Sound Terminology

Question 1

Diegetic sound

Answer 1

Sound that characters can hear (e.g. a phone ringing).

Question 2

Non-diegetic sound

Answer 2

Sound added for the audience only (e.g. dramatic music).

Question 3

Soundscape

Answer 3

Layers of sound to create an atmosphere or setting.

Question 4

Underscoring

Answer 4

Music played quietly under a scene to add mood.

Question 5

Sound effects (SFX)

Answer 5

Recorded or live sounds (e.g. thunder, footsteps).

Question 6

Live sound

Answer 6

Sound made in real-time on stage (e.g. a door slamming).

Question 7

Fade in / Fade out

Answer 7

Gradually increasing or decreasing volume.

Question 8

Cue

Answer 8

A prompt to start or change a sound.

Question 9

Amplification

Answer 9

Making actors’ voices louder via microphones.

Question 10

Echo / Reverb

Answer 10

Effects added to create space or mood.