What does Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) mean?
Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR) is a post-production process in which an actor re-records dialogue in a recording studio to replace audio that was unusable from the original shoot. This can happen because of background noise, technical issues, or a director’s decision to alter the performance. The actor watches the original footage on a screen and records new audio in sync with their lip movements. ADR is also called dubbing or looping.
Example:After filming a key scene near a busy construction site, the production team brought the lead actor back for ADR to re-record every line of dialogue in a quiet studio.
Example: A child actor on a commercial shoot discovered that her lines had been affected by a nearby generator, so the director scheduled an ADR session the following week to clean up the audio.
Did you know?
Some actors dislike ADR because it requires recreating the emotional intensity of a live performance in a sterile studio environment — months after the original scene was filmed. Others, like Cate Blanchett, are known for their exceptional ability to match their original performance precisely.
You can also find “ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)” and related terms in this category: Voiceover Acting.
