Audio Ducking

An audio production technique that automatically reduces the volume of one audio track (such as background music or sound effects) when another track (such as narration or dialogue) is playing, ensuring speech remains intelligible. In accessible media production, audio ducking is essential for maintaining clarity when overlapping sound effects with narration. Research on audio-described webtoons recommends ducking audio effects by 3-6 dB when narration begins, ensuring that speech is never masked by background sounds while still preserving the immersive quality of the sound design.