Ducking - Yamaha CS1D Operating Manual

DUCKING

Ducking is commonly used for voice-over applications
in which the background music level is reduced auto-
matically when an announcer speaks. Ducking is
achieved by triggering a compressor with a different
sound source. For example, a ducker is patched into the
background music channel, and the KEY IN signal is
sourced from the announcer's microphone channel.
When the announcer's microphone level exceeds the
specified threshold, the background music level is
reduced automatically, allowing the announcer to be
heard clearly. The same technique can also be used for
vocals in a mix. For example, ducking backing sounds
such as rhythm guitar and synth pad during vocal
phrases allows the vocals to be heard more clearly. This
can also be used to bring solo instruments up in a mix.
+20
+10
0
–10
Threshold = –20dB
–20
–30
–40
–50
–60
–70
–70 –60 –50 –40 –30
Input Level (dB)
Range = –30dB
–20 –10 0 +10 +20
Parameter
THRESHOLD –54 dB to 0 dB (1 dB steps)
RANGE –70 dB to 0 dB (1 dB steps)
0.02 ms–1.96 s (fs = 48 kHz)
HOLD
0.02 ms–2.13 s (fs = 44.1 kHz)
ATTACK 0–120 ms (1 ms steps)
5 ms–42.3 s (fs = 48 kHz)
DECAY
6 ms–46 s (fs = 44.1 kHz)
—This determines the level of trigger sig-
THRESHOLD
nal (KEY IN) required to activate ducking. Trigger signal
levels below the threshold do not activate ducking. Trig-
ger signals at and above the threshold level, however,
activate ducking, and the signal level is reduced to a level
set by the Range parameter. The trigger signal is sourced
using the KEY IN parameter.
—This determines the level to which the signal
RANGE
is ducked. For a setting of –70 dB, the signal is virtually
cutoff. For a setting of –30 dB, however, the signal is
ducked by 30 dB. For a setting of 0 dB, the ducker has no
effect.
— This determines how long ducking remains
HOLD
active once the trigger signal has fallen below the thresh-
old level.
—This determines how soon the signal is
ATTACK
ducked once the ducker has been triggered. With a fast
attack time, the signal is ducked almost immediately.
With a slow attack time, however, ducking appears to
fade the signal. Too fast an attack time may sound
abrupt.
—This determines how soon the ducker returns
DECAY
to its normal gain once the trigger signal level drops
below the threshold.
Gate Types
Range
17