db volume scaling

[Tim Blechmann]

Jeff Mitchell wrote:
> Tim Blechmann wrote:
>>>> still, a few questions:
>>>> - when i want to reduce the volume by 6 db in the decibel scale, how
>>>> much do i have to reduce the volume in amarok's percent scale?
> 
> Get a calculator.

i am asking you :P

>>> What one cares about for Amarok is: Is this too loud? Yes. -> Make it
>>> less loud!" or "Is this not loud enough? Yes. -> Make it louder!"
>>> (Amarok is not a DJ application, mixer or the like.)
>> for question one, yes. i know, how it sounds, when i change the volume
>> by a certain amount of decibel.
>> when i want to make it a bit louder, i increase the volume by 2 or 3 db,
> 
> Add 10%
> 
>> if i have a high volume and want to reduce it a lot, i reduce it by 20
>> db
> 
> Subtract 40%
> 
>> ... no matter, if i am currently listening at -6, -12 or -20 db ...
> 
> ... no matter, if you are currently listening at 20, or 60, or 80%

you don't get my point, do you?

>> question two was more a rhetorical question to show, that amarok's
>> percent scale does not work well for a quantitative description of volume.
> 
> Question two is bogus anyways.  Adjusting Amarok's volume slider changes
> Amarok's relative volume level.  Regardless of whether it is in dB or
> percentage, there are other factors (multiple ALSA sliders, for
> instance) that affect the actual output audio volume.  This also varies
> by sound card, among other factors.  In other words:
> 
>> - when setup A is 10 db louder than setup B (setup A may be the studio,
>> setup B the living room). how much do i have to increase the volume in
>> amarok's percent scale to get the same sound pressure level, if my
>> default playback volume is (a) 20% or (b) 50%?
> 
> Assuming everything is equal -- sound card, system, all other sliders
> and equipment and factors, so that Amarok's volume level is the *only*
> difference -- you need to increase the volume on setup B until the
> percentage on setup B matches the percentage on setup A.  (Duh.)

sure, but i am asking you, how much that is?

cheers, tim

-- 
tim at klingt.org
http://tim.klingt.org

Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness
  Samuel Beckett

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