filtersweep
New member
neilwight
Let me clarify something here regarding levels:
+4 dBu and -10 dBV "standards" (They are not true standards, but are, instead, conventions.) refer to systems' "nominal levels". A system's nominal level is chosen as a compromise between its noise floor and highest possible levels so as to operate the systems' for "best" performance. The gear's metering (if any) is typically calibrated to indicate 0 dB when measuring the nominal level. We use these conventions to ease interconnecting various system elements.
Different nominal levels exist to accomodate different markets. The -10 dBV level exists largely because it is cheaper to build gear that performs at that level than at +4 dBu.
This in not a difference of 14 dB if you do the math:
-10 dBV = 0.316 V
+4 dBu = 1.23 V
And the ratio expressed as dB is 20 log 1.23/ .316 = 11.8 dB (simply explaining that you are right that the difference is closer to 10 dB than 14, which at first seems counter-intuitive to most people).
anyway- there is a difference (basically a +4 system puts out more voltage and expects more in return than does a -10 system)-
Now all of this relates ultimately to the connections and "transmission" between traditional hardware. I won't bore you with any more math- but digital audio math IS very different once all this "analog math" is converted to bits.
Digital audio lacks a nominal level. There is, instead, an absolute maximum level that cannot be exceeded, and one chooses a desired amount of headroom.
Since the original post was referencing audio plugins on a DAW, we are past the point that voltage mattered.
I'm not trying to offend you, but it appeared that you were jumping on this nominal level issue every opportunity you could without considering its relevence to the posting at hand. I also found your remark regarding computer-generated music (albeit vague) to be judgemental and out of touch with today's technology.
Let me clarify something here regarding levels:
+4 dBu and -10 dBV "standards" (They are not true standards, but are, instead, conventions.) refer to systems' "nominal levels". A system's nominal level is chosen as a compromise between its noise floor and highest possible levels so as to operate the systems' for "best" performance. The gear's metering (if any) is typically calibrated to indicate 0 dB when measuring the nominal level. We use these conventions to ease interconnecting various system elements.
Different nominal levels exist to accomodate different markets. The -10 dBV level exists largely because it is cheaper to build gear that performs at that level than at +4 dBu.
This in not a difference of 14 dB if you do the math:
-10 dBV = 0.316 V
+4 dBu = 1.23 V
And the ratio expressed as dB is 20 log 1.23/ .316 = 11.8 dB (simply explaining that you are right that the difference is closer to 10 dB than 14, which at first seems counter-intuitive to most people).
anyway- there is a difference (basically a +4 system puts out more voltage and expects more in return than does a -10 system)-
Now all of this relates ultimately to the connections and "transmission" between traditional hardware. I won't bore you with any more math- but digital audio math IS very different once all this "analog math" is converted to bits.
Digital audio lacks a nominal level. There is, instead, an absolute maximum level that cannot be exceeded, and one chooses a desired amount of headroom.
Since the original post was referencing audio plugins on a DAW, we are past the point that voltage mattered.
I'm not trying to offend you, but it appeared that you were jumping on this nominal level issue every opportunity you could without considering its relevence to the posting at hand. I also found your remark regarding computer-generated music (albeit vague) to be judgemental and out of touch with today's technology.