Record Levels - what is +4dB / -10dB

[Roy Tate]

I read a message recently asking how many volts -10dB was.  Or something like that ...

Here is some info extracted from my Tascam TSR-8 manual:

-30dBV = 0.03V
-10dBV = 0.316V
  0dBV = 1.0V
 +4dBV = 1.23V
+18dBV = 8.0V

Sometimes, the 0dB point is not 1.0V, I've read that it could be any of 0.75V, 1.0V and 1.5V.  Also, be aware that digital recorders don't have "headroom" above 0dB, which means a louder signal will cause non-musical distortion.  Since recording engineers are used to tape, where an extra-hot signal will sort-of saturate the tape ( not really causing distortion ) the manufacturers of ADATs and other digital recorders adjust the scale to give more apparent headroom.

I'm not an expert or anything, but FWIW Tascam believes the first bit :)  Any recording engineers / knowledgable experts can feel free to correct me.

Roy Tate
roytate at eigen.net