Priority Ducker Component

The Priority Ducker is used to attenuate one or more channels of audio input when the audio input of a “priority” channel reaches a specified Threshold. The audio on the Priority channel is then mixed to the outputs in place of, or louder than, the attenuated audio (refer to the diagram below). Using the controls provided in the Control Panel, you can control:

The amount of gain applied to the main channels
How long the main channels are held at the gain level
How fast the reduced gain is applied to the main channels, and how fast the initial gain is re-applied, providing smooth transitions
The gain of the Priority channel.

The Priority Ducker can have from 1 to 512 audio inputs and 1 Priority channel. There are three pre-set Detector Times, or you can choose the manual control. The Priority channel is the last input on the left side of the Priority Ducker Component.

A typical application would be for emergency announcements; when an emergency announcement begins, all of the other channels are reduced in gain and only the emergency announcement is heard.

Controls

Detector/Response

Control	Function	Default/Range
In Gain (dB)	Controls the input Gain of the Priority channel. This control has no effect on the main channel inputs to the Priority Ducker.	Default = 0 Range = -20 to 20
Response Panel (dB)	Response graph: The x-axis represents the RMS Level Detector level. The y-axis represents the gain of the main inputs.	X axis -60 to 20 Y axis -60 to 20
Detector (dB)	The Detector meter monitors the RMS Level Detector level.	Level meter
Bypass	The Bypass button bypasses the In and Out Gain controls.	Off/On

Gain Calculation

Control	Function	Default/Range
Threshold Level (dBFS)	The Threshold Level is the RMS level of the Priority channel at which the Priority Ducker activates.	Default = -20 Range = -60 to 20
Depth (dB)	The Depth sets the amount of attenuation applied to the main input channels when the Priority Ducker is activated. The Priority channel is mixed with the main outputs, so the Depth setting controls how much of the main channels are heard in the output. Setting the Depth to 60 dB of attenuation essentially mutes the main channels.	Default = 100 Range = 0 to 100
Priority Gain (dB)	The Priority Gain controls the output gain of the priority channel. Adjust this gain to the level you wish the priority channel to be heard when mixed to the outputs with the attenuated audio.	Default = 0 Range = -100 to 20

Control

Function

Default/Range

Threshold Level

(dBFS)

The Threshold Level is the RMS level of the Priority channel at which the Priority Ducker activates.

Default = -20

Range = -60 to 20

Depth

(dB)

The Depth sets the amount of attenuation applied to the main input channels when the Priority Ducker is activated. The Priority channel is mixed with the main outputs, so the Depth setting controls how much of the main channels are heard in the output. Setting the Depth to 60 dB of attenuation essentially mutes the main channels.

Default = 100

Range = 0 to 100

Priority Gain

(dB)

The Priority Gain controls the output gain of the priority channel. Adjust this gain to the level you wish the priority channel to be heard when mixed to the outputs with the attenuated audio.

Default = 0

Range = -100 to 20

Time Constants

The time constant is the time it takes to cover 63% of the control change. For Attack, the start gain is 1.0 (unity) and the end gain is 0. After 10 seconds, the value is at 1-0.63 = 0.37, which corresponds to -8.7 dB. For Release, the start gain is 0 and the end gain is 1.0 (unity). After 10 seconds, the value is at 0.63 which corresponds to -4 dB. Depth is ignored in this calculation, it simply limits the filtered gain to a minimum.

Control	Function	Default/Range
Attack Time (milliseconds seconds)	The Attack Time is the time it takes the main channel output to fall to 63% of the Depth level when the Priority Ducker is activated. Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the main channel audio to the Priority channel audio.	Default = 10 ms Range = .100 ms to 10 s
Hold Time (milliseconds seconds)	The Hold Time determines how long the main channel stays at Depth once the Detector level drops below the Threshold. This is to prevent the main channel from opening and closing due to momentary pauses in the Priority channel input.	Default = 100 ms Range = 1 ms to 30 s
Release Time (milliseconds seconds)	The Release Time is the time it takes the main channel output to return to 63% of its normal level when the Priority Ducker is deactivated and the Hold Time expires. Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the Priority channel audio back to the main channel audio.	Default = 100 ms Range = 10 ms to 10 s
Detector Time (milliseconds)	The Detector Time control is available when you have selected Use Control for Detector Time in the Properties. The Detector Time determines the rate of change of the Detector level in response to changes in the Priority input signal. This adjustment is to prevent changes (spikes, low frequency signals) in the priority input from causing unwanted, momentary output.	Default = 5 Range = 0.1 to 100

Control

Function

Default/Range

Attack Time

(milliseconds seconds)

The Attack Time is the time it takes the main channel output to fall to 63% of the Depth level when the Priority Ducker is activated.
Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the main channel audio to the Priority channel audio.

Default = 10 ms

Range = .100 ms to 10 s

Hold Time

(milliseconds
seconds)

The Hold Time determines how long the main channel stays at Depth once the Detector level drops below the Threshold.
This is to prevent the main channel from opening and closing due to momentary pauses in the Priority channel input.

Default = 100 ms

Range = 1 ms to 30 s

Release Time

(milliseconds seconds)

The Release Time is the time it takes the main channel output to return to 63% of its normal level when the Priority Ducker is deactivated and the Hold Time expires.
Use this control to provide a smooth transition from the Priority channel audio back to the main channel audio.

Default = 100 ms

Range = 10 ms to 10 s

Detector Time

(milliseconds)

The Detector Time control is available when you have selected Use Control for Detector Time in the Properties.

The Detector Time determines the rate of change of the Detector level in response to changes in the Priority input signal.
This adjustment is to prevent changes (spikes, low frequency signals) in the priority input from causing unwanted, momentary output.

Default = 5

Range = 0.1 to 100

Gain

Control	Function	Default/Range
Applied Gain (LED)	The Applied Gain LED lights when the RMS level of the Priority channel exceeds the Threshold Level, that is, when the Priority Ducker is activated.	Off/On
Applied Gain	The Gain meter represents the amount of gain applied to the main channels.	Level meter
Out Gain	Control the Gain of the overall output of the Priority Ducker, both Priority and main channels.	Default = 0 Range = -20 to 20

Control

Function

Default/Range

Applied Gain

(LED)

The Applied Gain LED lights when the RMS level of the Priority channel exceeds the Threshold Level, that is, when the Priority Ducker is activated.

Off/On

Applied Gain

The Gain meter represents the amount of gain applied to the main channels.

Level meter

Out Gain

Control the Gain of the overall output of the Priority Ducker, both Priority and main channels.

Default = 0

Range = -20 to 20

Priority Ducker Block Diagram

Properties

Property	Function	Choices
Channels	Sets the number of available channels for the Priority Ducker.	1 to 512
Detector Time	Selects a preset Detector Time, or enables the Detector Time control in the Control Panel.	Use Control 10ms 20ms 50ms
Bypass Gain Meter	When set to Active, the Applied Gain meter is active regardless of the state of the Bypass button. This means you can adjust the Priority Ducker in Bypass mode. When set to Inactive, the Applied Gain meter is inactive to indicate that the component is in Bypass mode.	Active / Inactive

Property

Function

Choices

Channels

Sets the number of available channels for the Priority Ducker.

1 to 512

Detector Time

Selects a preset Detector Time, or enables the Detector Time control in the Control Panel.

Use Control

10ms

20ms

50ms

Bypass Gain Meter

When set to Active, the Applied Gain meter is active regardless of the state of the Bypass button. This means you can adjust the Priority Ducker in Bypass mode.

When set to Inactive, the Applied Gain meter is inactive to indicate that the component is in Bypass mode.

Active / Inactive

Control Pins

Pin Name	Value	String	Position	Pins Available
Active	0 1	false true	0 1	Output
Applied Gain	00 to -40	0 dB to -40 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Output
Attack Time	0.0005 to 10.0	5.00 ms to 10 s	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Bypass	0 1	Active Bypass	0 1	Input / Output
Depth	0 to 100	0 dB to 100 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Detector Level	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Output
Detector Time	0.0001 to 0.1	.100 ms to 100 ms	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Hold Time	0.001 to 30	1.00 ms to 30 s	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Input Gain	-20.0 to 20.0	-20.0 dB to 20.0 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Output Gain	-20.0 to 20.0	-20.0 dB to 20.0 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Priority Gain	-100 to 20	-100 dB to 20 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Release Time	0.010 to 10	10.0 ms to 10 s	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output
Threshold Level	-60 to 20	-60 dB to 20 dB	0.000 to 1.00	Input / Output