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Chapter 4 Dynamics processors 89
Use Ducker
Ducking is a common technique used in radio and television broadcasting. When the DJ or
announcer speaks while music is playing, the music level is automatically reduced. When the
announcement has nished, the music is automatically raised to its original volume level. Ducker
provides a simple means of achieving this result with existing recordings. It does not work in real
time.
Note: For technical reasons, Ducker can be inserted only in output and aux channel strips.
Ducker parameters
•
Ducking O/On buttons: Turn ducking on or o.
•
Lookahead O/On buttons: Turn on to make sure that Ducker reads the incoming signal before
processing. This results in no latency—it is primarily intended for slower computers.
•
Amount slider and eld: Drag to set the amount of volume reduction of the music mix channel
strip—in eect, the output signal.
•
Threshold slider and eld: Drag to set the lowest level that a side-chain signal must attain before
it begins to reduce the music mix output level—by the amount set with the Amount slider. If
the side-chain signal level doesn’t reach the threshold, the music mix channel strip volume is
not aected.
•
Attack slider and eld: Drag to control how quickly the volume is reduced. If you want the
music mix signal to be gently faded out, set this slider to a high value. The Attack value also
controls whether or not the signal level is reduced before the threshold is reached. The earlier
this occurs, the more latency is introduced.
Note: This only works if the ducking signal is not live—the ducking signal must be an existing
recording. Logic Pro needs to analyze the signal level before it is played back to predene the
point where ducking begins.
•
Hold slider and eld: Drag to dene the length of time that the music mix channel strip volume
is reduced. This control prevents a chattering eect that can be caused by a rapidly changing
side-chain level. If the side-chain level hovers around the threshold value rather than clearly
exceeding or falling short of it, set the Hold parameter to a high value to compensate for any
rapid volume reductions.