Tech Basics Without Tears
Mar 14, 2008 5:29 PM, By Jon Chappell With Steve Oppenheimer
A PAIN-FREE EXPLANATION OF FIVE CONCEPTS ALL MUSICIANS SHOULD UNDERSTAND
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RELATIVE SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS
Note: since decibels are logarithms, zero is an admissible value.
In this case, zero represents the threshold of human hearing.
| Source | Decibels SPL | Times the TOH (in SPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold of hearing (TOH) | 0 | 1× |
| Rustling leaves | 10 | 10× |
| Whisper | 20 | 100× |
| Computer keyboard | 30 | 1,000× |
| Typewriter keyboard | 40 | 10,000× |
| Quiet voice | 50 | 100,000× |
| Normal conversation | 60 | 1,000,000× |
| Street traffic | 70 | 10,000,000× |
| Vacuum cleaner | 80 | 100,000,000× |
| Shouting | 90 | 1,000,000,000× |
| Walkman at maximum | 100 | 10,000,000,000× |
| Subway | 110 | 100,000,000,000× |
| Jet take-off | 120 | 1,000,000,000,000× |
| Gunshot at close range | 140 | 10 |
| Instant eardrum damage | 160 | 10 |
Jon Chappellis the author of several books on audio and recording, including his latest, Build Your Own PC Recording Studio (McGraw-Hill, 2003). Visit www.jonchappell.com for more information. Steve Ois the editor in chief of Onstage and Electronic Musician magazines.
