Just what is "0" on the meter then?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jedblue
  • Start date Start date
That is totally cool! Not what I expected...I've got my own copy now.

Thanks!
 
Well, my mistake.

I thought that was a 'beginners link' of some kind (for beginners like myself) - but I honestly think I could read a braille-bible with no hands easier than those charts! :o

When I get my PHD in 'rocket science', hopefully then, they'll make way more sense to me :)

(unless somebody here actually has a special 'gift' and knows how to translate those charts into 'kindergarden-terms' for me?) :D
 
I think of '0' as that place you aim to get to, but not go beyond.
 
0db is a reference point. It really means "0 loss" It came from the early days of telephone. They would compare signals at the ends of long telephone lines and use db as a measure of signal loss, if you got 0db you had no loss. 0db is basically your target level. It is different depending on your operating level, 0db in -10 levels is 316 mv, 0db in +4 levels is 1.23V.
VP;)
 
I'll admit,...

right off the bat I can't suss out that chart. It would take a bit of study. However, I know my all gear sets "0VU" at .316V, @ -10dbV. Tho' that's just just a single standard and quote of specs. I really don't know the dB scale!:eek:;)
 
I have all the freq response charts for my mics posted in my studio and some are dbm and some dbV so this is definitely very useful! Thanks a lot!

-Barrett
 
-10 vs +4

Just for shits and grins, There is really nothing wrong with the unbalanced -10 dbv level of 316 mv. All pro gear uses the +4 dbm which is balanced. This system was developed to deal with the long noisy runs in a commercial studio environment. In a small stationary studio the -10 level might actually be better because in most balanced circuits there are differential amplifiers that can color the sound. The only problem with the unbalanced system is the managing of ground loops. It took me a while to eliminate all my ground loops, but I have a very quiet system. You cant actually hear the different levels anyway, so dont worry if you only have the so called "semi pro" format.
VP:cool:
 
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-10 vs +4

Victory Pete said:
Just for shits and grins, There is really nothing wrong with the unbalanced -10 dbv level of 316 mv. All pro gear uses the +4 dbm which is balanced. This system was developed to deal with the long noisy runs in a commercial studio environment. In a small stationary studio the -10 level might actually be better because in most balanced circuits there are differential amplifiers that can color the sound. The only problem with the unbalanced system is the managing of ground loops. It took me a while to eliminate all my ground loops, but I have a very quiet system. You cant actually hear the diffent levels anyway, so dont worry if you only have the so called "semi pro" format.
VP:cool:
Click to expand...

I have a about a 60/40 mix of +4balanced/-10unbalanced gear in my studio...it all works fine together. When directly interfacing one with the other I need to keep an eye on my levels, but I also have a pair of multi-channel boxes that will convert those back-n-forth...so when I am interconnecting a lot of gear for anything more "critical"...I'll go through them.

Either way, when the signal is good, I've never had issues with noise or really weird mismatches. A lot of gear allows for easy switching.

The one area that I had to concentrate on was my patchbays. They are all balanced TT-Bantam PBs, so when I was wiring them all up, I paid close attention to the grounding because of the mix of balanced and unbalanced gear...and apart for a few bad points that turned up out of several hundred and needed quick fixing, overall I have a pretty quiet studio rig.

The AC electric was also the other important part...to help things stay clean/quiet.
 
miroslav said:
I have a about a 60/40 mix of +4balanced/-10unbalanced gear in my studio...it all works fine together. When directly interfacing one with the other I need to keep an eye on my levels, but I also have a pair of multi-channel boxes that will convert those back-n-forth...so when I am interconnecting a lot of gear for anything more "critical"...I'll go through them.

Either way, when the signal is good, I've never had issues with noise or really weird mismatches. A lot of gear allows for easy switching.

The one area that I had to concentrate on was my patchbays. They are all balanced TT-Bantam PBs, so when I was wiring them all up, I paid close attention to the grounding because of the mix of balanced and unbalanced gear...and apart for a few bad points that turned up out of several hundred and needed quick fixing, overall I have a pretty quiet studio rig.

The AC electric was also the other important part...to help things stay clean/quiet.
Click to expand...

It can get confusing, interfacing the 2 levels, I do it all the time. It would be nice if everything was completely compatible. Clean AC power is very important, I am a liscenced electrician and sometimes I have to bend the codebook rules in my own studio to make it absolutely quiet. The National Electric Code has a brief section on broadcast, recording, television and similiar studios, but they dont address ground loops. I recently bought a Furman balanced power supply, It is heavy and expensive. I think I can hear a difference with it, but I wouldnt say it is necassary. As an electrical engineer I think the balanced power is cool.
VP:cool:
 
Thanks for posting the thread for the info. I've downloaded a copy for future reference.
 
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