Skip to content
What's After the Movie?

Jump to
What's After the Movie?
Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

Scratch Track: Meaning & Definition in Film

A temporary audio recording used on set as a reference for later production sound

  • 3 sections
  • 1 min read
  • Updated
On this page 3 sections

Definition and Use

A scratch track is a provisional soundtrack—often recorded by the director or script supervisor—capturing dialogue or performance during camera rehearsals. It provides editors with sync reference and pacing cues before the final production sound is processed.

Scratch Track: Production Workflow

  • On-Set Recording: While primary sound mixers set up, a scratch mic captures backup dialogue.
  • Editorial Reference: Editors use scratch tracks to assemble picture cuts and guide sound design until high-quality production audio is conformed.

Limitations and Value

Scratch tracks are typically low-fidelity and may include background noise or mic handling artifacts. Despite their flaws, they are invaluable for maintaining editorial momentum when final sound mixes are pending.

See the vocabulary at work in real films

Look up any movie for its ratings, cast and crew, box office run and where to watch, or read the full plot with the ending explained.

Browse movies
Filmmaking

More Filmmaking Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as Scratch Track, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

  • 9.1 Mix

    A nine‑channel surround configuration adding front wide channels for greater frontstage width.

  • Expository Dialogue

    Expository dialogue packs necessary facts into spoken lines, risking artifice if not carefully disguised.

  • O.S.

    "O.S." is the screenplay abbreviation for "Off-Screen," indicating dialogue from a character who is physically in the scene but not visible in the camera frame.

  • Waveform Monitor

    A Waveform Monitor is a video scope that graphically displays the luminance levels of an image from left to right, allowing a colorist to objectively evaluate exposure and contrast.

  • Technical Notes

    Written records of technical specifications and issues to guide equipment setup and post‑production.

  • Blue Screen Shoot

    A blue screen shoot is a visual effects technique that uses a solid blue background for chroma keying, allowing it to be replaced with another image in post-production.