Sound

Diegetic sound 

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Sound where both you and the character can hear. For example:         

• 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 that is present within the media.
Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on the narrative and media context.         Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound  




Non-diegetic sound 

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Sound which you (the audience can hear) but the characters can not.For example:        

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

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the outside of the screen. 
We know the most common diagetic sound is represented as inside the narrative, for example dialogue, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the media frame, for example music to create an atmosphere of tension etc.  
Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound. 


An Example of Diegetic Sound

This music video is a clear example of diegetic sound at 2:26 where George Ezra stops the music to speak Ian McKellen. We can see it is diegetic sound as the audience and the actors can hear the dialogue. Also the sound effect of the gong and movement of the characters.


Music videos don't often have non diegetic sound as they want the audience to focus on their song.