An audio processing system , comprising: an input device configured to receive a first audio signal emanating from an environment and including a signal of interest; a voice activity detector configured to: receive a first control signal from a voice separator , determine that the signal of interest is present in the first audio signal by determining that the first control signal exceeds a ducker threshold, and generate a second control signal in response to the first audio signal ; and a ratio-based attenuator configured to: receive the second control signal from the voice activity detector , determine whether a first signal level associated with the first audio signal exceeds a second signal level associated with a second audio signal received from an audio playback device by at least a target difference, and if the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least a target difference, then maintain an audio level of the second audio signal, and if the first signal level does not exceed the second signal level by at least the target difference, then cause the audio level of the second audio signal to be adjusted from a first value to a second value, wherein, at the second value, the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least the target difference. an input device configured to receive a first audio signal emanating from an environment and including a signal of interest; a voice activity detector configured to: receive a first control signal from a voice separator , determine that the signal of interest is present in the first audio signal by determining that the first control signal exceeds a ducker threshold, and generate a second control signal in response to the first audio signal ; and receive a first control signal from a voice separator , determine that the signal of interest is present in the first audio signal by determining that the first control signal exceeds a ducker threshold, and generate a second control signal in response to the first audio signal ; and a ratio-based attenuator configured to: receive the second control signal from the voice activity detector , determine whether a first signal level associated with the first audio signal exceeds a second signal level associated with a second audio signal received from an audio playback device by at least a target difference, and if the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least a target difference, then maintain an audio level of the second audio signal, and if the first signal level does not exceed the second signal level by at least the target difference, then cause the audio level of the second audio signal to be adjusted from a first value to a second value, wherein, at the second value, the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least the target difference. receive the second control signal from the voice activity detector , determine whether a first signal level associated with the first audio signal exceeds a second signal level associated with a second audio signal received from an audio playback device by at least a target difference, and if the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least a target difference, then maintain an audio level of the second audio signal, and if the first signal level does not exceed the second signal level by at least the target difference, then cause the audio level of the second audio signal to be adjusted from a first value to a second value, wherein, at the second value, the first signal level exceeds the second signal level by at least the target difference. <EOS>