Exploring Sound worksheet (U5, LO1: AC 1.

1)

*Remember to use CMD+K to add links to the definition text you put in the boxes below*

You are required to complete the tasks on this sheet and place the content in your Weebly Research section calling it EXPLORING
SOUND. You will be required to answer a series of questions in order to pass. They are in RED on this document. You can answer
these questions using examples from TV, film, animation or gaming but will need to provide links so make sure you can do this
when choosing them!

Wherever you use a quote from any other source, please say where you got it from or it could result in a PLAGIARISM mark
which would automatically fail the unit.

Task 1/6: Diegesis and Non-Diegesis

You are required to give…

 An existing definition of both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. Say where you got them from.
 Rewrite each definition in your own words to show you understand what they mean.
 Provide an example of each of these. This could be a Youtube link (timecoded please!) with a very short description.

Name Existing Definition with link
“Diegetic sound is any sound
that originates from the
world of film” via LINK
Diegesis
“Non-diegetic sound is any
sound in a film that doesn’t
originate from the world of
Non-
the film” via LINK
Diegesis
Your understanding Example(s) with description
From what I can tell, diegetic The gunshots from Dirty Harry are an
sound is any sound that is example of this because this is what is
happening in the world. They actually happening in the scene and
describe it perfectly as “if the what the characters would actually be
characters can hear it, that’s able to hear.
diegetic sound” which I think
works perfectly. It’s just a
sound which is happening in the
scene.
It’s honestly just an opposite of In Skyfall, the music whilst he’s running
diegetic sound. It’s sound that is added in post-production and is an
the characters wouldn’t be able example of non-diegesis.
to hear and is often added in
post-production. This is
normally something like music
or a soundtrack in general.

Task 2/6: Background Music

You are required to give…

 An existing definition of both soundtrack music and score music. Say where you got them from.
 Rewrite each definition in your own words to show you understand what they mean.
 Provide an example of each of these. This could be a Youtube link (timecoded please!) with a very short description.

Name Existing Definition with link
“A film soundtrack is a
selection of recorded songs
Soundtrack that accompany a film” via
LINK
Your understanding
It’s music that is purposely
chosen for the entire movie
which accompanies the movies
“tone” or “feel”.
Example(s) with description
The soundtrack of Minecraft shows the
consistent theme of calmness within the
game.

“A score is the specific
musical piece or incidental
music that accompanies a
Score scene or a moment in the
film”.,
It's music that is specific for a In Indiana Jones, the music here shows
scene for that specific “tone” or the tension in this scene.
“feel”. It’s like soundtrack but
for a specific area.

Task 3/6: Ambience

You are required to give…

 An existing definition of ambient sound. Say where you got it from.

 Rewrite the definition in your own words to show you understand what it means.
  Provide at least one example of this. It could be a Youtube link (timecoded please!) with a very short description.

Name Existing Definition with link
“Ambient sound in relation
to audio refers to the
background noise present at
a given scene or location.
Via LINK
Ambient
Sound
Your understanding
Ambient sound is simply just
background noise that is
created by things happening in
the scene. A great example is
rain.
Example(s) with description
1. In The Last Samurai during the
fight scene there’s rain as an
ambient sound.
2. In Shrek during the humming
scene, you can hear birds in the
forest as an ambient sound
over the music.

3. In planes, trains and

automobiles you can hear
traffic.

Task 4/6: Foley

You are required to give…

 An existing definition of foley sound. Say where you got it from.

 Rewrite the definition in your own words to show you understand what it means.
 Provide at least one example of each this. It could be a Youtube link (timecoded please!) with a very short
description.

Name Existing Definition with link
“Foley is a unique sound
effect technique that
involves creating and
performing everyday sounds
for movies and television
shows. Foley artists create
these sounds in a recording
Foley studio during post-
Sound production, in synchrony
with the picture to enhance
the quality of the audio.”
Via LINK
Your understanding
Foley is when sound effects are
recorded separately in order to
add in post production. This is
common in animation for sound
effects as it’s all made digitally
with no sound actually being
made by the characters.
Example(s) with description
1. The best example I can think of
is Mr Krabs walking. It’s a good
Foley because it’s all made in a
studio.
2. In the sword in the stone, when
he’s swinging at him theres the
foley sound
3. In “the protector” you can hear
bones breaking. This is most
likely caused by crunching a
vegetable in order to make this
sound for the movie.

Task 5/6: Recording apparatus

You are required to list as many ways as possible that you could personally record sound for your work. Think about
hardware and software, so for example if you want to use your phone, talk about what type it is and as a result what
software or app you may choose. Talk about other methods you may be able to use, perhaps equipment which can be
booked from the college?

Name/type of hardware/software Advantage Disadvantage

It is portable and easy to take The quality wont be the best since its
H/ware sound easily from anywhere. from my phone and may effect the
I could use my phones microphone. sound.
1:

It sounds better than the phone It’s quite large with the stand and
H/ware
Microphone that I have at home. and can be plugged into any would be difficult to bring around the
2:
USB port to be used. college and to record fast.
Once again the software is Alongside the quality not being
S/ware portable on my phone and can great, I can’t really edit the sound
Voice memos on my phone.
1: be used anywhere within my phone or adjust the levels
before editing in Premiere Pro.

S/ware
Audacity software.
2:
Task 6/6: Handling noise and other unwanted sounds (usually WIND)
You are required to give…
 Existing definitions of handling noise, distortion/clipping and gain as they relate to audio recording, microphone use,
etc. Say where you got them from.
 Rewrite the definitions in your own words to show you understand what they mean.
Existing Definition with
Name
link
“Handling noise is the
rumbling or static noise
generated when the
handle of a mic is
Handling noise bumped, rubbed or
passed from hand to
hand” via LINK
“Audio clipping is a form
of waveform distortion.”
Distortion/clipping Via LINK
“Gain in audio is a term
for the amount of
amplification applied to a
Gain
signal by any process that
increases its strength”. Via
LINK
It’s good for editing sound
before putting it into Premiere
Pro and can adjust the levels of
my microphone so it sounds the
best it can.
Your understanding of cause
It's the noise that you hear
playing back when touching
the microphone which causes
unnecessary and unwanted
noise.
Clipping is a form of distortion
where the speakers can’t
keep up so produce this
distortion.
Gain is effectively altering the
volume of a sound (amplifying
it) through artificial terms.
It can only be used properly on the
macs at college and not my phone
(there is a phone app however it has
much less features than the desktop
version). It also may not be installed
on the college macs so I wouldn’t be
able to use it unless I recorded at my
house which would mean it’d be
harder for people to get involved as I
live somewhat far away.
Example with link
It was hard to find examples of this
however I found someone explaining
how to avoid Handling noise where
he shows what it is.
You can hear clipping in this example
that I found.
There’s lots of gain in this clip.