Basics

• Dubbing is the process of replacing an audio track to a musical CD or a movie (and TV shows). It is used in nearly every type of media production today.
  
  

Function

• Dubbing is used to place music, sound effects, dialogue, natural sounds or any other audio noise that a director desires while editing a music piece or movie. It is always done in postproduction, when the audio tracks for a movie have already been recorded or taped. Dubbing will also clean up poorly recorded audio feeds to make the track as perfect as it can be. Dubbing is used to completely re-record dialogue, narration or music, and replace the original recorded track.
  
  

Types

• Not only can dubbing be used to perfect audio sounds, but it is also used as one of the two major forms of "language transfer" (the translation of audiovisual works). In this case, dubbing becomes the replacement of the dialogue and narration of the foreign language (known as the Source Language), into the language of the viewing audience (known as the Target Language). It is basically translating other-language television programs to the language that suits the current viewers.
  
  

Example of a Dubbed Movie

• While filming "Rush Hour 3" in Los Angeles, movie star Jackie Chan was also working on dubbing the English language dialogue for "The Myth," a 2005 Hong Kong film directed by Stanley Tong. Chan recorded his voice-over at a recording studio in Santa Monica, California, for days. He dubbed in the English language so the movie could be released in America.
  
  

International Marketing

• Dubbing is used on an international level. Movies from Asian countries such as Japan and China are often dubbed into English so they can be viewed in America. Many South American countries will have their television programs dubbed so they can be viewed in the United States.