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The decibel (dB)
Decibels describe ratios. In editing they tell you how much louder or quieter something is.
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| Change | Effect on amplitude |
|---|---|
| +6 dB | About double |
| −6 dB | About half |
| −12 dB | About a quarter |
| −24 dB | About one sixteenth |
| +10 dB | Perceived as roughly twice as loud |
dBFS
Digital level measured from full scale. 0 dBFS is the maximum; everything else is negative. Keep peaks below 0 dBFS in fixed-point files.
LUFS
Loudness units relative to full scale measure perceived loudness over time. Use LUFS loudness matching to make several files sound equally loud. Treat the reading as the application’s measurement, not a certified compliance test.
In Sound Editor Pro
- Gain, normalize and the limiter work in dB.
- Spectral attenuation offers −12 and −24 dB.
- Meters show peak, RMS and LUFS.
Common questions
What does 0 dBFS mean?
The loudest level a digital file can store. Peaks above it clip, so leave a little headroom, for example peaks around −1 dBFS.
How is LUFS different from dB peaks?
Peak dB shows the loudest instant; LUFS estimates how loud the audio sounds over time. Loudness matching uses LUFS.
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