Decibels (DB)

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

Hi,
I read that recordings should be between -6db to -3db for after effects. I see in audacity -->Effect–>Amplify → peak amplitude is in DB.
As far as I know [DB] is only a scaling unit, not a physical unit. Therefore I am confused: what does it mean -6db (does -6db mean definite or relative audio amplitude ? relative to what ?) ?

I also have this DB unit in my Audio Receiver. Suppose it shows -30[DB]. Does it mean that the output to my system speakers has the same voltage and current as of the voltage and current to my PC speakers if it was played in Audacity at -30[DB] ?

Can you reference me to some articles that explain it ?

Thanks,
John

2

When dealing with signals, dB is almost always with reference to “full scale”. In the case of Audacity, “full scale” is when the waveform touches top or bottom of the track.

For integer formats (16 bit / 24 bit) “full scale” (0 dB) equates to the maximum/minimum numeric values.
For 32 bit float format, full scale refer to the range +/- 1

Thus, -6 dB is 6 dB below full scale, which is roughly equivalent to half the track height.
Note that the abbreviation is lower case “d”, upper case “B”. (“DB” is a brand name among other things).

More info: Decibel - Wikipedia

It could mean anything. if it has a precise meaning, it will be defined in the manual. Audio equipment manufacturers are notorious for creating confusing for the sake of advertising.

3

I also have this DB unit in my Audio Receiver. Suppose it shows -30[DB]. Does it mean that the output to my system speakers has the same voltage and current as of the voltage and current to my PC speakers if it was played in Audacity at -30[DB] ?

Assuming your receiver doesn’t have a dB meter, it’s a gain/attenuation indication. That is, if it reads -30dB when the music is loud or the music is silent, then of course, it doesn’t indicate the signal level. If it does have a meter, it will usually show Watts and dB.

There is a direct correlation between the dB level of the digital file and the wattage or loudness, but it’s unknown (unless you have a calibrated home theater systems and you don’t touch the volume control and throw it out of calibration).

But even though the exact calibration/relationship is unknown, the RELATIVE dB changes are valid. For example if your receiver says -20dB, changing the receiver’s volume to -26 is the same as using the Amplify effect at -6db. Or, if you are listening at 90dB SPL* and you reduce the level by 6dB (either digitally or with the volume control) the loudness will go down to 84dB SPL.

Some handy numbers to remember:
3dB is a power factor of two. If your amplifier is putting-out 100W, then +3dB is 200W and -3dB is 50W.

6dB is an amplitude factor of 2. That is, +6dB is twice the numeric value in a digital file or twice the voltage. And, 6dB is a power factor of 4. (If you double the voltage to your speaker, the current also doubles and that’s 4 times the power.)

10dB is a power factor of 10 and 20dB is a voltage/amplitude factor of 10.




***** SPL is the loudness of the sound in the air. 0dB SPL is the threshold of human hearing, the quietest sound that can be heard by a human with normal hearing.

The SPL level depends on the sensitivity/efficiency of your speakers, the wattage, room size and room acoustics, and how close you are to the speaker.