Sound Design

Asynchronous

A sound which is not syncronised with the events and action that we can see on screen. For example, a picture of a dead body could be on the screen but we hear a scream but cannot see where the scream is coming from. That is asynchronous sound.

Contrapuntal 

When the sound we are able to hear accompanies what we are able to see on screen. The sound and image corrolate and is what we expected to hear. It is relevant sound to fit with the characters' lifestyles and pace of the film.

Digetic

A sound that has originated from a source within the world of the film such as dialogue or a sound from a person.

Non-digetic 

A sound which has not come from a source within the film that we can see. For example, abstract sounds in a trailer or a narrator.

Fidelity

How true the sound is to what we see on screen and what we expect to hear and how accurate the sound is reproduced from its source.

Lack of Fidelity

There is a lack of fidelity between the image we see and the sound we hear. For example, if we saw a gun being shot on screen but then heard a dog barking, then it would have a lack of fidelity.

Rhythm

A repeated and regular pattern of movement or sound. Rhythm is used in films to create or lower suspense and tension. For example, the rhythm of the music can quicken if the character is in danger.

Synchronous

Sound which is synchronised with what we can see. They contribute to making the film seem realistic by putting expected sounds to the film we see.