Metadata for ducking control

A method for encoding a piece of sound program content, comprising:

• determining a first channel group in the piece of sound program content to emphasize during playback of the piece of sound program content, wherein the piece of sound program content has a plurality of channel groups that include the first channel group and a second channel group, object or stem;
• analyzing the plurality of channel groups of the piece of sound program content together, to determine dynamic range compression (DRC) gain values that are to be applied to each respective group of the plurality of channel groups during playback of the piece of sound program content;
• while detecting activity in the first channel group, generating a set of ducking values that are to be applied to the second channel group, object or stem;
• and
• associating the ducking values with the first channel group in an audio asset, wherein the audio asset includes i) the plurality of channel groups that include the first channel group and the second channel group, object or stem, ii) the ducking values that are associated with the first channel group, and iii) the DRC gain values that are to be applied to each respective group of the plurality of channel groups.

An audio system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory having stored therein instructions that program the processor to encode a piece of sound program content, wherein the processor becomes programmed to
• analyze a plurality of channel groups of the piece of sound program content together, to determine dynamic range compression (DRC) gain values that are to be applied to each respective group of the plurality of channel groups during playback of the piece of sound program content, wherein the plurality of channel groups of the piece of sound program content include a first channel group and a second channel group, object or stem,
• while detecting activity in the first channel group, generate a set of ducking values that are to be applied to the second channel group, and
• associate the ducking values with the first channel group in an audio asset, wherein the audio asset includes i) the plurality of channel groups that include the first channel group and the second channel group, object or stem, ii) the ducking values that are associated with the first channel group, and iii) the DRC gain values that are to be applied to each respective group of the plurality channel groups.

An audio system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory having stored therein instructions that program the processor to encode a piece of sound program content, wherein the processor becomes programmed to
• determine a first channel group in the piece of sound program content to emphasize during playback of the piece of sound program content, wherein the piece of sound program content has a plurality of channel groups that include the first channel group and a second channel group, object or stem,
• while detecting speech in the first channel group during a first time period of the piece of sound program content, generate a set of ducking values to apply to the second channel group, object or stem during the first time period in the piece of sound program content, and
• associate the ducking values with the first channel group in an audio asset, wherein the audio asset includes the first channel group, the second channel group, object or stem, and the ducking values that are associated with the first channel group.