Overdubbing began in the late 1960s when it became possible to record over a previously recorded track on a cassette. Due to digital advancements, this process was further refined throughout time, resulting in numerous complicated functionalities in audio production software.
Simply put, overdubbing is the process of adding parts to a previously recorded recording.
Overdubbing can be done for various reasons, including being creative or simply correcting flaws in a prior recording. Overdubbing is a technique used not only in music-making but also in film (post) production.
In this article, we’ll go over what precisely overdubbing is, as well as some technical details of how to do it correctly.
Purpose Of Recording Overdubs
- Overdubbing has the advantage of allowing each individual part to be focused on and refined to the artist’s and producer’s preferences. However, this necessitates a high level of discipline and can result in performances that are absolutely flawless but dry and lifeless.
Individual performances are not natural for musicians. That’s why a tracking session necessitates the participation of the entire band. For the drummer’s performance to feel “live” and not planned, they need something to react to.
- Thickening the sound. Double tracking is another well-known recording technique. It’s a form of overdubbing in which musicians layer many takes of the same section on top of one another.
The resulting sound is more affluent and has a smooth modulation effect due to the tiny changes in pitch and time.
- All artists do not need to be in the same session or room when using overdub recording. Drums can be recorded in a studio with a dedicated live room, while voices can be recorded in a home studio. When working with musicians who have restricted availability, this helps. If the band just uses pricey studio time to capture select instruments or vocals, it saves time and money (versus the whole song).
- In separation from the other tracks, mistakes are readily overdubbed. As a result, when working against the clock with the other musicians, there will be far less stress to get each take just right. In addition, it’s easier to edit the overdubbed tracks against the rest of the track because they were recorded separately.
- Overdub sessions offer up chances to use favorite audio gear that the studio may only have in a limited quantity because they don’t take up a lot of studio space and equipment.
- Mic bleed isn’t an issue with overdubbing, or it’s little at most. The most commonly heard differences are between drum kit mics and between spot microphones.
With fewer mic bleed difficulties, the artist can be mic’d in various ways. It also makes individual track mixing easier by allowing the engineer to raise the microphone preamp without the worry of clipping when a beat bleeds through.
Process Of Overdubbing
Below are four primary approaches to do overdubbing:
- Begin recording on a fresh track.
Creating a new track in your DAW and recording alongside tracks you’ve already laid down is the most straightforward approach to overdub.
This is multi-tracking at its most basic level, but it’s also a type of overdubbing.
- Record a loop
It’s always a wise option to have the musician run through the piece you want to overdub a bunch of times before you start recording. Looping the playback makes this quite simple. Loop Playback is available in every DAW. When the loop record is turned on, the specified area will repeat itself, introducing a unique take each time.
Loop recording is helpful, but you’ll wind up with 12 copies of the last note of stanza one if you’re not cautious. Consider having ten or more takes of each instrument’s minor blunders.
That is why you must maintain control and prevent the musicians from pursuing unlimited overdubs.
A quick tip: When you use the loop record option, you’ll almost always end up with a takes folder or playlist. You may use the loops you captured to make a composite take, or “comp,” which includes your best moments.
This way, you can do numerous takes in succession or just focus on practicing the section until it’s perfect.
- Overdub an existing track
You may also easily record over an existing track.
In this case, all you have to do is pick the location you want to overwrite and start recording on the spot.
A quick tip: To start recording while the playhead is running, you may need to enable “Quick Punch” or other punch-in features in some DAWs.
When overdubbing, the Quick Punch mode is the one you’ll use the most. It allows you to begin with mere playback and then press the record button at a chosen point to start recording.
If you want to overdub a portion, simply hit the record button once more and “punch out.” This is wonderful since you don’t have to record the entire track; instead, you can just start the music and record over the bits you want.
Some Helpful Tips
Make a strategy. Ascertain that all of the musicians understand what they’re meant to be doing and set aside time for specific components of the recording. Also, double-check that each player understands their part before pressing the record button.
Maintain an orderly session. Remove any files you’re not intending to use, and hide or make inactive any channels you won’t use.
Experiment. Don’t be hesitant to use a bass guitar magnet to record the kick drum. So long as you don’t break anything, that is. Oh, and it’s a good idea to be aware of the limitations of each piece of equipment in your studio.
If in doubt, toss them out: Be an excellent editor. Leave out any overdubs that clutter a song or don’t offer anything of harmonic, melodic, or aural significance in the final mix. Overdubbing can be as much about exploration and discovery as it is about the final product. Even if a part doesn’t work, you’ve learnt something useful.
Final Thoughts On Overdubbing
Learning how to overdub well takes a lot of effort. However, if you pay attention to the tips above, you should be able to consistently produce high-quality music.
While recording with a DAW may appear to be cutting-edge technology, many of the essential techniques date back to the dawn of recording. So return to your DAW and continue to create now that you understand how it works.