dB
Loudness measurement unit
A dB is a decibel, a unit measuring the relative intensity of sound or signal strength.
The scale is logarithmic, so each 10 dB increase represents a tenfold jump in intensity.
Normal conversation runs about 60 dB; a jet engine at close range exceeds 140 dB.
The unit appears constantly in audio engineering, acoustics, and telecommunications: The amp puts out 100 watts at less than 1 dB of distortion. (Capitalized DB may be an abbreviation for database.)
Perceived sound intensity
- volumeAmount of space filled
- gainPositive return received
- headroomOverhead vertical space
- clippingPiece cut out
distortion · mixing · mastering · compression · limiter · fader · signal · amplification
Based on exponents
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- intensityStrength or force level
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- meterDevice that measures usage
scale · reference · ratio · attenuation · peak · weighting · precision
Hearing ability chart
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- tinnitusPerceived phantom ear sounds
- audiologyStudy of hearing disorders
- cochleaSpiral hearing organ
audiometer · earplugs · exposure · OSHA · occupational · damage · sensitivity · impairment
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
echo · diffraction · soundproofing · isolation · damping · wavelength · interference · diffusion
Of natural surroundings
- trafficMovement along routes
- industrialOf factories and production
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- constructionProcess of building something
ambient · background · nuisance · ordinance · regulation · complaint · monitoring · mapping
loudness
Perceived sound intensity
clipping · distortion · mixing · mastering · compression · limiter · fader · signal · amplification · equalization
logarithmic
Based on exponents
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- intensityStrength or force level
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
meter · scale · reference · ratio · attenuation · peak · weighting · precision
audiogram
Hearing ability chart
cochlea · audiometer · earplugs · exposure · OSHA · occupational · damage · sensitivity · impairment · screening
resonance
Amplified oscillation at natural frequency
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- reflectionReturned light or thought
reverberation · echo · diffraction · soundproofing · isolation · damping · wavelength · interference · diffusion · anechoic
environmental
Of natural surroundings
- trafficMovement along routes
- industrialOf factories and production
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
construction · ambient · background · nuisance · ordinance · regulation · complaint · monitoring · mapping · reduction
- audio termsWAV, tone, frequency response, MP3, frequency
- loudnessvolume, amplitude, noise, din, roar
- music abbreviationsDJ, CD, LP, EP, MP3
- Sound Unitshertz, Hz, kilohertz, megahertz, MHz
- gainsgain, earnings, income, returns, increase
- audio frequencieshertz, Hz, kilohertz, frequency band, frequency range