Overview
A ducker allows selected microphone sources to automatically lower the music level in the zone you are working in. Radio stations use duckers extensively to allow presenters to talk over music — the music dips when someone speaks and returns to its normal level once they stop.
Each zone has its own individual ducker.
Accessing the Ducker in WebApp
The ducker can be accessed from WebApp settings.
- Go to Settings > Zones and select the zone you want to configure.
- Scroll down and select Ducker Settings
- Activate the ducker by selecting the Enable Ducker toggle
- Select the mic you wish to be the triggered by the ducker using the check boxes. Mic sources available to the ducker are:
- Zone Mic - a mic input from a ZonePad 1
- System Mic 1 - microphone input directly to the rear panel of the Zone
- System Mic 2 - as above. See also Zone - Microphone Inputs
Controlling the Ducker
The updated Ducker in WebApp 1.6.0 gives you precise control as previous versions, with a more intuitive envelope graph that shows how the ducker is effecting your signal in real-time.
The controls listed below shape the ducker's behaviour.
- Threshold (–60 dB to 0 dB) — the microphone signal level at which ducking is triggered. If the music does not reduce when you speak into the microphone, try lowering the threshold or speaking more loudly. Adjustable via the slider or by entering a value directly in the dB field.
- Depth (–80 dB to 0 dB) — how far the music level is reduced once ducking is triggered. A more negative value produces a greater reduction. Increase the depth if the music remains too audible during announcements.
- Attack time (1 ms to 500 ms) — how quickly the ducker reacts after the mic signal crosses the threshold. A short attack time ensures the music ducks promptly so announcements are clear from the start. A longer attack time produces a more gradual dip.
- Hold time (20 ms to 5 min) — how long the music stays at the ducked level after the mic signal drops below the threshold. A longer Hold time prevents the music from returning too quickly between words or pauses in speech. Visible as the flat section of the envelope graph.
- Release time (1 ms to 60 sec) — the time taken for the music to return to its normal level after the Hold period ends. A longer release produces a smoother fade back up; a shorter release brings the music back more quickly. Visible as the rising slope at the end of the envelope graph.
Signal metering
The Ducker page provides visual feedback to help confirm your microphone is working correctly. A green level meter sits above the Threshold slider, showing the live input signal from the selected microphone source. Additionally, a small dot indicator appears next to each microphone option in the Microphone Source list, lighting up when signal is detected on that input. When the ducker is actively reducing the music level, a yellow marker appears on the envelope graph, showing the current ducking position in real time.