Audio

Audio is important to understand on its own as well as part of your video. If we examine any videos
audiothe voices, sound effects, ambient sound (foreground/background noises), and music (fore
and background)--they all help to further convey or emphasize the message that you wish to portray.
Primary Source Elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.

VOICE
SOUND EFFECTS (SFX)
AMBIENT SOUND
MUSIC

One or more is always on.

By knowing the six main categories of audio recording, you will be able to better understand what
each area consists of and its place and purpose in the video.

Six Main Categories of Audio Recording

1. Sound Effects

Sounds that are deliberately added for a particular, or special, effect.

For example a door creek in a horror movie, or an explosion in a thriller.

2. Ambient sound

All the undirected sounds you would normally expect to hear standing in one spot.
For example traffic, footsteps, rain on a window, urban, farm, or rural noises.

3. Foreground audio (f/g)

All sounds that are absolutely essential to the program.

The sounds are recorded at normal audio levels.
The sounds can be clearly heard during playback.

4. Background audio (B/G)

All sounds which are not absolutely essential to the program.

The sounds are recorded at lower levels.
The sounds can hardly be heard. They add a sense of atmosphere and depth to the
scene.

5. Diegetic Sound

All sound whose source the audience can actually see being created by a person,
object or thing within a shot.
For example - Voices of characters, a shot from a gun on screen or other sound
effects justified within the story, or music originating in the story space. Includes
Foley effects.

Diegetic sound is any natural sound presented as originated from sources within the scene.
It can be either on screen or off screen depending on whether its source is within the frame or outside
the frame.
Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound.
Diegetic is a Greek word for recounted story.
The films diegesis is the total world of the story.

6. Non-diegetic sound

All sound whose source the audience can NOT see being created, and are added to
the shot to create atmosphere or dramatic effect.
For example Narrators commentary, sound effect, which is added for the
dramatic effect, or mood music.

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from a source outside of the scene, such as a music
sound track.
Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound.

Foley Sound
A sound effects technique for simultaneous or live effects.
The Foley technique is named for Jack Foley, a sound editor at Universal Studios. Foley Artists
match live sound effects with the action of the picture. The sound effects are laid manually and not
cut in with the film.
Foleying is an excellent means of supplying the subtle sounds that production mikes often miss. The
rustling of clothing and a queak of a saddle when a rider mounts his/her horse give a scene a touch of
realism that is difficult to provide using other effects methods. A steamy sex scene was probably
created by a Foley artist making dispassionate love to his or her own wrist.
A Foley Artist recreates sound effects for film, television and radio productions in Post Production.