Film studies Sound vocab

Asynchronous Sound

Sound that is not synchronized with a visible onscreen source or action.

Synchronous Sound

Sound timed to match a visible action or source.

Diegetic Sound

Sound belonging to the story world, such as dialogue or a radio.

Non-Diegetic Sound

Sound added outside the story world, such as background score.

Trans-Diegetic Sound

Sound shifts between diegetic and non-diegetic, such as score becoming radio music.

Internal Diegetic Sound

A character’s thoughts or other subjective sounds heard by the audience.

Realistic Sound

Sound designed to resemble everyday experience.

Stylized Sound

Exaggerated or altered sound used for expressive effect.

ADR / Looping

Dialogue re-recorded after filming to replace or improve the original recording.

Foley

Everyday sound effects performed and recorded to match onscreen actions.

MOS

Footage filmed without synchronized sound.

Sound Mixing

Combining and balancing dialogue, music, and sound effects.

Multitracking

Recording or arranging sounds on separate tracks so they can be adjusted independently.

J-Cut

Next shot’s audio begins before its image appears.

L-Cut

Previous shot’s audio continues after the image changes.

Sound Bridge

Sound connects shots or scenes by overlapping the transition.

Voiceover

Narration or commentary heard over the images.

Voiceoff

A story-world character speaks from outside the frame.

Score

Original music composed for a film.

Soundtrack

A film’s complete audio; also commonly refers to its collection of featured music.

Diegetic Music

Music originating within the story world, such as a live band or radio.

Non-Diegetic Music

Music heard by the audience but not originating within the story world.

Leitmotif

Recurring musical theme associated with a character, idea, or emotion.

Audio Dissolve

One sound gradually fades out as another fades in.

Mickey Mousing

Music closely imitates or follows onscreen movements and actions.

Counterpoint

Sound or music contrasts with the images to create irony, tension, or added meaning.