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    Home»Articles»What Is a Decibel? dBFS, dBV, dBu and dBSPL Explained in Simple Terms
    Articles

    What Is a Decibel? dBFS, dBV, dBu and dBSPL Explained in Simple Terms

    Producer GangBy Producer Gangabril 23, 2025Nenhum comentário3 Mins Read
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    What Is a Decibel? dBFS, dBV, dBu and dBSPL Explained in Simple Terms
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     ELI5 Decibels (dB):

    1. Origin and Scale

    • The Bel is a unit named after Alexander Graham Bell, but it’s too big for everyday use.

    • So we use 1/10th of a Bel = 1 decibel (dB).

    • Think of dB as a way to measure change — like a ruler for comparing sound or signal levels, not an absolute amount.

    How does Sound Work? Energy, Frequency & Vibration 

     


    🔁 It’s All About Ratios

    The Cycle of Sound: 6 Ways to Measure Audio Waveforms

     


    💡 Power vs. Voltage: Two dB Worlds

    POWER (Watts, like amps or light bulbs)

    VOLTAGE (Signals, like audio levels)

    • +6dB = double the voltage

    • Ex: Going from 1 Volt to 2 Volts = +6dB

    • Why? Because Power = Voltage², so doubling volts gives 4x the power (which = +6dB)

     

    ⭐️ Start by downloading all of my FREE Music Production Guides ⭐️ It took me years to learn this stuff!

     


    🎛 What About Faders?

    • A fader is a ratio tool — it controls how much of the input passes through.

    • 0dB = no change

    • -6dB = cuts signal to half the voltage

    • -∞dB = total silence (no signal passes)

    That’s why fader marks are often spaced in 6dB steps — it matches how our ears respond to volume changes.

     


    🎧 Quick Summary: The dB Suffixes


    🌀 Why dB Is Logarithmic (Not Linear)

    • dB steps go: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16… (not 1, 2, 3, 4)

    • This matches how our ears naturally hear — we’re better at detecting ratios than tiny differences.

    • It also compresses massive differences into manageable numbers (e.g., 80dB = 10,000:1 ratio!)

     

    ⭐️ Download my FREE Home Studio Setup Guide ⭐️ 

     

    Decibels (dB) – Simple Cheat Sheet 

    What Is a Decibel (dB)?

    – A decibel (dB) is a way to measure change or ratio, not an absolute number.

    – It’s 1/10th of a Bel, named after Alexander Graham Bell.

    – Used to compare levels, like sound or voltage, with a reference point.

    dB for Power vs Voltage

    – Power (Watts): +3dB = double the power (e.g., 100W to 200W = +3dB)

    – Voltage (or Pressure): +6dB = double the voltage (e.g., 1V to 2V = +6dB)

    dB Suffixes & Their Meaning

    – dBFS (Full Scale): max level in digital (0dBFS = clipping point)

    – dBV: compared to 1 Volt (0dBV = 1V)

    – dBu: compared to 0.775V (0dBu = 0.775V)

    – dBSPL: compares sound to human hearing threshold

    Why Use Decibels?

    – The dB scale is logarithmic (1, 2, 4, 8…), not linear.

    – It matches how humans perceive loudness.

    – Lets us represent big differences with small numbers (e.g., 80dB = 10,000:1).

    Faders and dB

    – A fader shows the output-to-input ratio:

    – 0dB = no change

    – -6dB = half the voltage

    – –∞ dB = no signal (silence)

     

    ⭐️ Download my Free Magic Compressor Settings Guide ⭐️ 

    ⭐️ Download my Free 10 Characteristic of a Sound Wave Guide ⭐️

     

    #protools #daw #homestudio #recordingschool #recording #musicproduction 

    Also read: 

    How to Start Your Own Online Business Teaching Music
     

      

    Hey, I’m Futch – Music Production Coach and Ableton Certified Trainer

     

    Learn how to make your first song and beat in Ableton Live with my

    FREE 90-minute Ableton Live course

     

    I’ve been teaching audio engineering and music production for 35 years.⭐️ 

    Check out my new online music production program: Music Production Ninja…

     



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