What Is Ducking?
Updated October 2026
Ducking is lowering background music or effects automatically while a voice is speaking, then raising them again when the voice stops. It keeps the words clear without losing the music.
The short version
- Ducking lowers the music while the voice is active.
- It is triggered by the voice, so the music returns between phrases.
- Keep the change gentle, so the music does not pump in and out.
- It is the standard way to put a voice over a bed of music.
The short definition
Ducking is a form of automatic level control. The voice is the trigger: when it speaks, the music or effects are turned down by a set amount, and when the voice stops, they come back. The name comes from the way the music seems to duck out of the way.
What it sounds like
Done well, the music sits under the voice and rises gently in the gaps. Done badly, the music pumps: it jumps up and down with every word, which is distracting.
Setting it
Set the amount of reduction first, usually a few decibels to around ten. Then set how fast the music drops and recovers. A slower return sounds smoother. Listen to the whole passage, not just one phrase.
In Tunedzy
Tunedzy’s Auto-duck lowers the music under the voices in Multitrack. The ducking how-to has the steps.
Put the voice over the music
Auto-duck in Multitrack lowers the music under your voices, so the words stay clear.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is ducking the same as compression?
They are related. Ducking is triggered by another signal, the voice; compression responds to its own level.
Why does my music pump?
The reduction is too strong or too fast. Lower the amount and slow the return.
Can I duck with a sidechain?
Yes. Sidechain compression is the same idea, set up as a trigger from the voice.
Keep going
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