overdub

American  

[oh-ver-duhb, oh-ver-duhb] / ˌoʊ vərˈdʌb, ˈoʊ vərˌdʌb /

verb (used without object)

overdubbed, overdubbing

1. to add other recorded sound or music, as a supplementary instrumental or vocal track, to a taped musical track to complete or enhance a recording.

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verb (used with object)

overdubbed, overdubbing

1. to add (a track or tracks) to a musical recording.

noun

1. a recorded segment or layer of instrumental parts, vocalization, or sound effects integrated into a musical recording.

overdub British  

verb

1. to add (new sound) on a spare track or tracks

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noun

1. the addition of new sound to a recording; the blending of various layers of sound in one recording

Etymology

Origin of overdub

First recorded in 1965–70; over- + dub ⁴

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overdub overdubbed overdubbing

We also spent a moment in an overdub room, mimicking the creation of white noise from a crowd.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024

The emotion of the character is still present and the end results are definitely more believable than a traditional overdub because the movement of the mouth is synchronized to the new dialogue.

From The Verge ● Sep. 21, 2021

We can overdub the rest of the band later.

From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2021

When that attempt came to naught, Lambert suggested that the trio — Lambert, Hendricks and Ms. Ross — overdub all the parts themselves.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 21, 2020

Before the session was out, the Beatle had replaced the woodwind instrument with a guitar overdub.

From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2018

Still fascinating is her overdubbed duet with herself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025

“The drums were overdubbed… that’s one of the reasons that song sounds the way it does, because the drums are really big and loud. There was nothing interfering with it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2023

A lot of what he says is overdubbed in Russian, but sometimes his voice breaks through clearly, like when he points out where his chair and table used to be.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2023

It’s music for six overdubbed vintage electric steel guitars, microtonally tuned and arrayed in stereo, exploring texture and resonance.

From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2023

He also starred in the successful film musical Carmen Jones, although his voice was inexplicably overdubbed by an opera singer.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2023

A more careful listen reveals a classic propelled by passion, high-impact vocals and guitars, and textured overdubbing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

He had been given a tape recorder and he soon learned the art of overdubbing, a vital part of what would become the trademark Beach Boys' sound.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2025

Still, Flack would make the creative decisions, choose her own material, arranger and show up for mixing and overdubbing sessions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2025

He has unearthed novel techniques within those recordings, including a primitive form of overdubbing.

From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2023

But they also liked experimenting in the studio with multi-tracking and overdubbing and inspired generations of musicians, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other British Invasion rockers.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 24, 2022

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