Quote:
Originally Posted by
Blinddot
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I think you are mixing average (RMS/VU) and peak levels concepts.
when talking about tracking at -18dBFS/-20dBFS it means average levels, since that is approximately the equivalent of +4dBu (reference level = nominal level = 0VU) in the digital domain (it has been explained already how to find out the exact value for your particular converters)
So when tracking around +4dBu it means VU level not peak level, the peak value could be something 5, 10 or 20dBs over the VU level depending on how percussive the source is (crest factor), and that is the actual definition of headroom: everything above +4dBu up to the clipping point.
when Paul refers to not hitting higher than -3dBFS when AD or DA it means peak level not average level.
If you do the tracking and mixing with peak meters only (like many people do) you're in blind mode and it gets harder, you do need a VU/RMS meter, I recommend PSP vintage meter, great, great free meter plugin. It is VUmeter + Peak LED
I know it can get a bit confusing but once you get your head around dBFS dBu and VU it gets easier
Check this two charts, they can help you get your head around all this, they have a bit of spanish but I guess they will help you anyway
this one first:
http://www.hispasonic.com/comunidad/...3801&mode=view
then this other one:
http://www.hispasonic.com/comunidad/...3812&mode=view
Please forget 'average level', it has no meaning in the digital domain and has an unspecified meaning in the analogue domain, as it infers 'over time' when time is
not specified. Is it 10ms, 100ms or the whole darn track, who knows?
No one working on a W/S has any kind of average meter (of whatever flavour) that is a standard you can trust.
Therefore everything I have ever said about level is therefore peak - because it's the only thing you can rely on..
When I say I try to give myself 10 to 12dB headroom by reducing levels I mean
peak levels because no other unspecified measurement would make any sense at all..