I use v3.3.3 under Windows 10. Questions about waveform displays.
Audacity gives three options: Linear (amp), Linear (dB), and Logarithmic (dB). The two Linear displays for a given recording are identical even though commenters have said the dB display is more informative. What’s the difference between the two? If there’s a way to see a more informative Linear (dB) display, how so? Preference settings?
The Audacity manual says and shows that the RMS waveform is displayed (in a lighter color) within the peak-focused waveform, but I don’t see the RMS waveform regardless of which of the three waveform displays I specify. How can get the RMS waveform displayed? Preference settings?
The linear scale shows the same waveform and it just changes the numbers. 0 to +/- 1 can be considered 0 to +/- 100%.
Decibels a logarithmic so -6dB is 50%, -20dB is 10%, and -40dB is 1%. On a linear scale you can’t really see -40dB.
The actual digital data is linear. 50% (-6dB) is a wave of half of the maximum height. If you look at a waveform on an oscilloscope it’s linear. A sine wave also looks like a sine wave on a linear scale, as it should. The linear scale is a more accurate representation of numerical digital data.
But our hearing is logarithmic (or proportional) and -6dB doesn’t sound half as loud. It sounds louder than that.
Maybe you need to zoom-out to where you can see 1 minute or more…