Audio Ducking Not Working on iOS 18.1

Do this exactly:
1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Audio.
2. Tap on Audio Docking.
3. Set it to either "While Speaking", or "Always".
4. Navigate further to the right on the same screen as above, and adjust the volume to anything, "over", 100%.
5. Audio Docking should now be working.

This has been posted elsewhere on AppleVis concerning the Docking volume issue, including this thread:
https://applevis.com/blog/apple-releases-ios-181-ipados-181-bringing-new-bugs-some-fixes-voiceover-braille-users

They decided to set mine to 50%, so I had to go in and set it back to what I have it set to, and that is 150%.

That's what mine is set to as my personal preference, but your preference might be different.

I have mine set to 130%. This means that VO will be 30% louder than all other non-VO volume.

HTH.

Here is the link: https://www.applevis.com/podcasts/how-use-audio-ducking-ios-clearer-voiceover

That is what i have mine set to, it was set to 90% when i updated

Apple stop changing settings, this isnt cool

I haven't yet listened to the episode linked here, but I did briefly check out the enhanced Audio Ducking. This is only an observation, but as somebody who now wears hearing aids I think the reason Apple did this was to accommodate different forms of hearing loss. I haven't yet tested this out with my hearing aids, because my father and I exchanged one for the other yesterday at Costco. There was a small glitch in the brand/model of hearing aids which I have, and rather than go without either of them I chose to have one repaired at a time. This was a company recall. But once I have them both again I'll test out the new Audio Ducking. Btw, this was a small glitch and I am staying with this particular brand because they seem to be doing a wonderful job.

The way they have changed this makes no sense at all. It means to benefit from any audio ducking at all, you have to have your VoiceOver volume set to over 100%. That is really loud! It’s only after 100% that the volume of the voice doesn’t increase when you increase the percentage. Instead, to give users more control, there should be a separate setting to control the extent to which other audio is reduced when it ducks.

That’s not exactly correct. Don’t let the percentage numbers mislead you. If you have your media volume set to a reasonable volume, your docking volume will only be the percentage, that is above 100%, “of your set media volume”. That is to say, it will not be very loud at all, unless you blast your media volume, that is. 🎧😵‍💫

I Think once apple did an excellent job of listening to its users. If you listen to Thomas's podcast you will understand it.

Guys,

I think many are aware that Apple have altered how this worked in 18.0 as that seemed to cause issues. However, has anyone actually got this to work via the new way? It was working perfectly fine in 18.0 and I noticed things had changed so played around a bit. Now, no matter what settings volume and or ducking percent are set the audio simply is at the same level as VO. If someone has this working what levels have you got set?

I didn't want to create a new thread but due to these issues on since 18.0 to 18.1.1 I am completely unable to adjust voiceover volume at all no matter my settings in voiceover --> audio. It simply won't move, and I am talking about adjusting the volume with the rotor like we could do on 17 and earlier. Despite many reboots it just won't work on ios 18.1.1.

this is a fix in 18.2 as someone pointed out in another thread. look for it there.

Looks like is not. Using 16 pro max and beta 3 and it does not work. volume of media was on 3 and rase it to 80 and volume for VO and media was high. I put it on 50 and will see if brings down media volume down when using VO. Nuts.

We are on beta 4 now? :) Updating my iphone as of writing. At least they acknowledged the bug as myself in feedback it says similar reports <10 now.

Sorry is the beta 3 letter A as Apple After Thanksgiving be the RC unless Apple releases another beta next week.

Yep, patched on 18.2 betea 4. Thank you apple :)

Well put the media volume to 50 and still have issues. VO is 100%. Again Apple broke it. It was fixed in last iOS now is a pain again.

Ok, was not going to give up here. I've found a way certainly for me that makes it work again in 18.2 beta. Go to audio under vo settings then choose audio ducking. I have it set to when speaking. Change the ducking rate to what you want. So, I knew it worked I set this at 70% Then under rotor items tick the volume option so it appears in your rotor. Now when your playing your media find the volume item you chose and swipe up/down to a % you want. I set this to 70% and voila it worked. You can also go in to settings and make sure the haptic/sounds are linked to volume so they aren't to loud. Hope this helps someone else.

This absolutely works! 1 gp into
settings
2 Go to accessibility.
3 Go to voiceover.
4 go to rotor
5 once in rotor go to rotor items.
6 go to ducking amount add it to your rotor!
7 change the ducking amount to what you want.
I have my ducking amount before audio ducking
NOTE! you will have to change wherre this is in your rotor if you wish it to be in a certain place!!!!!!!!!

Have to admit never seen that. Just checked it out and it looks like it is a rotor setting you can use on the fly to alter what I suggested above in the Vo audio section as the value on the item was the same as what I'd set it to. Just a quick way of changing it if you want to.

Works OK, is not perfect. Used same amount but the media does not lower all the way. Oh well, I am sure Apple will fix it in iOS 100. Hope I will be around for the release.

It's working exactly like I want it to. I have the VO volume set the way I want, and the ducking amount set the way I want. Media is ducking exactly as it should. I'm a little confused about what people would want Apple to change. Maybe I'm just missing something. Who knows?

It is absolutely working. Some people don't understand how it is supposed to work I think. Maybe applevis can do a podcast on it and better explain it

Perhaps those of us who were using it are upset because Apple broke something that was not broken. VO is at 100% and media is at 50%.

it is not broken!!!! As others have correctly stated it is not broken!!!! If you have 18.2 latest beta it is not broken!!!!!!!!

As I said my VO is 100 and media is 50 yet is not working well. What is that? 16 pro max. Maybe is taking a vacation in Hawaii due to the cold weather in Chicago?

Thanks to Dennis I got it fix. Thanks for taking the time to help.

That was the goal. Let me post on hear. First now you set your volume in control center first. if you set that in control center to 68 % like I do. Then put the voiceover volume to 100%. next add ducking amount to the rotor. The more you want the audio such as music to duck the higher the ducking amount. so if you want all the way ducked set ducking amount to 99% This will have the same effect as it was in iOS 18 where you had the volume to 199% I hope that makes sense if not get in touch with me I'll atempt to help fix it I may start charging Chicago Deep dish pizzas :)

I still think that some level of disappointment is perfectly justified by us. They do always splashscreens for new features and they even introduced exactly that with 18.0 yet they expect us to read the documentation in its entirety to understand how a feature who hasn't changed for year has changed now? It's not my main topic as mine was only about volume bug which, was!! :) a real bug, but I think they completely lacked in informing us properly about the new audio settings of VO.
PS: since the latest dev beta on watchos is it normal that my media volume randomly goes down around 20 or 15 while it should be at 80%? :)

If someone doesn't get to it give me a day or two I'll dig into that and give you steps. I would suggest they write an article explaining how the audio ducking works. This I agree would be helpful.

Sorry but Chicago pizza belong to us. If you ever come to Chicago, I might take out for pizza. Thanks again. It is confusing and a pain.