Audio ducking is an editing technique. It is the process of automatically lowering the volume of background audio (usually music) when another track (like dialogue or voiceover) plays.
It keeps dialogue clear without requiring constant manual keyframing. Proper ducking ensures viewers can follow the story while still enjoying background music for mood and energy.
Apply audio ducking when working with music and dialogue in the same timeline. Most editing software allows automatic ducking settings or keyframe controls to fine-tune the mix.
Set gentle attenuation – Reduce background audio enough to make dialogue clear but not so much that it disappears abruptly.
Use smooth fades – Apply gradual transitions for ducking rather than hard cuts to maintain natural sound flow.
Test across contexts – Check levels on headphones, speakers, and mobile devices to ensure speech remains intelligible without overpowering ambience.