A method for controlling audio gain balance in a multi-mode communications device (200) includes providing (201) microphone audio input to the multimode communications device. The audio is supplied to an amplifier gain stage while a dynamic instantaneous energy value of the audio input is computed (203) when in a first operational mode such as an analog mode. A predetermined gain algorithm is processed (207) representing an audio input when in a second mode such as a digital mode using the energy value. The audio gain stage in the multi-mode communications device is then adjusted (209) so that audio gain when in the first mode substantially approximates an audio gain when in an second mode. This provides a consistent audio amplitude output when receiving the first and second modes in a radio receiver.