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Added Butch Vig's contribution to double tracking citing an interview that he did on the producing of the album Nevermind
 
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{{Short description|Audio recording technique}}
{{about|the sound recording technique|the use of two tracks on a railway line|double track}}
{{about|the sound recording technique|the use of two tracks on a railway line|double track}}
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2014}}
{{No footnotes|date=September 2014}}


[[File:Example of double tracking in a pop-rock song (3 guitar tracks).ogg|thumb|Audio example of double tracking with 3 guitar parts with drums and bass.]]
[[File:Example of double tracking in a pop-rock song (3 guitar tracks).ogg|thumb|Audio example of double tracking with 3 guitar parts with drums and bass.]]


'''Double tracking''' or '''doubling''' is an [[audio recording]] technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or "bigger" sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. It is a form of [[overdub]]bing; the distinction comes from the doubling of a part, as opposed to recording a different part to go with the first. The effect can be further enhanced by [[Panning (audio)|panning]] one of the performances hard left and the other hard right in the stereo field.
'''Double tracking''' or '''doubling''' is an [[audio recording]] technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or bigger sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. It is a form of [[overdub]]bing; the distinction comes from the doubling of a part, as opposed to recording a different part to go with the first. The effect can be further enhanced by [[Panning (audio)|panning]] one of the performances hard left and the other hard right in the stereo field.
[[File:Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogg|thumb|Audio example of double tracking with saturated electric guitars playing chords. The part has been played twice and panned left and right.]]


==Automation==
==Automation==
Artificial or [[automatic double tracking]], also known as ADT, was developed at [[Abbey Road Studios]] by engineers recording [[The Beatles]] in the 1960s. It used variable speed [[tape recorders]] connected in such a way as to mimic the effect created by double tracking. ADT produced a unique sound which could be imitated but not precisely duplicated by later [[analog delay|analog]] and [[digital delay]] devices, which are capable of producing an effect called [[doubling echo]]. The effect is used to give one singer a fuller sound.
Artificial or [[automatic double tracking]], also known as ADT, was developed at [[Abbey Road Studios]] by engineers recording [[The Beatles]] in the 1960s. It used variable speed [[tape recorders]] connected in such a way as to mimic the effect created by double tracking. ADT produced a unique sound that could be imitated but not precisely duplicated by later [[analog delay|analog]] and [[digital delay]] devices, which are capable of producing an effect called [[doubling echo]]. The effect is used to give one singer a fuller sound.


==Examples==
==Examples==
Double tracking was first pioneered by [[Buddy Holly]]. [[John Lennon]] particularly enjoyed using the technique for his vocals while in the Beatles. Lennon's post-Beatles albums frequently employed doubling echo on his vocals in place of the ADT. Some critics complained that the effect gave the impression that Lennon recorded all his vocals in a bathroom, but some performers, like [[Black Francis]] and [[Paul Simon]], value the rich [[echo chamber]] sound that it produces.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} [[Paul McCartney]] also commonly used this technique for his vocals while in the Beatles.
Double tracking was pioneered by [[Buddy Holly]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} [[John Lennon]] particularly enjoyed using the technique for his vocals while in the Beatles. Lennon's post-Beatles albums frequently employed doubling echo on his vocals in place of the ADT. Some critics complained that the effect gave the impression that Lennon recorded all his vocals in a bathroom, but some performers, like [[Black Francis]] and [[Paul Simon]], value the rich [[echo chamber]] sound that it produces.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} [[Paul McCartney]] also commonly used this technique for his vocals while in the Beatles. Another notable example of double tracking can be seen in the 1991 hit album ''[[Nevermind]],'' where producer [[Butch Vig]] would often double the vocals of lead singer [[Kurt Cobain]] and several electric guitars to create a "sound big enough" as Vig once put it in an interview.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRK6c7uXvJE |title=Recording Nirvana: Drain You (Butch Vig Breaks It Down In The Studio) |language=en |access-date=2024-04-12 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* Sauravb (September 2021). [https://www.vstnation.com/recording-techniques-double-tracking-guitars/ "Comprehensive guide to double tracking"]. ''Vstnation.''
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/double-tracking-vocals |title=Double-tracking Vocals |author=Paul White |magazine=Sound on Sound |date=April 2009}}


{{Music production}}
{{Music production}}
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[[Category:Sound recording]]
[[Category:Sound recording]]
[[Category:Audio engineering]]
[[Category:Audio engineering]]


{{Sound-tech-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:49, 12 April 2024

This article is about the sound recording technique. For the use of two tracks on a railway line, see double track.
Audio example of double tracking with 3 guitar parts with drums and bass.

Double tracking or doubling is an audio recording technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or bigger sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. It is a form of overdubbing; the distinction comes from the doubling of a part, as opposed to recording a different part to go with the first. The effect can be further enhanced by panning one of the performances hard left and the other hard right in the stereo field.

Audio example of double tracking with saturated electric guitars playing chords. The part has been played twice and panned left and right.

Automation

[edit]

Artificial or automatic double tracking, also known as ADT, was developed at Abbey Road Studios by engineers recording The Beatles in the 1960s. It used variable speed tape recorders connected in such a way as to mimic the effect created by double tracking. ADT produced a unique sound that could be imitated but not precisely duplicated by later analog and digital delay devices, which are capable of producing an effect called doubling echo. The effect is used to give one singer a fuller sound.

Examples

[edit]

Double tracking was pioneered by Buddy Holly.[citation needed] John Lennon particularly enjoyed using the technique for his vocals while in the Beatles. Lennon's post-Beatles albums frequently employed doubling echo on his vocals in place of the ADT. Some critics complained that the effect gave the impression that Lennon recorded all his vocals in a bathroom, but some performers, like Black Francis and Paul Simon, value the rich echo chamber sound that it produces.[citation needed] Paul McCartney also commonly used this technique for his vocals while in the Beatles. Another notable example of double tracking can be seen in the 1991 hit album Nevermind, where producer Butch Vig would often double the vocals of lead singer Kurt Cobain and several electric guitars to create a "sound big enough" as Vig once put it in an interview.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Recording Nirvana: Drain You (Butch Vig Breaks It Down In The Studio). Retrieved 2024-04-12 – via www.youtube.com.
[edit]
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