dBFS

• FS = Full Scale, which is the Digital Zero in the Digital World

– Used Only in Digital Systems

– Fast Response with a Integration Time of 5ms 

– Intended to reflect when Digital Distortion will occur

– Measures in dBFS

– The Maximum Value in a Digital Scale is 0dBFS

– often a Programs Fader Range goes from 0dBFS Down to -96dB (Wavelab, Dualism etc.)

– in the Digital World we have a “Linear System”, means when the Signal is Peaking at -35dB vs a Signal that is Peaking at -8dB you still have the same Signal (just at a Louder Data)

– Except when you Reach the Full Scale at Digital Zero, which is dBFS  = deciBels with Respect to Full Scale (in dB)

– there is Nothing Above dBFS, means what Goes Above is Digital Clipping

– so you Only can Go Down the Scale to the Other Extreme (Towards Minus xxxdBFS, where at a Certain Place the Digital Rounding Errors vs the Sound can Become Audible

– dBFS is Decibels below Full Scale, where Full Scale is a “Signal at” but not above the Point of Clipping (so stays always as the “Top” of any Measurement)

– dBFS is often Used to Describe the Levels of Instantaneous Peaks, but can also be used for Various “Weighted” Peak readings (or even Average/RMS readings)

– to Compare dBFS to dBVU we Enter Bit Math, but Most Converters will have from “-18dBFS to -22dBFS” Equals 0dBVU  (= 1.228 Volts)

– Notice that Digital Full Scale Translates to About +10 VU in the VU World (which Results in a Distorted Signal)