What's the best way to balance audio levels when mixing dialogue and background music?

Ask any question about Video Editing here... and get an instant response.

Post this Question & Answer:

What's the best way to balance audio levels when mixing dialogue and background music?

Asked on Jan 02, 2026

Answer

Balancing audio levels between dialogue and background music is essential to ensure clarity and maintain the viewer's engagement. This process typically involves using audio editing tools like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve's Fairlight, or Audition to adjust levels, apply compression, and use EQ to separate frequencies.

Import your audio tracks into your editing software and place dialogue and music on separate tracks in the timeline.
Adjust the dialogue track to a consistent level, typically around -6 dB to -12 dB, ensuring it remains clear and audible.
Lower the background music track to sit beneath the dialogue, often between -18 dB to -24 dB, depending on the scene's mood.
Apply a compressor to the dialogue track to even out volume fluctuations and enhance clarity.
Use EQ to carve out space for the dialogue by reducing competing frequencies in the music track, typically around 1 kHz to 3 kHz.
Continuously monitor and adjust levels during playback to ensure a balanced mix that suits the scene's dynamics.

Additional Comment:

Use keyframes to automate volume changes for dynamic scenes.
Consider using a sidechain compressor to automatically lower music when dialogue is present.
Always check your mix on different playback systems (headphones, speakers) to ensure consistency.
Avoid over-compressing, which can lead to a loss of dynamic range and audio quality.

✅ Answered with Video Editing best practices.

Ask any question about Video Editing here... and get an instant response.

What's the best way to balance audio levels when mixing dialogue and background music?

Asked on Jan 02, 2026

Answer

Real Questions. Clear Answers.