playback
playback — noun
1. the action of running an audio or video recording so you can hear or watch what
the action of running an audio or video recording so you can hear or watch what was captured earlier, often to check or review it.
During playback, Marcus noticed a strange humming noise behind the singer's voice.
preposition: during/on playback
The coach paused the playback to show Lina exactly where her foot landed.
collocation: pause/stop the playback
On playback, the witness clearly heard two doors slam, not one.
The studio engineer adjusted the playback so the drums sounded sharper.
Reporters watched the playback of the press conference three times before writing.
- recording
the act of capturing, the opposite stage of playback.
文法句型
watch/listen to + the playback
on playback
用法筆記
Often used with definite article ('the playback') when referring to a specific recording, or in the prepositional phrase 'on playback' to mean 'when listened to or watched again'. Subject of the surrounding sentence is usually a person reviewing the recording.
常見錯誤
playback — verb
1. to run a recording, especially one made just moments ago, so it can be heard or
to run a recording, especially one made just moments ago, so it can be heard or seen again.
The sound engineer asked the assistant to play back the take so the band could hear the bass mistake.
two-word verb: play back + [recording]
Detective Ortiz played back the security tape frame by frame.
past tense: played back + tape/footage
The director told the editor to play back the scene three times before approving it.
Maya played back the voicemail and wrote down the caller's number.
- replay
much more common as a verb; safer choice in most writing.
- rewind and play
describes the same action with older tape media.
- record
the opposite stage — capturing rather than reviewing.
文法句型
play back + [recording/tape/disc]
play [recording] back
用法筆記
This one-word verb form is rare and largely confined to studio and engineering contexts. In everyday English the two-word phrasal verb 'play back' is far more common — most editors and style guides prefer it.