A
trick used in
music production. The
vocalist sings the same
phrase twice, then the two
tracks are overlaid onto each other.
Advantages
- It serves as a kind of averaging filter to get rid of vocal errors.
- It adds presence to the voice.
- It makes the voice seem louder.
Drawbacks
- It sounds mushy.
- You have to sing in time and cannot do any improvisation, because otherwise your hard sounds such as 'B', 'D', and 'T' will appear to have been spoken twice.
- It sounds less intimate.
Extensive
use of double tracking is a sign that the vocalist is not all that
talented, and DT must be used to correct errors. More experienced vocalists will
eschew the practice, but it is commonly used on the
chorus of many songs, just to
accentuate it.
The best and most obvious example of double tracking that I can think of is the entire song Gotta Have Faith, by George Michael.