Auto Ducking
MarcX Studio

Dictation audio workflow

Use background music during Mac dictation

Dictation works better when background music stays out of the way without forcing you to stop playback or reach for volume keys.

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Auto Ducking
Auto Ducking status panel in dark mode lowering the Mac volume from 80% to 10% while an AI assistant uses the microphone.

01Mac dictation background music

How can you keep music playing while dictating on Mac?

Auto Ducking keeps your music playing while you dictate on a Mac. When dictation turns the microphone on, the system volume fades down to the level you chose; when the microphone turns off, your previous volume fades back after the restore delay, so short pauses between sentences never make the music jump. Save a dictation preset with the level that suits you, and use Manual Lower or Restore Now from the menu bar or a global shortcut whenever you want to take over. It works with macOS dictation and any speech-to-text app that uses the microphone, and it only notices that the microphone is on: your words stay with your dictation app.

02Controls

Dictation workflows this helps

The best fit is repeated voice input where background audio is welcome and your voice stays clearly on top.

01

Voice typing

Lower music while using system dictation or other speech-to-text tools.

02

Voice notes

Keep ambient audio quieter while capturing a quick spoken note.

03

Long writing sessions

A dictation preset and a restore delay keep the volume predictable for hours of writing.

FIG.01

Set up dictation-friendly ducking

  1. 01

    Choose the Lower to level

    Set how quiet background audio gets while the microphone is on. Speakers, headphones, displays and AirPods each keep their own level.

  2. 02

    Set the restore delay and fades

    Fade down, wait a moment after the microphone turns off, then fade back, so short pauses never make the volume jump.

  3. 03

    Pick the apps

    Let every microphone app trigger Auto Ducking, only the apps you choose, or every app except the ones you skip.

  4. 04

    Keep control from the menu bar

    Use the status panel or global shortcuts to pause Auto Ducking, Restore Now, Manual Lower, or open the panel from any app.

Auto Ducking Ducking settings with the Lower To level, Restore Delay and the During Calls switch.

03FAQ

Dictation and background music FAQ

What does Auto Ducking do with my microphone?

It checks whether the microphone is in use, and which app turned it on, then adjusts your Mac system volume. Auto Ducking never records, transcribes or uploads audio.

What happens when the microphone turns off?

Auto Ducking waits for your restore delay, then fades your previous volume back. To bring it back straight away, press Restore Now.

Can I choose how much the volume is lowered?

Yes. Set the Lower to level from 0 to 20%, separately for each sound output, and tune the restore delay and fades. Save the combinations you like as presets.

What happens during a video or voice call?

With “During Calls” on, which is the default, the call stays at full volume so you hear everyone, and Auto Ducking lowers the volume only when something else is playing, like music while you dictate. To lower every time the microphone turns on, switch off “During Calls” in Settings > Ducking.

What does Auto Ducking see while I dictate?

Only that the microphone is in use and which app turned it on. Your words stay with your dictation app; Auto Ducking never records, transcribes or uploads audio.

Keep music present while you dictate

Set a quieter background level once and let Auto Ducking handle the change.

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04Related Auto Ducking pages

Auto Ducking

Auto Ducking is a Mac microphone volume utility that lowers background audio when your mic becomes active, then restores volume when microphone use ends.

Auto Ducking Privacy

Learn how Auto Ducking handles microphone activity, local settings, usage statistics, optional crash reports, purchases, and support contact data.

Control background audio during AI voice chats on Mac

Control Mac background audio during AI voice chats by lowering system volume when your microphone is active and restoring it afterward.

Adjust the ducking level on Mac

Choose how quiet Mac background audio gets while the microphone is active, with restore delay, fade timing, presets, and hotkeys.

Lower Mac volume when the microphone is active

Use Auto Ducking to lower Mac background audio when a microphone app becomes active, then restore the previous volume when microphone use ends.

A microphone utility that does not record your microphone

Auto Ducking is a microphone-aware Mac utility that lowers volume without recording, transcribing, or uploading microphone audio.

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