Setting Levels in the Digital World.
Since dBVU introduced its calibration setting, I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding this sentence in the manual:
For maximum recording quality and headroom, adjust the calibration setting in dBVU to match your audio interface or AD/DA converter’s 0VU/nominal reference level.
So what if the manual for my interface describes nominal levels in dBu or dBV?
Normally, audio converters are set at one of two standards. -10dBV (or ‘consumer’) and +4dBu (or ‘pro’). This should be listed in the specifications section of your device’s manual. Your manual should also list its ‘maximum input level’ or 0dBFS level in corresponding dBV or dBu.
Here is how to calculate the amount of headroom for your device:
Nominal Level - Maximum Input Level = Headroom
For example:
dBV: -10dBV - +2dBV = -12
dBu: +4dBu - +22dBu = -18
The outcome of this simple calculation will give you the calibration setting for use in dBVU.
By entering the calculated headroom, 0VU in dBVU will now correctly reflect the nominal level of your device and give you the amount of headroom under 0dBFS intended by your device’s manufacturer.
What if my interface’s manual doesn’t list any of this information?
In this case, it’s recommended that you leave dBVU at it’s default -20 setting. This will give you 20dB of headroom for peaks before clipping in your DAW.
I hope this explanation helps. If you have any questions regarding this or any of dBVU’s features, please use the “Ask Me Anything” button at the bottom of this page. You can also find me on the following forums: Cockos REAPER, KVR Audio, HomeRecording.com. My user name is d.bop.
Have a great day and happy recording!
-Dustin Ralston
