Definition of dub

The word "dub" originally referred to the process of adding sound effects, background music, and dialogue to a film or television production. The term "dubbing" was coined in the early 1900s, derived from the French word "doublage," meaning "replacement." In its earliest use, dubbing referred to the replacement of dialogue in a film for translation purposes. For international release, films were often dubbed into local languages to improve accessibility and appeal to a wider audience. The process involved recording new dialogue and syncing it with the original film footage. As sound gained prominence in filmmaking, dubbing became an integral part of the post-production process. In addition to dialogue replacement, the technique was also used to add special effects and enhance the overall audio experience for the audience. In the 1970s, a new genre of music emerged called reggae, which was heavily influenced by Jamaican dancehall culture. Dub was a spin-off of reggae that focused largely on modifying existing songs through audio manipulation, resulting in a distinct sound characterized by heavy basslines, loose reverb, and various sound effects. The term "dub" was adopted by this new music style, thereby giving it a unique identity. Today, the word "dub" is widely used to describe the process of modifying audio tracks in music and film, as well as to refer to the final product resulting from this process.