All About Decibels, Part I: What’s your dB IQ?

Part II: What’s your dB IQ?


dBu = dBv

dBu  = 20 * log (Voltage / .775 V)
P = V^2 / R
.001 W = V^2 / 600 W
V^2 = .001 W * 600 W
V = sqrt (.001 W * 600 W)
V = .775 Volts

dBm = dBVU

dBm = 10 * log (Power / 1mW)

dBV = 20 * log (Voltage / 1V)

Professional vs. Consumer Levels

+4 dBu = 20 * log (voltage / .775 V)
voltage = 1.228 Volts

-10 dBV = 20 * log (voltage / 1V)
voltage = 0.3162 Volts

20 * log (1.228V / 0.3162V) = 11.79 dB

dBspl

dBspl = 20 * log (Pa / .00002 Pa)


dB Compares Reference Level Formula
dBspl Sound Pressure 0.00002 Pa 20 * log (spl / .00002 Pa)
dBm Electrical Power 1mW 10 * log (Power / 1mW)
dBu Voltage 0.775V 20 * log (Voltage / .775V)
dBV Voltage 1V 20 * log (Voltage / 1V)
dBFS Sample Level 65536 20 * log (Sample Level / 65536)


5 string bass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B

E

A

D

G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

31

41

55

73

98

196

392

784

1568

3136

 

 

1/2 x ms

16

12

9

7

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ms

32

24

18

14

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 x ms

64

48

36

28

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 String Guitar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B

E

A

D

G

B

E

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

62

82

110

147

196

247

330

659

1319

2637

5274

10548

1/2 x ms

8

6

4.5

3.5

2.5

2

1.5

 

 

 

 

 

ms

16

12

9

7

5

4

3

 

 

 

 

 

2 x ms

32

24

18

14

10

8

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

20

25.2

31.7

40

50.4

63.5

 

ISO

20

25

31.5

40

50

63

 

1/2xMS

25

20

15.9

12.5

10

7.9

 

ms

50

40

31.7

25

200

15.9

 

2xMS

100

80

63.5

50

40

31.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

80

100.8

127

160

201.6

254

 

ISO

80

100

125

160

200

250

 

1/2xMS

6.3

5

4

3.1

2.5

2

 

ms

12.5

10

8

6.3

5

4

 

2xMS

25

20

16

12.5

10

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

320

403.2

508

640

806.3

1015.9

 

ISO

315

400

500

630

800

1000

 

1/2xMS

1.6

1.3

1

0.8

0.6

0.5

 

ms

3.2

2.5

2

1.6

1.3

1

 

2xMS

6.3

5

4

3.2

2.5

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

1280

1612.7

2031.9

2560

3225.4

4063.7

 

ISO

1250

1600.0

2000

2500

3150

4000

 

1/2xMS

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

 

ms

0.8

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.3

 

2xMS

1.6

1.3

1

0.8

0.6

0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freq

5120

6450.8

8127.5

10240

12901.6

16255

20480

ISO

5000

6300

8000

10000

12500

16000

20000

1/2xMS

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0

0

0

ms

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

2xMS

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1