In case you\u2019re having any trouble with the concept, here\u2019s a basic rule of diegetic sound. If the characters in the film itself can hear the sound, it\u2019s considered to be diegetic. If the characters themselves can\u2019t hear it (examples of this might be the soundtrack or voiceover narration), then it\u2019s non-diegetic sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Book the perfect filming location.<\/h2>\n\n \n \n
\n Peerspace makes it easy to book sensational spaces by the hour. Enjoy the largest location library and hassle-free bookings today. <\/p>\n\n \n \n Find film shoot locations<\/a>\n\n \n <\/div>\n To help you better understand what diegetic sound is, here are a couple examples of the phenomenon that you\u2019re sure to be familiar with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast to diegetic or \u201cactual\u201d sound, non-diegetic sound (sometimes also called \u201ccomplementary sound\u201d) is sound that is added after the initial footage is filmed and that the characters in the movie can\u2019t hear. This includes voiceover narration of the story as well as the soundtrack\/musical score of the film (not <\/em>music playing in the movie\u2014this is an important distinction).<\/p>\n\n\n\n One truly effective way that you can use diegetic sound yourself is to thoughtfully incorporate a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound as you edit your film. For instance, in their article on the subject, Adobe<\/a> suggests that you \u201ctry playing music in your opening credits (non-diegetic) and then transition into a character humming the same tune (diegetic)\u201d because it \u201cgently eases your audience into your story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to leverage diegetic sound in film is to emphasize diegetic over non-diegetic sound. As described in an article from No Film School<\/a>, renowned filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (best known for movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>, The Shining<\/em>, and A Clockwork Orange<\/em>) demonstrated a distinct \u201cfavoritism of diegetic over non-diegetic sounds\u201d that \u201cwas essential in building the atmosphere for nearly every one of his films.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n This really helped to create suspension of disbelief in the audience and allowed them to immerse themselves in his films while watching. To better understand the effect of this editing choice, check out this video from Candice Drouet\u2019s 1,000,000 Frames<\/em> series<\/a>, which clearly illustrates Kubrick\u2019s preferential use of diegetic sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re researching diegetic sound and how to use it in film, you\u2019re probably a filmmaker yourself, and you may be in search of a place to film. And the saying is \u201clocation, location, location\u201d for a reason! The place where you film is one of the most important aspects of making your final product a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If that\u2019s true for you, we\u2019d strongly recommend Peerspace<\/a> as a way to find spaces in which to film. It\u2019s the internet\u2019s largest marketplace for hourly space rentals of all kinds, from event venue rentals to photo and video studio locations, and just about everything in between. Peerspace offers a selection of thousands of distinctive spaces across hundreds of cities in the US, Canada, the UK, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nExamples of diegetic sound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Diegetic vs. non-diegetic sound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"divorce](\"https:\/\/www.peerspace.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/nyc-contactless-music-studio-recording-1024x683.webp)
<\/picture>How to use diegetic sound in your own film<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Intentionally blend a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic sound<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Emphasize diegetic over non-diegetic sound for an immersive atmosphere<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Indoor](\"https:\/\/www.peerspace.com\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/toronto-beautiful-recording-studio-1024x685.webp)
<\/picture>Looking for a location to film? Try Peerspace!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n