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Double-tracking is a technique that has been in use for decades but why is it so useful?
Double-tracking is a technique which can be used on any instrument such as
voice, guitar, sax etc. Essentially double-tracking is recording the exact same
part twice onto two separate tracks. By recording the same part twice we can
then create a full, wide and rich stereo sound not achieveable with one part
only.
This is not a copy and paste technique, here we must have two different performances
of the same part recorded. The essence is that in having two different performances
we then have slightly different pitch and timing differences between the two
takes. Blending these together gives us a chorus effect.
No matter how concentrated the musician is they will never perform the part
exacty the same each time, there will always be ever so slight differences,
it is those differences which enable the double-tracking effect to work.
The key to the effect working is in panning each take hard-left and hard-right
respectively which will then give a glorious natural sounding chorus effect,
leaving plenty of space in the middle of the stereo image for other instrumentation.
Of course variations in panning depending on the instrument should be tried,
often vocals have a tighter panning applied.
You can hear the vocals of Pink Floyd's Roger Gilmore double tracked very often
giving a "thicker" tonality, you'll also hear double-tracking appear
on many rap and hip-hop productions giving the voice "movement".
