In video production, audio ducking is a technique used to let the voice of the narrator be clearly and consistently heard over other sounds on the track like background music.

Audio ducking operates fairly simply:

For instance, you have background music on footage that will have a narrator. The audio will play at the same time the narrator is speaking.  

If the narrator isn’t talking, the background music needs to be clear and consistent. However, when the narrator speaks again, it should now become the main sound and the background music fades into the background.

The tools used for this kind of video editing are mostly manual. You have to reduce the volume on the soundtrack, however, when the narrator stops speaking, the music will be too low and you have to increase the volume again. You will have to repeat this cycle whenever the narrator stops talking, which is tedious.

The good news is that there is an easier way. Some of the advanced video editing tools can even detect when the narrator is talking or not. The software will then automatically adjust the sound volume, according to the narrator’s voice if he’s talking or not.

Let’s take a look!

Part1. How to Use Audio Ducking in Filmora
Part2. How to Use Audio Ducking in PowerDirector

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Part1. How to Use Audio Ducking in Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an excellent slideshow and video editor that blends video clips and images, then employs special effects and filters to transform them into a mini shareable video clip.

Filmora doesn’t have a specific “ducking” tool, but applying the tips below will produce the same effect, minus the tedious manual work.

Here is how:

Step1. Install the free version of Filmore after you have downloaded it by following the instructions on-screen.

Step2. Startup Filmora and go to the “Full Feature Mode”. Next, import the video clip and background music to be ducked by selecting the Import Media Files button.

(Note: If your voiceover clip is a separate file, you need to import that too.)

Next, on the timeline, insert the video clip to the video track and the background audio to the audio track. If you need a soundtrack, go to Filmora’s Music tab, select a royalty-free audio, and drag that to the audio track as seen below.

Step3. Decide on the background audio you want, then on the keyboard push Ctrl+C to copy the audio clip and to paste it on the timeline push Ctrl+V:

Step4. Head over to Audio Mixer:

The audio mixer displays the volume levels for the various tracks.  It displays your video track’s volume levels, audio track1, audio track2 etc.

When the narrator is talking, you want music track 2 to be lower in volume.

Just input the decibel level you want to use. We suggest a setting from -18 to -25.

Some songs are softer while others are harder, so the value will vary. Adjust it until it is right for you.

Step 5. Head back to the timeline and pick music track 1. Look for the point just before the narrator starts talking. Next, drag the playhead to the starting point and cut it there by selecting the Scissor icon.

Similarly, shift the playhead to the end point after the talking, and make another cut using the Scissor icon.

Next, choose the cut clip in the center and remove it by hitting the Delete key.

Step6. This is an optional step.

If the jump from the background music jumps too fast from playing at a louder volume to a softer volume, use the fade in/out feature.

This is done by choosing the first clip on music track 1. Open the Edit by double-clicking it and input 1.2s in the Fade out area.

Choose the second clip next on music track 1 and input 1.2s in the Fade in area.

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Part2. How to Use PowerDirector for Audio Ducking

Video editing could be a tedious and time-consuming task, but you can make it easy and fun with Cyberlink PowerDirector 16.

PowerDirector isn’t just for newbies though – it is a full video production program that includes many advanced features that you would look for in an industry-standard program. The intuitive and accessible setup is the difference and this allows you to have full control, according to your level of expertise.

Create an amazing video is only seconds with the smart Magic Movie Wizard, or use the more traditional Timeline setup and make use of the vast amount of customizable alternatives. At any point in the process, you can dive in as deep as you want or you can automate the process with PowerDirector 16.

PowerDirector 16 has a powerful new feature – Audio Ducking, which allows you to optimize your videos’ audio mix automatically if it includes narration or dialogue by fading the background music so that the speech is clear.

Step 1: Import your Video and Background Music

Place the background audio and video on the timeline and you should see two different tracks.

Step 2: How to Use the Audio Ducking Tool

Pick the background audio track (the one that will have the lower volume) and right click on it. Next, head to Edit Audio > Audio Ducking.

The Cyberlink PowerDirector audio ducking tool lets the voice-overs or dialogue in the video to be clearly heard by instantly reducing the volume of the background audio or other music.

Here is how you make the adjustments.

• Sensitivity ascertains the volume tolerance of the narration audio needed for ducking to occur. Essentially, it notifies the program: if this much audio is heard, use ducking.  Generally, we suggest going up to 80%.
• Ducking level is the highest percentage to decrease the volume level. The greater the percentage, the more the volume is reduced. Normally, we suggest going up to 75%.
• Fade-out duration is the configuration that shows the length of time you would like to take to fade out the background music. In general, we suggest going with 0.5s~2s.
• Fade-in duration is the configuration that shows the length of time you would like to take to fade in the background music.

Choose the option Apply to all clips on the same track if you would like the audio ducking used on every clip in the project timeline of your video.

When done, select OK to apply.

You should now see a lower audio level of the background music track on your timeline when there is narration on the primary video clip.