Voice-and-music cue sheet
Creator Lane | Reviewed September 15, 2026
https://creatorlanehq.com/blog/balance-voice-background-music-reels

VOICE + MUSIC MIX PLAN
No preset percentage or measured mix is supplied.

Project/version:
Voice source:
Voice-only clarity checked:
Music source:
Permission/licence record:
Editor/version:
Final export filename:

CUE ROW
Start/end time:
Spoken words:
Music section:
Intended music role:
Duck before first word:
Lower-level section:
Return transition:
Natural sound to preserve:
Actual setting/keyframes:
Listening result:

ILLUSTRATIVE CUES
Opening question | restrained music; first word clear.
Main three-step explanation | low, stable background.
Demonstration pause | optional small rise; preserve useful action sound.
Final instruction | reduce background before speech.
End frame | controlled fade or appropriate ending.

AUTO-DUCKING CHECK
Correct audio types assigned:
Dialogue drives intended music:
First words protected:
Breaths/short pauses do not cause distracting jumps:
Changes reviewed after dialogue edits:

FINAL LISTEN
Headphones:
Phone speaker:
Comfortably low playback:
Quietest sentence:
Busiest music section:
Output distortion/clipping:
Actual export checked:
Captions match speech:
Voice-only version retained:
One change still needed:

You may adapt this original worksheet for personal and client work. Third-party materials retain their own licences.