Doubletracking

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Doubletracking is an audio recording technique, in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded part, for dramatic effect or to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice or instrument. Its a bit like singing a duet with oneself. 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.

Artificial or automatic doubletracking, also known as ADT, was developed at Abbey Road Studios by engineers recording the Beatles in the 1960s. It used a combination of synchronised tape recorders and electronic delay to mimic the effect created by doubletracking an instrument or voice. ADT produced a unique sound, which can be imitated to a point by analog or digital delay devices (in a technique called doubling echo), but not precisely duplicated.

John Lennon referred to his home-studio overdubbing technique as "doubletracking", but this usage isn't technically correct, since he recorded new parts. Lennon's post-Beatles albums frequently employed doubling echo on his vocals, in place of the ADT system the Beatles had; some critics complained that the effect made the impression that Lennon recorded all his vocals in a bathroom.

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