Explores the science behind different decibel measurements used in audio equipment, from sound pressure levels (SPL) measured by devices like Apple Watch to volume controls on amplifiers using dBFS. Covers the evolution of audio metering from 1930s BBC meters to modern LUFS standards that account for human hearing perception. Explains concepts like RMS, peak detection, loudness wars, and psychoacoustic filtering including A-weighting curves. Includes practical examples from YouTube's loudness normalization and workplace safety standards.
Table of contents
What even is sound?Under pressureSignal processingRoot Mean SquareSample Peak, True PeakThe Loudness WarsA-weightingA dynamic linker murder mysterySort: