This document defines and provides examples of different types of sound that can be used in films, including diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, crescendos, diminuendos, and sforzandos. Diegetic sound comes from within the scene, while non-diegetic sound is added later. Crescendos build sound or music to imply something is about to happen, diminuendos allow sound or music to die down when a threat is gone, and sforzandos are short, loud noises used to emphasize shock or fear. Examples from films like Psycho, Jaws, The Godfather, CSI, and Paranormal Activity are provided.

1. SOUND

2. Diegetic sound
• The sound that comes from in the scene
• E.g. talking, noise of cars, the wind, music from a
radio etc
• An example would be the ‘Psycho’ shower scene,
where the only sound heard originally is the
diegetic sound of the shower. Later on the sound
of the knife used to kill the woman can be heard
along with the non-diegetic music. Also, soap
operas almost always use diegetic sound.

3. Non-Diegetic Sound
• The sound put on a film during post-production
• E.g.
• Music soundtrack
• Sound effects like a crescendo
• Examples include the Jaws theme during a
shark attack and the screeching violins during
the Psycho shower scene.

4. Crescendo
• Build up of sound or music to imply something
is about to happen
• An example would be in the Godfather when
the sound of a train built up until Michael
Corleone shoots Soliozzo and Mccluskey in the
restaurant.

5. Diminuendo
• Where the music or sound dies down, as if a
threat has gone away
• An example would be in the beginning of the
episode of CSI ‘Strip Strangler’ when the
music builds up as the camera approaches the
woman and but dies down after the woman
goes back to sleep and the threat is gone.

6. Sforzando
• A short, sharp, loud noise, often used to
emphasise shock or fear
• An example would be when the door slams
shut and a sforzando plays in Paranormal
Activity.