I’m kinda new to n-track. I use it to record a radio show and wanted to know if there is a way of ducking the audio on a music track everytime a vocal appears on another?
I forgot to mention… without manually using the volume envelope feature cos it takes ages!!
Ducking? - you mean like gating it off or is ducking a radio term for lowering volume?
Gonna need a clearer picture of what you want to do…
Yep. “Ducking” is a means of using one signal to lower the volume of a second (or more) signal. In the hardware world this is achieved by using a compressor with a side-chain input. The side-chain is the “control” input. In DJ Ollie’s case, the voice-over mic. Whenever the signal from the mic reaches a specified threshold, the main signal has gain reduction applied as set on the compressor controls. This may be possible in n-Track but I have a feeling it would involve a kludge of work-arounds. It is dead easy to do in Reaper. Reaper is one of if not THE first to offer easy, native side-chaining. It was there before Steinberg and Cakewalk had it in Cubase 4 and Sonar 7.
To do ducking in n-Track you’ll have to work out some screwy Aux or Group routing to control the compressor. I never used this with n because of this. I found it instantly intuitive and EASY in Reaper. This is one of the reasons several of us have asked for better routing in the V6 Feature Request thread. While it is probably possible to do in n-Track, it has already been shown that there is a much easier, painless way to do it.
We’ll have to see what the evolving V6 brings…
D
Thanks. I was hoping it might be quite straight forward.
Maybe easier to dig out my old hardware compressor.
Some of the long-time, “hard core” n-Track guys may have worked out a fairly easy method DJ. Just hang loose a bit and maybe someone else will chime in. I gave it a try long ago and gave up because it was just a PITA (for ME). Also, perhaps V6 will bring in the better routing tools to do it.
Good luck and welcome!
D
Haven’t tried ay of these, but here’s a link talking about it with download links.
http://sonictransfer.com/tag/ducking/
For production, apart from the pumping sound that a lot of house producers are using at the moment, its a useful technique for mixing down vocals that clash with something else in the mix.
Simply ‘duck out’ the offending element when the vocal kicks in.
Yea - I get it now - I’ve done that by accident with a few compressors I’ve tried out.
Here ya go Poppa, Ducking 101, Yaz throws brick! 
Don’t worry Poppa. Yaz can’t throw that far! 
Weak forearms from playing those girlie Les Pauls…
Diogenes Stratzenegger
We all know real men play Strats… 
NOW I’m duckin’!
Oh you both better be up to your DUCKING SKILLS!
How’s y’all’s batting average, as in Ducking from a Louisville Slugger, dats right, getting out the ol’ ball bat on this one!
ROFLMAO, too funny!
LOL… How about a compromise Yaz? You can buy me a Gretsch Pro Jet!
D
D, if I wasn’t so broke right now I would buy ya 2! Make that 3!
I’d even buy Poppa a new Custom Shop Tele! 
But if it only cost a Dollar to go around the world, I couldn’t get out of town! That’s BROKE!
Quote:
Custom Shop Tele!
My man knows what I like! mm mm mmmmm
I wish I had the money to give ya so you could buy me one!
My bud got a new Nashville Tele a while back. The one with the Strat pup in the middle? I haven’t played it yet but it sho’ do sound GOOD. I’d like to have a Tele in the arsenal but some of these others would have to go… I hate parting ways with “old friends”… If I didn’t though, my dearest and best friend would part my head in two with a skillet!
D
Quote: (Diogenes @ Aug. 13 2008, 10:57 AM)
If I didn't though, my dearest and best friend would part my head in two with a skillet!
D
I heard that! LOL.
I do have a Tele, el cheapo Korean made, but it still honks! Love it for blues or country music.
Quote: (Diogenes @ Aug. 12 2008, 2:02 PM)
Don't worry Poppa. Yaz can't throw that far!
Weak forearms from playing those girlie Les Pauls... Diogenes Stratzenegger
I take it back! I take it back! If Yaz can throw a bicycle all the way to Colorado, I shudder to think what he could throw at ME in Alabama!!
Duck? Forget duck! I'm going down to the bomb shelter!!!
D