METERS:

DBfs (PPM and RMS) vs VU vs DBspl

DB fs (full scale) meters – software and hardware

digital meters that measure signal strength in software or a
hardware device (examples below)
DBfs Meters – Peak Vs RMS
There are two standard types of DBfs meters:
PPM – Program Peak and RMS – Root Means Square

PPM level metering will measure sudden changes in level

and altering you of digital overloads, which is crucial to avoid
clipping the signal. Peak metering will NOT give you a
proper indication of perceived loudness. PPM meters are
better for monitoring transients and are often used to find
sounds that are spiking so you can make adjustments that
keep them at more consistent levels.

Digital PPM or Peak Program Meters can help you get a

sense of the dynamic range of your mix by displaying the
maximum decibel amplitude level of an audio signal’s
waveform. Peak metering is designed to respond quickly so
that the meter display reacts in exact proportion to the
voltage of the audio signal. Peak meters are also very useful
for alerting users when potential clipping distortion occurs
caused from the signal spiking over 0 dBFS.

NOTE:

The loudest program materials (i.e. whatever

represents the loudest thing in the scene/mix)
should be dancing around -12 DBfs (ppm). Giving
you head room for more dynamic mixes.

When you calibrate your monitors this is also

where PINK NOISE will sit when monitoring PPM.
RMS metering will give you a more accurate impression of
perceived loudness because this type of meter measures
levels slower than a PPM meter and will display an ‘average’
level rather than the instantaneous peaks. This type of
metering is either commonly used to match loudness levels
with commercial masters or used to identify sounds that are
eating up headroom and not letting the higher frequencies
cut through the mix such as bass notes or a kick drum. For
example, an RMS meter could be helpful at identifying a
heavy sub bass that may be dominating your mix which can
affect the clarity and impact of other sounds.

RMS (Root Mean Square) metering is a more accurate way

to determine the loudness of your mixes. RMS meters
essentially emulate VU meters commonly found on analog
consoles and are designed to give a better impression of
perceived loudness by displaying the average output level
calculated over a short period of time. An RMS readout will
typically display lower than an equivalent peak meter
because it measures the amount of energy in the waveform
and averages the peaks into the overall loudness which is a
more sustained level compared to fast changes in level.

NOTE:

The loudest program materials (i.e. whatever

represents the loudest thing in the scene/mix)
should be dancing around -20 DBfs (rms). Giving
you better sense of perceived loudness over time.

When you calibrate your monitors this is also

where PINK NOISE will sit when monitoring RMS.
VU (volume unit) meter
analog meters that measure signal level (0vu = -20db fs/-
18db fs) (see example below)

A Volume Unit Meter is a metering unit to measure a signal

level volume. It has a slow response and ignores the signal
peaks (300 milliseconds of integration time). It works in a
similar way to the human ear. Due to its similar behavior, VU
meters are useful when in the mixing phase of a project.

VU Meter Calibration:

Calibrating a VU meter plugin in the digital world is easy, get a dBfs reference to match with 0VU
(0VU means when the VU needle is on zero).

Ex: If you choose -18 dBfs = 0VU, you will get a 18 dB of headroom approximately. This could be
-20 dbfs, etc. depending on what stardard you are using.
DB spl
Measure of sound pressure (i.e. the condensation and
rarefaction of sound in air - via playback/speakers/sound
source) (i.e. real sound in a real space NOT a signal in
software or hardware)

Standard for studios/sound stages are:

79dbSPL for Small Theater/Mixing Spaces

83dbSPL for Mid Sized Theater/Mixing Spaces
85dbSPL for Large/Standard Theatrical Spaces/Mix
Theaters
This is measured by playing PINK NOISE out of a daw
(digital audio workstation) and speakers at -20 dbfs (rms)
with an SPL meter set to:

C-weighting/Slow Response

And adjusting the volume control on your speakers (or

master volume) until they play back at:

79dbSPL for Small Theater/Mixing Spaces

83dbSPL for Mid Sized Theater/Mixing Spaces
85dbSPL for Large/Standard Theatrical Spaces/Mix
Theaters