Dubbing (music)

Dubbing in music refers to the process of creating a new recording by transferring and often manipulating previously recorded material. While the term can encompass various methods of audio transfer, it often specifically implies the creation of a copy or derivative work, incorporating elements of the original recording alongside new additions or modifications.

In a general sense, dubbing can simply mean making a copy of a master recording. This might be done for archival purposes, creating distribution copies, or for editing and further manipulation.

However, the term "dubbing" in music often carries a more specific connotation, particularly within genres like reggae, dub, and electronic music. In these contexts, dubbing involves taking a pre-existing recording, usually the instrumental backing track of a song, and then significantly altering it through effects processing, mixing techniques, and the addition of new musical elements. This might include:

• Reverb and Echo: Adding significant amounts of reverb and echo to create a spacious or psychedelic sound.
• Delay: Using delay effects to create rhythmic variations and hypnotic patterns.
• Equalization (EQ): Emphasizing or attenuating specific frequencies to dramatically change the timbre of instruments.
• Panning: Moving sounds around the stereo field to create dynamic and disorienting effects.
• Sampling and Looping: Incorporating short excerpts (samples) from other recordings, or looping existing sections of the original track.
• Adding New Instrumentation: Overdubbing new instruments, vocals, or sound effects onto the original backing track.
• Muting and Remixing: Selectively muting certain instruments or vocal parts, and re-mixing the track with altered arrangements and emphasis.

The resulting "dub" version often bears little resemblance to the original song, becoming a distinct and artistic interpretation of the source material. The dubbing process is central to the development and aesthetic of dub music, where the engineer and producer become active creators, manipulating the source material to create new and innovative soundscapes. The practice also heavily influenced later genres like drum and bass, techno, and other forms of electronic music.