GLOSSARY
Sidechain ducking
Sidechain ducking is an audio technique that automatically lowers one sound when another sound plays. In video editing, it is most often used to lower background music when someone speaks. The result is simple: the voice stays clear, and the music returns when the speech stops.
How sidechain ducking works
Sidechain ducking usually uses a compressor. The music is the signal being lowered, and the voice is the trigger. When the voice gets loud enough, the compressor reduces the music level. When the voice stops, the music rises back.
This is why sidechain ducking is common in podcasts, radio, voiceover videos, ads, and talking-head clips.
Why creators use it
- To keep speech clear over background music.
- To avoid drawing volume keyframes by hand.
- To keep music present during pauses.
- To make voiceover videos sound more polished.
- To prevent background tracks from competing with narration.
Sidechain ducking vs manual volume keyframes
Manual keyframes work when there are only one or two speech moments. But in a short video with many cuts, every sentence may require lowering and raising the music.
Sidechain ducking reacts to the voice automatically, so it is faster and usually smoother than manual edits.
Sidechain ducking in Fuse
Fuse exposes this as Auto-duck. Turn it on for a music lane, and speech-enabled lanes can lower the music automatically. Use the Auto-duck feature page for the product workflow.
See sidechain ducking applied
Short demo of the same technique in Mubert Fuse — voice triggers, music dips, no compressor configuration.
Want automatic ducking without compressor setup?
Try Auto-duck in FuseLast updated
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Your next short is one tab away.
100 credits every month, one free project, no card. Score your first clip in the browser — it takes less than the music hunt.
© 2026 Mubert, Inc.