CINEMATIC

 SOUND  

Class  1:  
Amplitude  
 Amplitude  

Amplitude  is  the  strength  of  a  signal.    In  audio,  

this   applies   to   several   things,   including   the  
strength   of   the   pressure   exerted   by   a   sound  
wave   in   the   air,   the   perceived   loudness   of   a  
sound,   or   the   voltage   of   an   audio   signal   in   an  
electrical   device   or   circuit.     In   all   cases,  
amplitude  is  measured  in  decibels.    
 Decibels  

The  decibel  is  a  dimensionless  measurement  –  that  

is,   it   is   not   a   fixed,   immutable   value,   such   as   an  
inch,   hertz,   or   a   liter.   Instead,   it   is   a   ra0o   of   the  
powers   of   two   signals.     It   is   based   on   logarithms,  
which   are   mathemaJcal   expressions   that   describe  
raJos.     Logarithms   are   useful   when   working   with  
values   that   are   vastly   different   from   each   other,  
and  that  would  otherwise  require  large  numbers  in  
order  to  be  expressed.    They  allow  for  an  accurate  
mathemaJcal  “shorthand”  that  can  greatly  simplify  
otherwise  complex  mathemaJcal  relaJonships.  
 Decibels  
Measuring   raJos   of   power   in   decibels   is   very   useful   when  
considering  the  percepJon  of  sound.  The  ear  is  very  sensiJve  
to   an   extremely   broad   range   of   amplitudes.     Measured   in  
absolute   terms,   the   soQest   audible   sound   has   a   power   of  
about   0.000000000001   waS/sq.   meter   and   the   threshold   of  
pain  is  around  1  waS/sq.  meter.    Trying  to  designate  specific  
amplitudes   with   such   a   huge   range   of   numbers   is   highly  
impracJcal,  as  we  would  need  an  enormous  scale.    And  since  
what   we   really   care   about   is   the   rela0onship   of   the  
amplitudes   of   signals   (which   one   is   stronger,   and   how   much  
stronger),   using   a   simplified   scale   that   expresses   these  
relaJonships  is  not  only  pracJcal,  it  reflects  quite  well  the  way  
we  hear  and  the  way  audio  signals  behave.    
The    raJo  
between  these  
two  values  is  
10,000,000  :  1  
Since  decibels  are  raJos,  not  
absolute  fixed  values,  it  is  
important  to  know  what  the  
reference  is  for  any  
measurement  given  in  
decibels.  A  raJo  of  1:1  is  
expressed  as  0dB.    So,  if  we  
know  what  0dB  represents  in  
a  given  system,  then  we  can  
ascribe  meaning  to  any  
decibel  measurement,  
because  we  know  what  the  
reference  is  in  that  system.    
In  this  table  of  human  
hearing,  0dB  is  the  threshold  
of  hearing;  all  other  
measurements  are  relaJve  
to  that.      
On  the  level  slider  of  a  mixing  console,  0dB  
is  located  about  ¾  of  the  way  up.  It  is  NOT  
at  the  boSom  of  the  slider  (“off”).    In  this   +3  
system,  0dB  corresponds  to  no  change  in    
 0  
signal  strength  between  the  level  in  to    
the  slider  and  the  level  out  of  the  slider   -­‐3  
(its  internal  electronics).    If  we  turn  it    
down,  we  get  nega0ve  decibel  readings;  if    
we  turn  it  up,  we  get  posi0ve  decibel    
 
readings.    Decibels  CAN  BE  negaJve   -­‐10  
because  they  are  ra0os:  a  negaJve  decibel    
value  simply  means  one  signal  is  less  than    
another.    A  posiJve  decibel  value  means   -­‐20  
one  signal  is  greater  than  another.  The  -­‐∞  
at  the  boSom  of  the  slider  is  not  a    
-­‐30  
mysterious  symbol,  it  signifies  an  infinite    
amount  of  resistance  applied  to  the   -­‐40  
voltage  in  the  slider,  and  therefore  results    
in  “off”,  or  “no  level”   -­‐60  
 
-­‐∞  
 Decibels,  amplitude,  and  loudness  
There   are   some   simple   rules   of   thumb   for   decibel   measurements   that   are  
useful  to  know.  
 
Amplitude   measured   as   sound   pressure   level   (SPL)   in   the   air   is   an   objecJve  
measurement;  one  can  calculate  the  power  exerted  on  a  given  surface  area.    
A   +6dB   change   represents   a   doubling   of   power,   that   is,   twice   as   much  
pressure  is  exerted  in  the  air  at  the  same  locaJon.    Amplitude  changes  as  a  
square  of  distance  (like  light  levels);  so,  if  point  b  is  twice  as  far  away  as  point  
a,  the  amplitude  at  point  b  is  four  Jmes  less,  or  -­‐12dB-­‐SPL.  
 
Loudness   is   a   subjecJve   measurement   –   it   is   how   one   perceives   raJos   of  
signal   strength,   not   necessarily   the   actual   objecJve   raJos   of   power.     In  
general,  1dB  to  2dB  is  typically  a  “just  perceivable”  difference  in  loudness,  
depending   on   frequency   content.     It   is   oQen   said   that   a   +10dB   change   is  
perceived   as   a   doubling   of   loudness,   but   some   research   disputes   the  
reliability   of   this   measurement,   so   it   should   be   thought   of   as   a   rather   general  
noJon.  
 Decibels,  amplitude,  and  loudness  

The  sound  at  point  b  

has  ¼  the  power  of  
the  sound  at  point  a  
original  
receiving  
posiJon  =   0.4  w/sq  m     0.1  w/sq  m    
0dB-­‐SPL   a  =  -­‐6dB-­‐SPL   b  =  -­‐12db-­‐SPL  
2  feet  
sound  source   4  feet