Audio ducking Priority is often used in commercial paging sound systems, general public address applications, and live events. It can be used for everything from paging, announcements, or messages to automated emergency alerts or anything that needs a priority source to lower the volume level of a secondary audio source, like the background music, to ensure it's audible for your listeners. Once the Priority signal is no longer present, the other audio source(s) can go back to where they were.

We are explaining audio ducking, emergency Priority ducking, Priority mute, and multi-input Priority inputs more in-depth - how each works, how they can work for you, and the different applications where they are most beneficial.

What is Audio Ducking and How is it Used?

Audio ducking means the immediate compression, attenuation, or lowering the level of one or more audio sources when the audio of a "Priority" input is sensed or reaches a specified threshold. The audio on the Priority input is then mixed to the outputs in place of, or louder than, the attenuated audio. This attenuation is maintained as long as the audio signal is present at the Priority input. When the Priority signal is no longer present, the other audio sources are automatically restored to their previous level.

For example, if you have a microphone hooked up to your retail or restaurant sound system and you need to be able to make a page, you can talk into the microphone, and the music or masking will lower so that you can hear the page clearly. The sound will return to where it was after the page is over.

audio priority ducking for restaurant

What is Emergency Priority Ducking?

Emergency Priority ducking is the highest level of input on a system, meaning that input takes the highest level of priority over everything else. The Emergency (EMC) input will automatically mute or duck the audio transmission of all other inputs. Sometimes that can be hooked up to an emergency paging microphone, which can then override a page coming from the phone system.

What is Priority Mute?

A Priority mute is a lot like audio Priority ducking, but rather than ducking or lowering the level of the audio, it mutes it entirely. In some systems like the Pure Resonance Audio RMA series mixer amplifiers, you can actually adjust the different levels of the Priority ducking high enough to where it will essentially mute, or completely shut off the audio from the other source.

audio priority ducking for retail store

What are Multi-level Priority Inputs?

Some applications may require multi-level Priority, which means that, in the case of the emergency input, different inputs have different levels of priority. Many times that can also be set up in a DSP-type system or a digital system. A couple of common examples are paging applications and meeting rooms with a chairman microphone.

Some audio ducking mixers have multi-level Priority inputs for background music (BGM) systems and paging. For example, a Priority 2 input may override BGM only while the high Priority 1 input will override BGM and audio from the Priority 2 input. More duckers/modules can be added if more priority levels are required.

What applications are Priority Ducking and Muting most beneficial for?

Audio Priority ducking and muting is beneficial to apply to many commercial applications including fitness studios, retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, sporting events, or any other space where you need to pause or lower audio or music for important announcements or pages.

The most popular example occurs at your local grocery store. When a cashier picks up their phone to call a manager to the front, the music playing lowers down so you can hear the announcement. Once the announcement is over, the music goes back to where it was.

audio priority ducking for grocery store

3 Top Mixer Amplifiers with Audio Ducking Capabilities

If you are looking for a solution for priority muting or ducking for your application, give us a call at (888) 265-4112, give us a call at (888)-256-4112, or email us at [email protected]. Our commercial audio experts are here to help!