Understanding Audio Level and Pan

When fine-tuning audio, two of the most important types of adjustment are level and pan.

Audio Level

Audio level is a measure of the sound intensity. This value, which is calculated in decibels (dB), is gauged relative to a reference audio level, which is typically set at the threshold of perception of human hearing. On this scale, “normal” sounds, such as the human voice, should fall within a -20 dB to -14 dB (analog audio) or 0 dB to +6 dB (digital audio) range. Loud sounds can register higher on this scale; quiet sounds can register lower on this scale.