Just like non-diegetic sound, diegetic can be used to convey a chacracters feelings, particualy in a monologue. It can also be used to clarify time and locations in films, helping the viewer understand where the chacrcater is and the time that the film is shot in.

Using the same clip from Armageddon, the diegetic sound is very pinnacle when highlighting the situation. At the start of the scene they have the crew informing NASA that they will be departing in3 minutes. This informs both the characters and the viewer about what's happening within the scene. Although the non-diegetic music controls the scene, the diegetic dialogue highlights the situation.

Throughout the clip, the non-diegetic music is playing over the scene but in certain parts, there is just silence. Using silence as a sound is really powerful as it contains so much emotion, as well as conveying the emotions of both the character and the viewer.

At the end of the clip, the non-diegetic music has died down and the speaker that was at the beginning of the clip picks back up again. This brings the audience and the character back into reality and back to the situation they are facing.

There are also other types of sound used within media too:
Sound bridge- This is when sound is used to maintain continuity in a sequence by running a soundtrack under a series of images or footage to link them together. For example, a sound bridge can be used in a chase sequence to help build tension and to link the sound to the action taking place on screen.

An example of a sound bridge is from the film 'The Matrix'. Within the scene, two of the main protagonists are talking while there is party music on in the background. The music helps continue the scene but takes a less importance to the two characters talking. This allows for the audience to still see that they are at a party but what they are talking about it more important then what is happening in the background.







Contrapuntal sound- This is when sound is used within a scene but it doesn't fit or work well with the scene. This causes the audience to turn their attention more to the music then what they are seeing on screen because they what they are seeing on screen, doesn't match what they are hearing. This type of sound can be used in ironic situations as well as humorous.


The example given is taken from the film 'Reservoir Dogs'. In the scene you see one of the characters tied up who has been badly beaten. You also see the 'boss' of the gang with a shaving knife, automatically you know what is going to happen to the character tied up. However, due to the contrapuntal music played on the radio, it takes away the seriousness of the scene and makes the situation kind of humorous for the audience. It also adds to the idea that the 'boss' thinks that what he is doing is a joke and that he doesn't believe what he is doing wrong.



Foley sound- Sound effects added to a film in post production which have been created by crew to give a more realistic feel to a scene. For example, footsteps, glass breaking, slaps and punches, doors opening and slamming. These sound effects can easily be created and can be created off set saving time.

In the example given, you can see how studio's create sound to include in post production. Different sounds are created in different ways, for example, when the man was wearing the heels to create the footsteps for the film. The use of foley sounds allows for the sound effects to be more clear in a scene and a more realistic feeling to a scene.