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Music Production

Sidechain Ducking Duration Calculator

See how BPM, note subdivisions, and compressor settings affect the time your track stays ducked.

Fine-Tune Your Pumping Effect

Easily set the perfect sidechain groove to lock in with your beat.

What this calculator does

Sidechain ducking dynamically reduces one audio track's volume when another track exceeds a threshold, creating rhythmic compression effects. The ducking duration determines how long the volume reduction persists after the trigger sound stops, measured in milliseconds. Common in electronic dance music, podcast production, and mixing, sidechain ducking uses bass kick drums to compress strings, pads, or vocals. Understanding ducking duration helps you synchronize volume changes to musical tempo, create spacious mixes, and prevent muddy low-end conflicts between tracks.

How it works

A sidechain compressor monitors a trigger track (usually kick drum) and reduces the target track's (usually bass or pad) volume when trigger signal crosses the threshold. Ducking duration is the 'release time'—how quickly volume returns to normal after the trigger stops. At 100 BPM, a quarter-note duration is 600 ms, creating one duck per beat. Longer release (500-1000 ms) feels smooth; shorter (100-300 ms) sounds punchy.

Formula

Release Time (ms) = (60,000 ÷ BPM) × Note Value. Where note value: 1 = quarter note, 0.5 = eighth note, 0.25 = sixteenth note. Example: 120 BPM quarter note = (60,000 ÷ 120) × 1 = 500 ms.

Tips for using this calculator

  • Sync ducking duration to song tempo for musically natural results—avoid random timings
  • Use quarter-note or half-note durations for smooth, musical ducking; sixteenth notes for aggressive pumping
  • Start with 300-500 ms and adjust by ear—the goal is rhythmic groove, not obvious compression
  • Combine with threshold adjustment; lower threshold = more frequent ducks, higher = ducks only on strong beats
  • Use on bass, pads, and strings primarily; avoid sidechain ducking on lead vocals unless intentional effect

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between ducking and compression?

Compression reduces volume based on the input signal itself; ducking reduces volume based on another signal (sidechain). Compression is dynamic, responding to natural variations. Sidechain ducking creates rhythmic, intentional volume reduction synchronized to another track's beat or tempo.

How do I choose between quarter-note and eighth-note ducking?

Quarter-note ducking (one duck per beat) feels natural and musical for most genres. Eighth-note creates twice as many ducks, perfect for aggressive EDM. Sixteenth-note is extreme 'pumping.' Start with quarter-note and adjust shorter if the mix feels too 'breathless' or too long.

Can I use sidechain ducking on vocals?

Occasionally for effect (famous in modern pop), but carefully. Light ducking (small depth, long release) on vocals can create space for kick drums. However, excessive sidechain makes vocals sound unnatural. Use sparingly and reduce ducking depth significantly compared to bass or pad applications.

What tracks work best as sidechain triggers?

Kick drums are the most common and musical triggers, creating synchronized groove. Snare, hi-hats, or sub-bass can trigger ducking too, depending on your mix goals. Avoid complex polyphonic sources—simple, rhythmic tracks with clear transients (peaks) work best.