Yamaha CS1D Owner's Manual - Page 549

DUCKING Ducking is commonly used for voice-over applications in which the background music level is reduced automatically 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. Output Level (dB) +20 +10 0 -10 Threshold = -20dB -20 -30 -40 -50 -60 -70 Range = -30dB -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 +10 +20 Input Level (dB) Gate Types Parameter THRESHOLD RANGE HOLD ATTACK DECAY Range -54 dB to 0 dB (1 dB steps) -70 dB to 0 dB (1 dB steps) 0.02 ms-1.96 s (fs = 48 kHz) 0.02 ms-2.13 s (fs = 44.1 kHz) 0-120 ms (1 ms steps) 5 ms-42.3 s (fs = 48 kHz) 6 ms-46 s (fs = 44.1 kHz) THRESHOLD-This determines the level of trigger signal (KEY IN) required to activate ducking. Trigger signal levels below the threshold do not activate ducking. Trigger 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. RANGE-This determines the level to which the signal 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. HOLD- This determines how long ducking remains active once the trigger signal has fallen below the threshold level. ATTACK-This determines how soon the signal is 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. DECAY-This determines how soon the ducker returns to its normal gain once the trigger signal level drops below the threshold. 17