nominal level: +4dBu / -10dBV

[airborne50caliber]

-10dBV is considered the professional level, but what do the dBu and dBV scales refer to and how to they compare to each other? What determines the setting to use on, say, a dynamics processor (Mine has a switch for each channel)? How do you guys determine the operating level to use around your equipment?

[Lateksi]

0 dBu means 0.775 V RMS voltage. dBu's are widely used in all equipment, and +4 dBu (1.23 V) is the worlds most common level for professional audio equipment.

0 dBV means 1 V RMS voltage. dBV's are mostly used in equipment meant mostly for home use. -10 dbV (0.3 V) is common in home recording and hi-fi equipment.


If you don't know the levels of your equipment, it's bit difficult to say what you should use. Maybe you could test all the different settings and stick to one that gives the strongest signal, but still doesn't clip.

[airborne50caliber]

Oh, i thought -10dBV was the professional level. My bad.