How to Duck Music Under a Voiceover
Updated October 2026
Ducking keeps the music under the voice and brings it back up in the gaps. Set it once and it works through the whole piece.
The short version
- Put the voice on one track and the music on another.
- Set the amount of reduction first, a few decibels to start.
- Slow the recovery so the music does not pump.
- Listen to the whole passage, not one phrase.
Set up the tracks
Keep the voice and the music on separate tracks. Clean the voice first, so the ducking reacts to the words and not to noise. Level the music to a sensible starting volume before you duck it.
In Tunedzy
In Multitrack, use Auto-duck to lower the music under the voices. It is the setting that does this job. Start with the default, play the passage, then adjust the amount of reduction. If the music pumps, reduce the amount and slow the return.
In any other editor
Most editors have a ducking or sidechain option. Use the voice as the trigger for the music track, and set a moderate reduction. If your editor lacks it, draw the volume of the music down by hand at the start and end of each phrase; it takes longer but works.
Check it
Play the passage on a phone speaker as well as headphones. The voice should stay clear, and the music should sit under it without disappearing.
Related
The ducking explanation covers the idea, and the background music guide covers the level.
Auto-duck in Multitrack
Tunedzy lowers the music under your voices in Multitrack with Auto-duck, and exports the mix at a loudness target.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
How much should the music drop?
Usually a few decibels to around ten, depending on the music. Listen and adjust.
Why does the music pump?
The reduction is too strong or the return too fast. Lower the amount and slow the release.
Can I duck more than one track?
Yes. Each music or effects track can be ducked under the same voice.
Keep going
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