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About this tool
Convert a level between dBFS, dBu, dBV, volts RMS and percent of full scale using a chosen alignment standard.
This calculator converts one audio level between dBFS, dBu, dBV, volts RMS and percent of full scale. dBu and dBV are absolute voltage scales — 0 dBu is 0.7746 V RMS and 0 dBV is 1 V RMS — while dBFS only becomes a voltage once an alignment standard fixes how much analogue headroom sits above the reference level, which is why the tool asks which standard you work to. Engineers use it to line up converters, patch analogue gear into a digital session and keep every stage in its linear range.
Open Gain Staging Calculator on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
Enter the values you already know.
Fine-tune the options to match your scenario.
Read the result and use it in your planning or reporting.
EBU R68, SMPTE RP155 and ARD presets, plus a custom 0 dBFS-equals-dBu field.
dBFS, dBu, dBV, volts, millivolts, percent and raw 16/24-bit sample values.
Shows the dB change and fader multiplier to reach a target level.
0 dBu is 0.7746 V RMS — the voltage that dissipates 1 milliwatt into a 600 ohm load. Professional line level of +4 dBu is 1.228 V RMS, and consumer −10 dBV is 0.316 V RMS, which works out at about −7.8 dBu.
Under EBU R68, −18 dBFS is exactly 0 dBu, which is why European broadcast gear is often described as having 18 dB of headroom. Under SMPTE RP155 the reference sits at −20 dBFS = +4 dBu, so full scale corresponds to +24 dBu.
Aim for peaks around −12 dBFS and an average near −18 dBFS. That keeps transients clear of clipping and puts the signal where analogue-modelled plugins expect 0 VU, while 24-bit recording means the extra headroom costs no audible noise.
No. −6.02 dBFS is 50% amplitude, but most DAW faders use a tapered scale where the halfway travel point is nearer −10 to −15 dB. The percentage shown here is linear sample amplitude, not fader travel.
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