Playback

The process of playing the song’s audio through speakers on set while filming, so the artist can perform in time with the track.

Without playback, lip sync and performance are impossible to execute properly. The playback operator controls the track, adjusting volume and starting or stopping for each take. Timing and consistency are everything.

Playback in the real world

Queen created Bohemian Rhapsody’s promo video specifically to avoid having to perform the track with playback on Top of the Pops. The song’s layered operatic sections, built from hundreds of overdubbed vocals, were impossible to reproduce live, so a video with controlled playback in a studio was the only practical solution. The decision changed music marketing permanently.

Related terms

Lip sync, Performance video, Take, Setup, A-roll

Published on

Posted by

Categories:

Tagged: