Overdub
verb
To add a new sound to an existing recording.
The sound engineer overdubbed drums onto the existing guitar track.
Often appears as...
- overdub a track
- overdub vocals
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A sound that is added to an existing recording.
The overdub of the guitar solo really improved the song.
Often appears as...
- add an overdub
- overdub of vocals
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To add a new sound to an existing recording.
The sound engineer overdubbed drums onto the existing guitar track.
Often appears as...
- overdub a track
- overdub vocals
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A sound that is added to an existing recording.
The overdub of the guitar solo really improved the song.
Often appears as...
- add an overdub
- overdub of vocals
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Recording Layers
Overdubbing involves layering sounds to enhance a recording without redoing the original take.
They overdubbed background vocals on the chorus for a fuller sound.
Pro Tip 2/3Studio Technique
Overdub is a studio term, commonly used by musicians and sound engineers during production.
Can we overdub the trumpet part in the bridge section?
Pro Tip 3/3Creative Process
Overdubbing allows for creative additions and changes after the initial recording.
The artist decided to overdub an acoustic intro after the main recording was done.
Compare with
blendlayermixsuperimpose
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Quote examples
Jeff Beck
British Musician
Sometimes when I do an overdub solo, they'll keep four or five of my attempts and then mix the bits that they like to make a solo up out of them. It's not against the rules, really - I can learn my own solos, then. But that's the whole beauty of multi-track recording, isn't it?
Quote examples
Rick Nielsen
American Musician
We all record together. We do it live; then, after that, we do overdubs, if we need to, to repair stuff. Usually when we do stuff, we have to make sure we get the bass and drums down, and by doing it live, you're actually playing the song. You're not piecing together a song.
Quote examples
Dweezil Zappa
American Musician
It was spontaneously composed as I was playing it. And then I added a couple of other overdub textures on top of it after the fact. But it's one of those things where I wouldn't be able to sit down and specifically write that. That's just what came out.
Quote examples
James Iha
American Musician
Well, we didn't have our original drummer on our last record. And most of that album was not played as a band in the studio. It was mostly the world of computers and overdubs. There was very few things played live or worked out as a band.
Quote examples
Matt Berninger
American Musician
The same song can have drastically different feels and personalities just by changing some minor things. A different drumbeat or some vocal overdub could completely transform the song.
Quote examples
Ben Harper
American Musician
We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.
Quote examples
Ray Stevens
American Musician
As you know, I played a little trumpet with Elvis. I overdub a few drum licks here and there on a session, but I'm not a drummer by any means.
Quote examples
Chris Rea
British Musician
I was born in the overdub years. I wish there wasn't such a thing as a multitrack tape player, because what you heard would be the record.
Quote examples
James Hetfield
American Musician
I've discovered that sheer quantity doesn't necessarily make for a heavier sound; if anything, overdubs make guitars sound mushier.
Quote examples
Lou Reed
American Musician
I don't like overdubs, never liked them.
Quote examples
Jeff Beck
British Musician
Sometimes when I do an overdub solo, they'll keep four or five of my attempts and then mix the bits that they like to make a solo up out of them. It's not against the rules, really - I can learn my own solos, then. But that's the whole beauty of multi-track recording, isn't it?
Quote examples
Rick Nielsen
American Musician
We all record together. We do it live; then, after that, we do overdubs, if we need to, to repair stuff. Usually when we do stuff, we have to make sure we get the bass and drums down, and by doing it live, you're actually playing the song. You're not piecing together a song.
Quote examples
Dweezil Zappa
American Musician
It was spontaneously composed as I was playing it. And then I added a couple of other overdub textures on top of it after the fact. But it's one of those things where I wouldn't be able to sit down and specifically write that. That's just what came out.
Quote examples
James Iha
American Musician
Well, we didn't have our original drummer on our last record. And most of that album was not played as a band in the studio. It was mostly the world of computers and overdubs. There was very few things played live or worked out as a band.
Quote examples
Matt Berninger
American Musician
The same song can have drastically different feels and personalities just by changing some minor things. A different drumbeat or some vocal overdub could completely transform the song.
Quote examples
Ben Harper
American Musician
We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.
Quote examples
Ray Stevens
American Musician
As you know, I played a little trumpet with Elvis. I overdub a few drum licks here and there on a session, but I'm not a drummer by any means.
Quote examples
Chris Rea
British Musician
I was born in the overdub years. I wish there wasn't such a thing as a multitrack tape player, because what you heard would be the record.
Quote examples
James Hetfield
American Musician
I've discovered that sheer quantity doesn't necessarily make for a heavier sound; if anything, overdubs make guitars sound mushier.
Quote examples
Lou Reed
American Musician
I don't like overdubs, never liked them.
Example 1 of 10
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