Audio Components - Sound Effects

In terms of films and TV shows, sound effects point toward a completely different class of sound components. There are many different kinds of sound effects used in films and TV shows. They are;

• Hard sound effects: They are common sounds which are seen on the screen, like   door slams, gunfire, and vehicles driving by.
• Background sound effects: They are sounds which don’t completely coordinate with the picture, but denote setting to the audiences, like the sound of a fluorescent light being switched on and interiors of cars. The noise of crowd speaking in the backdrop is considered a background sound effect, but only on the condition that the language is unrecognizable.
• Foley sound effects: They are sounds which completely coordinate on the screen, and demand the skill of a foley artist to record appropriately. The movement concerning hand props, like forks and knives and the rustling of cloth are commonly seen examples of foley units.
• Design sound effects: They are sounds which don’t generally occur naturally, or are completely impossible to record in natural surrounding. These kind of sounds are utilized to depict extravagant technology in any sci-fi film, or may be used in a musical manner to denote an emotionally heavy mood.

The sound effects that are put into films can either be recorded for that film or they can be found byt utilizing huge libraries of sound effects, this depends on how much time they have to create the film 

Diegetic Sound

Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world 

Digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame. 

Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound 

This is a clip from the film top gun, this is diegetic sound because the character can hear the music on set from the jukebox.

Non Diegetic Sound

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. 

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening.  We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the story events.  A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy). 

Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound.

This is non diegetic sound because the sound of the balloons popping is not original, the sound has been put in after the video was taken.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere in films is created by the sounds or music e.g in horror films the background sounds will be dramatic/scary. In this short clip the sounds drag you into whats goin on so when something happens you dont expect it and it makes you jump.