JBL Blogs

What is ducking and
how can it help you sound better live?

Ever been at an event and noticed that when the emcee starts speaking, the background music instantly drops, then it pops right back up again as soon as that person finishes talking? This isn’t some frenzied mixing engineer frantically pushing faders up and down; this is ducking in action.

Ducking temporarily lowers, or “ducks,” the volume level of a specified audio signal anytime a second specified audio signal is present. In live sound, ducking is commonly used to lower background music anytime a person speaks, then raises it when that person finishes speaking, as in the emcee example above. This technique can be employed in any scenario where you need to be heard over backing tracks, whether you’re hosting an event, giving a speech or teaching a fitness class.

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So, how does ducking work? Let’s get technical for a minute: Ducking is an application of sidechain compression, in which the output level of one sound channel controls the action of a compressor effect on another channel. Here, a control channel is set to trigger a compressor on a correlated channel or channels whenever the control signal exceeds a predefined volume threshold. When the control channel exceeds the threshold, the compressor kicks in and the level of the background channel is reduced; when the control level drops back below the threshold, the background channel level comes back up to its normal level.

$display.stripTags($content.custom.BlogStack2Title) — An audio “control” signal dictates the volume level of the ducked audio signal. The control signal remains at full volume at all times.

Ducking chains can be created manually with signal processors, or for automatic, foolproof results, take advantage of the one-touch ducking feature built into JBL EON700 Series, JBL IRX Series and EON ONE Compact portable P.A.s and select Soundcraft mixers including the Notepad series and the Ui24R. It’s a powerful function that takes the guesswork out of configuring signal chains and lets you keep your focus where it belongs—on your performance.

Ducking isn’t limited to live sound; in the studio, ducking is used when recording narrations, voiceovers, translations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and other productions that benefit from lowering background music under speech. It’s even used (or more accurately, misused) creatively in EDM and pop music production to trigger volume “pumping” and other special effects. (Great examples of pumping include Eric Prydz’ “Call on Me” and Daft Punk’s “One More Time.”) A ducker can also be inserted in a reverb or delay line to manipulate those effects.

$display.stripTags($content.custom.BlogStack3Title) — Watch the JBL IRX loudspeaker series video walkthrough.

Whether you’re performing live or in the studio, ducking is a fast and easy way to manage audio levels, make room for all of the elements in your mix and ensure your voice is always heard, loud and clear.

$display.stripTags($content.custom.BlogStack4Title) — The “ducked” audio signal level automatically lowers anytime the control signal is detected or reaches a predefined volume threshold.

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Aiming for Accuracy:
How to Set Up Your Home Studio Your studio monitors are the windows to your music.

10 ideas for socially distanced
events using portable P.A.'s Well, it’s official: This is the summer of social distancing. While a “return to normal” in a post-COVID world means different things to different people, one universal certainty is that as things begin to open up, live music, performances, worship services and presentations will require some different approaches and considerations for some time to come.

What is feedback suppression
and how can it help your performances? Squuueeeeeeaaaaccchh! You know it in an instant: that piercing, ear-melting shriek blaring out of your loudspeakers. It’s feedback, and it’s a showstopper—in more ways than one.

Dialing in your signature sound:
tips for eqing portable P.A. Systems Today’s light, portable P.A. systems give you the flexibility to play just about anywhere. But with this flexibility comes the challenge of consistently sounding your best, even in unusual or unpredictable environments. Luckily, many modern P.A. systems offer digital signal processing that brings sound-sculpting tools right to your fingertips. EQ is the most effective tool for tailoring your sound system and once you know the basics, EQing a portable P.A. is simple – all you’ll need is your P.A. system, access to its EQ controls, some reference material, and your ears.

How to choose
the perfect portable P.A. for your
live performance or presentation? If you’re like most musicians and presenters, your gigs likely take you to a range of venues, from cafés, bars and clubs to parks, corporate spaces and houses of worship. All of these situations have something in common: They all call for sound reinforcement, likely supplied by you.

Mixing the world’s biggest artists
with JBL 7 studio monitors Whether it’s crafting a chart-topping single, multi-tracking a live performance or mixing a stadium concert, today’s top producers and audio engineers are recording in a wide range of environments. From legacy studios to home studios to mobile recording rigs, audio professionals need studio monitors that deliver consistent, highly-accurate audio, in any environment.

5 Ways Bluetooth 5 Makes
Wireless Audio Better Quick: Count how many Bluetooth devices you own. Chances are, it’s a lot more than you thought.

What is ducking and
how can it help you sound better live? Ever been at an event and noticed that when the emcee starts speaking, the background music instantly drops, then it pops right back up again as soon as that person finishes talking? This isn’t some frenzied mixing engineer frantically pushing faders up and down; this is ducking in action.

A Sound Decision:
Choosing the Right Studio Monitor -
by Sarah Jones You’ve spent long hours in the studio carefully fine-tuning your mix, obsessing over every detail until you’re satisfied with your sonic masterpiece. But when you listen to your finished product on a new system—your car, your home stereo, headphones—you’re shocked to discover that it sounds absolutely nothing like that mix you worked so hard to perfect. What the heck happened?

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5 things to consider when
buying wireless earbuds We’ve listed 5 things to consider when buying a pair!

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Best audio gifts for your loved ones this
holiday season: our 5 headphone tips

With the holiday season just around the corner, the search for the best gifts also begins. We know it can be difficult to find a gift for your sporty brother or teenage sister that really fits them. That's why in this article we make it very easy for you. This way you won't have to search long for the perfect gift. After all, what better gift than a pair of JBL headphones or earbuds? Everyone is different and everyone finds different functionalities important in headphones. That's why we've listed 5 of our best headphones, so you can easily find the right headphones for the right person - from music lover to gamer.

Best headphones for your loved ones this holiday season: our 5 tips

With the holiday season just around the corner, the search for the best gifts also begins.

Les meilleurs casques audio à offrir
pour les fêtes

À l'approche des fêtes de fin d'année commence la recherche du cadeau idéal.

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Koptelefoon voor je kind

Een koptelefoon voor je kind is beschikbaar in leuke kleuren en is voorzien van volumebescherming.

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Alles over draadloze koptelefoons

Met een draadloze koptelefoon kies je voor vrijheid. Zonder kabel luister je overal naar je favoriete muziek en geniet je van het kwalitatief hoogwaardige geluid van JBL.

Alles over DAB+ radio

DAB staat voor Digital Audio Broadcasting. Het is dus eigenlijk gewoon digitaal verstuurd

Hoe maak je jouw oordopjes het beste schoon?

Portemonnee, telefoon, sleutels? Check. Oortjes? Natúúrlijk. Want een dag van huis zonder

Start exercising:
Our five tips Starting to exercise is the perfect challenge for your body. Going for a nice run outside, boxing or working out in the gym: there's nothing like some extra movement.

Want to buy headphones or earphones/earbuds?
Find out what suits you best Listening to music can be better with headphones or earphones (a.k.a earbuds)? We will explain exactly what the advantages of both options are. Do you find it hard to make a choice? No problem, because our decision aid will help you out. You will soon be able to enjoy music the way you want to.

Headphones or earbuds? Listening to music can be better with headphones or earbuds? We will explain exactly what the advantages of both options are. $content.custom.BlogTitle $content.custom.BlogTitle

Help me choose You want the best portable speaker for your unique situation. So does JBL! For every situation there is a JBL portable speaker. Want to bring your portable speaker to the beach? Or perhaps take the speaker to the park? No problem! JBL got you covered. Read more about the best portable devices for each situation.

Comment connecter des enceintes JBL entre elles ?

Vous souhaitez profiter de votre musique avec vos amis ou passer à la vitesse supérieure ?

Écouter de la musique via Wifi ou Bluetooth ?

Vous souhaitez bénéficier d'une expérience musicale optimale à la maison ou au travail ?

Finding the best kids' headphone:
what to look for Headphones for children are available in fun colors and have volume protection. So listening to music on a long car journey, watching a film or playing a game is completely safe. Discover the advantages of child headphones for the youngest music fans.

How does DAB+ work? DAB stands for Digital Audio Broadcasting. So basically, it is just a digitally transmitted sound. This is different to FM, for example, which is sound that is transmitted via radio waves, and you can adjust it to suit your location. The range of DAB is much wider, and because it is digitally transmitted, the quality is also better. Because it does not use radio waves, there is no noise. This means that even in the remotest corner of the country, you will have crystal-clear sound.

Wie kannst du deine In Ear Kopfhörer reinigen?

Portemonnaie, Telefon, Schlüssel? Check. Kopfhörer? Natürlich. Ein Tag ohne deine Lieblingsmusik? Unvorstellbar.

Wie verbinde ich mehrere JBL-Boxen miteinander?

Du willst mit Freund:innen gemeinsam Musik hören?

Hoe koppel ik meerdere JBL speakers met elkaar?

Wil jij met je vrienden van je muziek genieten of je muziekbeleving naar the next level brengen?

Kopfhörer für dein Kind

Kinderkopfhörer gibt es in unterschiedlichsten Farben und mit integriertem Gehörschutz.

Les meilleures enceintes d'extérieur

Quoi de plus agréable que d'écouter la musique émise par vos enceintes d'extérieur, installé dans votre jardin ? Rien de tel pour profiter des rayons du soleil, un verre à la main, sur votre terrasse, et même dans un parc ou à la plage.

Quelles sont les meilleures enceintes pour la maison ?

Installer de bonnes enceintes dans votre salon est primordial. Surtout si vous souhaitez faire passer votre film, votre soirée, votre séance de sport ou tout autre moment de détente à un niveau supérieur.

Bluetooth vs wifi audio:
what's the difference and which is better? Do you want the best music experience at home (or at work)? Then the way you stream music to your speakers is certainly important. The two options that exist for this are Wifi and Bluetooth. What is the difference between them? And which is better?

Musik hören via WiFi oder via Bluetooth?

Willst du den besten Sound? Dann ist die Verbindungsart wichtig!

Muziek luisteren via wifi of bluetooth? Wil jij thuis (of op werk) de beste muzikale beleving? Dan is de manier waarop je je muziek naar je speakers streamt zeker belangrijk.

Quelle est la meilleure façon de nettoyer des écouteurs ?

Parce que tu les as toujours avec toi, les écouteurs doivent être nettoyés régulièrement

Noise-cancelling headphones: what are they and how do they work? Want to enjoy your music despite the noisy sounds around you? Turning up the volume doesn't work in many cases and can even be harmful to your hearing. Do you want to enjoy your favourite music without being disturbed by your surroundings? Noise-cancelling headphones will instantly solve that problem!

Noise-Cancelling Kopfhörer: Was ist das und wie funktioniert es?

Deine Musik trotz lauter Geräusche um dich herum genießen?

Noise cancelling koptelefoon: wat is het en hoe werkt het?

Toch genieten van je muziek ondanks rumoerige geluiden om je heen?

De la musique sous la douche ? Optez pour une Bluetooth enceinte !

Pour pouvoir écouter votre musique dans la salle de bain, équipez-la d'une enceinte adaptée !

Tout sur les casques et écouteurs sans fil

Grâce aux casques audio sans fil JBL, vous pouvez écouter vos musiques préférées partout. De quoi profiter d'un son de haute qualité et d'un maximum de liberté !

Musik unter der Dusche? Wasserdichte Lautsprecher!

Du willst unter der Dusche nicht auf Musik verzichten oder im Bad Podcasts hören?

How do I pair JBL speakers with
Connect+ or PartyBoost?

Would you like to enjoy your music with your friends or take your music experience to the next level? Pairing your speakers makes it easy. JBL has two methods for this. JBL Connect+ and JBL PartyBoost. Is it your first time connecting multiple JBL speakers? Follow these simple steps and you're good to go.

Tout sur la radio DAB+

DAB est l'abréviation de Digital Audio Broadcasting (radiodiffusion audio numérique), appelé en français Radio numérique terrestre.

What is the best way
to clean your earphones?

Wallet, phone, keys? Check. Earphones? Of course. Because having a day away from home without your favorite tunes is unthinkable. Yet cleaning your earphones sometimes falls by the wayside. And that's not very hygienic, considering how often you use those earphones. Here's how to restore dirty earphones without damaging them.

Casque réducteur de bruit : de quoi s'agit-il et comment ça fonctionne ?

Vous voulez apprécier votre musique préférée malgré les bruits ambiants?

Casques audio pour enfant

Les casques pour enfant (dès l’âge de 3 ans) existent dans des couleurs amusantes.

Was ist der beste Lautsprecher für dein Zuhause?

Ein guter Lautsprecher darf in keinem Wohnzimmer fehlen. Ganz egal, ob es um Filme, Partys oder Entspannung geht – guter Klang ist immer von Vorteil

Wat is de beste speaker voor thuis?

Een goede speaker in je woonkamer is niet zomaar belangrijk: het kan je film, feestje, sportsessie of momentje voor jezelf volledig naar een next level tillen.

Der beste Lautsprecher für draußen

Die ersten warmen Tage locken alle nach draußen. Ob im Garten, im Park oder am Strand – passende Musik darf dabei nicht fehlen.

De beste speaker voor buiten Zodra de eerste zonnestralen schijnen zitten we met z’n allen buiten te genieten. Met een drankje in je hand zit je in je tuin

What are the best home speakers?

A good speaker in your living room is important: it can take watching a film, having a party, doing a workout or having a moment to yourself to the next level. But how do you choose the best home speakers? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Music in the shower? Go for a waterproof Bluetooth speaker!

Would you like to have your music in the shower? Or do you want to listen to the news in the bath? Then put an audio speaker in the bathroom or take your speaker with you into the shower! But make sure that your speaker can handle it. Find out how to choose the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for your bathroom; we have compiled the most important features below.

Muziek onder de douche? Ga voor waterdicht!

Wil je jouw muziek niet missen onder de douche? Of wil je die podcast ook lekker in bad kunnen luisteren?

Alles über kabellose Kopfhörer

Mit einem kabellosen Kopfhörer entscheidest du dich für Freiheit.

Wireless headphones explained

Wireless headphones give you freedom. You can listen to your favorite music anywhere without a cable and enjoy high-quality JBL sound. We'll explain what they are and how they work.