“Explain Like I’m 5″: Audio Levels

DIY Recording Equipment Podcast

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9+ y ago

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What's the difference between "pro" and "consumer" line levels?

Is it ok to plug an instrument into a line level input?

What's the difference between peak and RMS levels?

In the long-awaited return of our "Explain Like I'm 5" podcast series, Peterson and new DIYRE team member, Chris, explain the basics of audio levels.

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Topics discussed:

Can you damage equipment by plugging the wrong thing in?
In analog audio Volume = Voltage
The difference between peak and RMS volume
RMS is a way of measuring AC as if it were DC
The most common levels you'll encounter in the studio:
- +4dBu, pro line level (1.22V)
- -10dBV, consumer line level (.316V)
- Mic level
- Instrument level
Tangent: why are microphone output levels so low?

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