lay tracks

English

Verb

lay tracks (third-person singular simple present lays tracks, present participle laying tracks, simple past and past participle laid tracks)

1. (film) To arrange soundtracks in their correct sequence and position relative to the image.
   • 1947, Ken Cameron, Sound and the Documentary Film, page 82:

     There is plenty of scope for skill in laying tracks so that the mixing is easy.

   • 2013, James Monaco, How To Read a Film: Technology: Image & Sound:

     In terms of economic utility, it ranks right up there with ultrafast lenses, since laying tracks is the second most time-consuming activity in film production (and the Steadicam eliminates the need for them).

2. Synonym of make tracks (“to leave or depart”).