ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)
Definition
Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR), also known as "looping" or "dubbing," is the process of re-recording an actor's dialogue in a controlled studio environment after filming is complete. The actor watches the scene on a screen and lip-syncs their new recording to match the original performance. ADR is used when the original production sound is unusable due to background noise, technical problems, or when the director wants to change a line reading or even the content of the dialogue. ADR can also be used to add new lines of dialogue that were not in the original script.
Contextual Usage
The supervising sound editor presents the ADR schedule to the director: "We have 47 lines that need to be replaced. The biggest problem areas are the scenes shot near the highway — the traffic noise is completely unusable. I've scheduled the lead actor for two ADR sessions next week. We should be able to get everything we need in those two days."
About this section
Sound is arguably the most emotionally powerful element of the cinematic experience. Research consistently shows that audiences are more forgiving of poor picture quality than poor sound quality — a t...
View all 21 terms