Audio
Dynamic Range
01 — Definition
The gap, in dB, between the quietest and the loudest signal a system handles cleanly — bounded below by the noise floor and above by the clip point. In pro analogue, expect 120+ dB; in 24-bit digital, 144 dB in theory, which the analogue stage brings back to around 115–120 dB in practice. A CD (16-bit) tops out at 96 dB theoretical.
02 — In the field
When a sound engineer says a mix has no dynamics, they mean the dynamic range has been compressed to almost nothing: everything arrives at the same level. Dynamic range in a mix is exactly what makes a whisper feel intimate and a kick feel powerful.
04 — Sources
- Ballou, p. 842 — 6,02 dB par bit : 96 dB en 16 bits