Sound(track)The Basics

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Sound in Moving image

The extra dimension that sound adds to film has been acknowledged since the early days of cinema.

How was sound added to silent films?

The Birth of a Nation is a well known and top grossing American silent film.

The ability to add a soundtrack was possible from 1911, however...

In 1927, Warner Bros. released the first feature film with a soundtrack - The Jazz Singer.

Why do you think there was a delay in adding a soundtrack to films?

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The Birth of a Nation, Directed by D W Griffiths, 1915

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The Jazz Singer, Directed by Alan Crosland, 1927

Sound in Moving image

In 1928, Lights of New York was so impressive that it

stimulated a rapid and total conversion to sound within

the entire film industry.

Today soundtracks are sophisticated and digital,

combining dialogue, music and sound effects.

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Diegetic & Non-Diegetic

The world of the film/TV programme we see onthe screen is known as the diegetic world.

We can only see a section of this world.

However, the audience accepts that there are things taking place around the edges of what is seen on the screen.

The edges of what we can see on the cinema screen are extended by the use of sound.

What examples of sound ‘on the edges’ can you think of?

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Diegetic & Non-Diegetic

All sounds in film or TV programmes can be classed as diegetic or non-diegetic.

Diegetic Non-diegeticSound which is part of the film/TV programme world. Can be✦dialogue✦music✦sound effectswhich come from a source within the film/TV programme world.

Diegetic sound can occur either on screen or off screen; we can see the person or object making the sound or not.

Sound which we do not recognise as part of the film/TV programme world. Such as✦voice-over✦background music

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QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Diegetic Sounds✦ dialogue✦ music✦ sound effects✦ on/off screen of the above

Watch the clip from Eastenders and identify examples of the use of

Non-diegetic Sounds✦ voice-over✦ background music

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Parallel & Contrapuntal Sound

Parallel Sound

Sound that compliments the visual image

Contrapuntal Sound

Sound that contrasts with the visual image

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Identifying sound

Watch the extract from the film Trainspotting.

Renton is preparing for coming off heroin or ‘relinquishing junk’ as he calls it.

Watch the extract and answer the following questions.

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Identifying Sound

Make a list of all the equipment neccessary for coming off heroin - according to Renton’s

commentary.

What can you say about Renton’s voice?

What sounds do we hear directly before the music starts?

Is the sound parallel or contrapuntal?

Make a list of all the equipment neccessary for coming off heroin - according to Renton’s

commentary.

What can you say about Renton’s voice?

What sounds do we hear directly before the music starts?

Is the sound parallel or contrapuntal?

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Identifying Sound

What type of music do we hear accompanying this extract?

Where would you usually expect to hear this music played?

Who would be the expected audience for this type of music?

What images would you normally expect to see on screen accompanied by this style of music?

What type of music do we hear accompanying this extract?

Where would you usually expect to hear this music played?

Who would be the expected audience for this type of music?

What images would you normally expect to see on screen accompanied by this style of music?

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Identifying Sound

What is the condition and colour of the items you see in the foreground of the shot?

Where does the background suggest the action is taking place?

What effect does this mix of images and sound create?

As this extract is setting the tone of the narrative, why do you think the filmmaker chose to put this music and these visuals together?

What is the condition and colour of the items you see in the foreground of the shot?

Where does the background suggest the action is taking place?

What effect does this mix of images and sound create?

As this extract is setting the tone of the narrative, why do you think the filmmaker chose to put this music and these visuals together?

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SoundSilence can play an important role in moving image. It can either diegetic or non-diegetic and be used to emphasise something or imply something might happen.

Ambient sounds are background sounds. They are what we would expect to hear, such as birds outside. Ambient sounds are used to establish or reinforce the atmosphere/mood of a scene and also provide continuity between shots and and prevent unnatural (and unwanted) silence, when no other sound is present.

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Ambient sound

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Sound BridgesSound from one scene can continue even though the visual image has moved on to the next scene.

Sound can begin from the next scene, even though the visual image is still of the first scene.

Can be themed to aid continuity and the identity of a programme.

Help to create smooth transition from one scene to another.

Enhances continuity.

Dialogue, music or sound effects

Sound from one scene can continue even though the visual image has moved on to the next scene.

Sound can begin from the next scene, even though the visual image is still of the first scene.

Can be themed to aid continuity and the identity of a programme.

Help to create smooth transition from one scene to another.

Enhances continuity.

Dialogue, music or sound effects

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Example of a sound bridge

Is it diegetic or non-diegetic sound?

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Sound Example Sound Example

DiegeticDiegetic Non-diegeticNon-diegetic

Dialogue Voice-over

Complete this diagram of diegetic and non-diegetic

sounds

Complete this diagram of diegetic and non-diegetic

sounds

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QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

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Camerawork & Mise-en-scene

Watch the excerpt again and make notes on examples of camerawork and mise-en-scene.

Are any used in conjunction with one another?

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Writing about media language

Use the notes you have made on sound, camerawork and mise-en-scene in the Neighbours excerpt, to write 1 to 2 sides of A4 explaining the use of all 3.

Try to discuss 5 pieces of camerawork, 1 element of each area of CLAMPS and both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds.

You do not need to write about the examples in the order that they happened.

Focus on what affect the media language has on an audience.