dB dBu dBV dBm to volts conversion calculator volt - volts to dBu and dBV dB - convert dB volt calculation online attenuation loss gain ratio reference

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Voltage V and voltage level L_V
• dB conversion (decibel) •
dBu → volts (rms), dBV → volts (rms)
volts (rms) → dBu and dBV

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The reference voltage for dBu is 0.775 volt (0.77459667 V) and for dBV it is exactly 1.0 volt.

The origin of the index of dBu comes from "u = unloaded" and of dBV is from "V = 1 volt". Some say:
The "u" in dBu implies that the load impedance is un specified, un terminated, and is likely to be high.

What is dBu? A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V₀ = 0.7746 volt ≡ 0 dBu
What is dBV? A logarithmic voltage ratio with a reference voltage of V₀ = 1.0000 volt ≡ 0 dBV
The home recording level of −10 dBV means 0.3162 volts, that is −7.78 dBu
Level: +4 is for pro audio, and −10 is for consumer audio.

If you need dBm with "m = 1 milliwatt", go to: Conversion: Voltage V to dB, dBu, dBV, and dBm

Level

Voltage

There is really no fixed standard like e.g. 20 dBFS = 0 dBVU = +4 dB_u.
We got no such reference. dBFS is a digital level and dBVU is an analog level.
Digital and analog are two totally different worlds.

Advice: Watch only your digital meters and go up to 0 dBFS, but never go
over this mark. We need no "headroom" in the digital domain, like we use
it in the analog domain.

Never take the following funny guessing game for granted:
European & UK calibration for Post & Film is −18 dBFS = 0 VU
BBC spec: −18 dBFS = PPM 4 = 0 dBu
American Post: −20 dBFS = 0 VU = +4 dBu
Orchestral −18 dBFS = 0 VU = +4 dBu
Rock and / or Radio −16, or −14, or −12 dBFS = 0 VU = +4 dBu
Digi 002 is only capable of −14 dBFS.
German ARD & studio PPM +6 dBu = −10 (−9) dBFS. +16 (+15)dBu = 0 dBFS. No VU.

Enter a value in the left or right box, then press the TAB bar or make
a mouse click at an empty space at the side, to get the solution.
The calculator works in both directions of the ↔ sign.

Conversion of voltage or power ratios to decibels dB - table and chart
Table of Sound Pressure Levels and Corresponding Sound Pressure and Sound Intensity

RMS voltage, peak voltage and peak-to-peak voltage

The parameters of the mains or "power" sine wave form are summarized in the table below:

Average voltage	RMS voltage (V_RMS)	Peak voltage (V_p)	Peak-to-peak voltage (V_p-p)
0 volts	117 volts = V_RMS	165 volts = √2×V_RMS	330 volts = 2×√2×V_RMS
0 volts	230 volts = V_RMS	325 volts = √2×V_RMS	650 volts = 2×√2×V_RMS

	V_RMS	V_p	V_p-p
RMS value V_RMS =	−	0.7071 × V_p	0.3535 × V_p-p
Peak value V_p =	1.414 × V_RMS	−	0.5000 × V_p-p
Peak to peak V_p-p =	2.828 × V_RMS	2.000 × V_p	−

The crest factor means the ratio of the peak voltage to the RMS voltage.

If you need to calculate an attenuator (attenuation calculation) you calculate a voltage divider.

International levels

Level	Level L in dB	Voltage (RMS)
International studio level - USA	+4 dBu	1.228 V
European studio level - ARD broadcast level	+6 dBu	1.55 V
Domestic recording (Consumer units)	−10 dBV	0.3162 V = −7.78 dBu
Sound pressure level (auditory threshold)	0 dB	2×10⁻⁵ Pa ≡ 0 dBSPL

International reference values

Physical unit	Reference value	Level unit	Note
Voltage	V₀ = 0.775 V	≡ 0 dBu	Audio technique, no impedance reference!
Voltage	V₀ = 1 V	≡ 0 dBV	Audio technique, USA
Voltage	V₀ = 1×10⁻⁶ V		HF receiver and amplifier technique
Voltage	V₀ = 0.224 V		HF technique - Reference 1 mW at R = 50 Ω
Voltage	V = 1.228 V		Studio level +4 dBu, USA - Reference 0.7746 V
Voltage	V = 1.55 V		Studio level +6 dBu, ARD - Reference 0.7746 V
Voltage	V = 0.3162 V		Home recording level -10 dBV = 7.78 dBu - Reference 0.7746 V
Sound pressure	p₀ = 2×10⁻⁵ Pa	≡ 0 dB	Sound Pressure Level SPL, auditory threshold (Sound field quantity)
Sound particle velocity	v₀ = 5×10⁻⁸ m/s	≡ 0 dB
Sound intensity	I₀ = 1×10⁻¹² W/m²	≡ 0 dB	Threshold of pain at 1 W/m² (Sound energy quantity)
Power	P₀ = 1 W	≡ 0 dBW
Power	P₀ = 1 mW	≡ 0 dBm	at R = 600 Ω (telephones) or 50 Ω (antennas)
Electric field strength	E₀ = 1×10⁻⁶ V/m

Note: There is no conversion formula for measured dBA values to sound pressure level dBSPL or vice versa.

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Voltage V (audio): volts	↔	Voltage level L_V: dBu
$V = V_0 \cdot 10^\frac{L_V}{20} \ \mbox{volts}$		$L_V = 20\, \log_{10}\left(\frac{V}{V_0}\right) \ \mbox{dBu}$
Reference voltage V₀ = 0.7746 Volt (0 dBu)

Voltage V: volts	↔	Voltage level L_U: dBV
$V = V_0 \cdot 10^\frac{L_V}{20} \ \mbox{volts}$		$L_V = 20\, \log_{10}\left(\frac{V}{V_0}\right) \ \mbox{dBV}$
Reference voltage V₀ = 1 Volt (0 dBV)

Electric power P: watts	↔	Electric power level L_P: dB

Reference electric power P₀ = 1 W (0 dB)