SYSTEM Ducker
The HOFA SYSTEM Ducker elegantly reduces effects such as delay and reverb when you want it to. It also performs perfect ducking of background music when a voiceover enters – ideal for podcasts, video production and broadcasting.
- Flexible ducker with exceptionally wide adjustment ranges (attack, hold, release, lookahead)
- Apply delays, reverbs and other effects in Ducked Chain for level control
- External sidechain input for automatic attenuation of music when a voice is detected
- Optional invert mode for creative effects
- Interactive display for easy operation
- Also available in a freeware version with slightly reduced feature set
Video content:
- Ducking delay
- Ducking reverb
- Invert mode
- Ducking music with voiceovers
- Kick & bass sidechain ducking
Two applications for ducking
1. Ducking effects such as delay and reverb
You want to prevent effects such as reverb and delay from getting too loud while the original sound is playing? The SYSTEM Ducker does this for you in no time – completely without automation!
To give you an example: You put a delay on a voice, and you only want it to be heard during the ‘pauses.’ The ducker controls this exactly as you want. That way, the delay sounds big and atmospheric in the mix, without getting in the way.
All you have to do is drag the effect into the Ducked Chain.
Here you can see and hear a delay effect in the ducked chain.
You can clearly hear how the ducker controls the delay so that it is louder in the pauses. This creates an interesting, dynamic sound.
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And here is the same delay setting without the ducker.
The echo effect interferes with the original signal and disturbs the vocal intelligibility when it is supposed to be loud during the pauses.
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2. Ducking background music with voiceovers
If you want to use spoken audio over music, you usually have to deal with the music being too loud or too quiet. With elaborate automation, you can solve this problem manually, but this is usually time-consuming and tedious.
The easiest and best way to do this is to use the HOFA SYSTEM Ducker:
- Place the SYSTEM Ducker on the track with the background music.
- Route the voiceover to the external sidechain input of the SYSTEM Ducker.
- Set Attack, Hold, Release and LookAhead to your liking.
That’s it – now your voice always sits perfectly on top of the backing track!
Hear how the SYSTEM Ducker keeps the music below the voiceover.
Note the long lookahead time and the other settings. It is even possible to reduce the volume of the music before the speech begins – many people perceive this as more organic.
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This is what it sounds like without the SYSTEM Ducker.
In this example, the music isn’t any louder than in the previous one. However, the speech is barely intelligible because the Ducker isn’t maintaining perfect balance.
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Freeware version
All plugins from the HOFA SYSTEM series are also available as freeware with a slightly limited feature set. Simply install HOFA SYSTEM using the HOFA-Plugins Manager. You can then use all freeware features immediately.
Here is an overview that shows the differences between the SYSTEM Ducker freeware and the full version:
| Feature | Available in the freeware | Available in the full version |
|---|---|---|
| Insertable plugins in the Ducked Chain | Only 1 plugin | Unlimited |
| Threshold from -60 to 0 dB | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Attenuation from -60 to 0 dB | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| Lookahead | 0 ms to 1000 ms | |
| Attack | 10 ms | 1 ms to 1000 ms |
| Hold | 100 ms | 0.1 ms to 2000 ms |
| Release | 100 ms | 1 ms to 2000 ms |
| Invert mode | ⬤ | ⬤ |
| External sidechain | ⬤ | ⬤ |
Formats: VST3, AU, AAX
Operating System: macOS 10.13 or later, Windows 10 or later
HOFA plugins are continuously tested on the following DAWs:
Ableton Live, Apple Logic, Avid Pro Tools, Bitwig, Cockos Reaper, Image Line FL Studio, Magix Samplitude/Sequoia, Presonus Studio One, Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo/Wavelab
You have two licenses available. These are managed via the HOFA Plugins Manager, where they can also be deactivated and transferred to other computers.
It is also possible to activate and use HOFA plugins offline. Licenses on USB sticks can be used alongside USB licenses from other plugin manufacturers without any issues.
You can read the detailed manual here:
You will find helpful answers to many questions in our support center:
You can also reach us on weekdays at plugins@hofa.de and +49 7251 3472-444
Comments
Martin –
Der System Ducker ist echt für mich eine Erleichterung bei den Produktionen und ein Kreatives vielseitiges Tool das einfach Spaß macht damit zu Arbeiten!
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