a level drama sound terms

Diegetic sound

sound that comes from a source inside the world of the play - e.g. the door buzzer

Non-diegetic sound

sound the characters cannot hear, added for the audience - e.g. an underscore

Underscoring

quiet sound or music beneath dialogue that shapes mood without drawing attention

Drone

a low, sustained note or texture that builds unease.

Sound collage

layered recorded sounds combined to build a soundscape

Sting

a short, sharp sound cue that punctuates a single moment

Cross-fade

one sound fades out as another fades in, with no gap between them

Cut to silence

an abrupt stop of all sound, so that silence itself becomes the effect

Motif

a repeated sound that gains new meaning each time it returns.

Dissonance

clashing notes or sounds that create tension and unease

Panning

moving a sound across the speakers to suggest direction or movement

Ambience

continuous background sound that establishes place and atmosphere