One man's "loud" is another man's "quiet". For starters, let me say that trying to define sound is a very subjective thing. First, the motivation for conducting the decibel tests. I find, -10dB to be a good compromise.Before you view the results, we should explain our motivations for conducting the decibel tests and the conditions that existed during the testing phase. This is the highest possible signal level the equipment can accommodate before clipping or distorting.īelow that, you see ever increasing negative values of dBFS, all the way down -∞ dBFS.ĭepending on who you ask, people will tell you to aim for anywhere between -15dB and -6dB when setting input levels for recording.
#Decibel comparison full#
Which can be found on many devices in your studio such as your DAW, audio interface, and more.Īt the top of a level meter, you notice a marking of 0 dBFS (meaning 0dB full scale). The most common place you see decibels used in the recording studio is with the level meters… Now that you have an intuitive understanding of how decibels measure sound level, there’s just one more thing you need to know: How Decibels are used in Recording Equipment So here are 2 rules of thumb to keep things simple: It’s common sense…the farther you move away from the sound source, the softer the sound gets. Ok, next point: How Distance Affects Loudness This phenomenon can be explored further in a chart known as the Fletcher Munson Curve. The level of loudness our brains perceive also depends on the frequencies contained within the sound.Īt equal decibel levels, mid-range frequencies (those between around 1kHz and 4kHz) are perceived as sounding “louder” than those frequencies in the low and high bands. When you think of 60dB SPL, you would imagine it being attached to one SPECIFIC level of loudness. Here’s how: How Frequency Balance Affects Loudness A single decibel level can actually be heard at multiple levels of loudness. Now here’s a word of warning: While these numbers are useful, they aren’t “perfect”. So instead, here are some simple rules-of-thumb to use as a shortcut: I’ll be honest…the math here will leave your head spinning. To truly grasp the concept of decibels, you need to have an intuitive sense of how a specific change in decibels translates to a perceived change in loudness. Listening to radio or watching tv: 70 dB.Background noise at a restaurant: 60 dB.So here are some examples of noises we are all deeply familiar with: The easiest way to get a feel for decibels is by measuring real life noises. Helpful Real Life Examples of Decibel Levels It is generally accepted as the lowest threshold of human hearing, and it is the reference point by which all other sounds are compared against. Since the decibel is only a ratio, 110dB is actually a comparison to a different number: 0 SPL.Ġ SPL is the standard air pressure level of the atmosphere (20 micropascals). When we say the speakers at a rock concert are playing at 110dB, what we really mean is that they’re playing at 110dB SPL. In music, decibels are a measurement of Sound Pressure Level (SPL). Now here’s why you need to know this stuff: How Decibels Apply to Music and Sound With logarithmic numbers, each additional unit multiplies the true value of the number exponentially. If you don’t remember logarithms from back in high school physics, here’s the super simple gist of it: Decibels are LOGARITHMIC units of measurement. If you plotted these numbers on a graph, they would form a straight line.īut that’s not how it works with decibels. For example, 2 inches are twice as long as 1 inch, and 4 inches are twice as long as 2 inches. NEXT FACT: The decibel is not a LINEAR measurement In music, decibels are also used to measure voltage and power in your gear. It compares the value of one number to the value of another.Īnd while those numbers typically measure sound level, it’s not always the case. How Decibels are used in Recording EquipmentįACT: The decibel is NOT a unit of loudness.Helpful Real Life Examples of Decibel Levels.NEXT FACT: The decibel is not a LINEAR measurement.FACT: The decibel is NOT a unit of loudness.
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