laughtrack
Prerecorded audience mirth
A laughtrack is prerecorded audience laughter added to comedy programs during post-production.
The practice became standard in American television sitcoms, cueing viewers when to find something funny.
The term often carries skepticism—if a show needs a laughtrack, maybe the jokes aren't landing on their own: The laughtrack was working overtime on that weak punchline.
Also spelled laugh track.
Episodic TV comedy series
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- networkInterconnected system
- episodeSerialized content unit
series · comedy · studio audience · CBS · NBC · syndication · rerun · primetime
Collective hand-clapping approval
- chuckleLow, suppressed laugh
- giggleSoft, silly vocalization
- roarLoud, deep animal cry
- guffawBoisterous burst of mirth
snicker · titter · howl · chortle · cackle · response · timing · cue
Transmitted sound content
- recordingCaptured audio or video
- mixingCombining into one mass
- editingRefining content for clarity
- sound designCrafting audio for media
post-production · dubbing · layering · engineer · producer · sweetening · foley · soundtrack
sitcom
Episodic TV comedy series
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- networkInterconnected system
episode · series · comedy · studio audience · CBS · NBC · syndication · rerun · primetime · teleplay
applause
Collective hand-clapping approval
guffaw · snicker · titter · howl · chortle · cackle · response · timing · cue · prompt
audio
Transmitted sound content
sound design · post-production · dubbing · layering · engineer · producer · sweetening · foley · soundtrack · playback
pre-recorded
Captured beforehand for playback
- artificialMade, not natural
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- fakeNot the real thing
inserted · dubbed · looped · sweetened · enhanced · automated · manufactured · stock · generic · overused