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Properties of DB Scales

In every kind of dB, a factor of 10 in amplitude increase corresponds to a 20 dB boost (increase by 20 dB):

$\displaystyle 20\log_{10}\left(\frac{10 \cdot A}{A_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) ... ...)}_{\mbox{$20$\ dB}} + 20\log_{10}\left(\frac{A}{A_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) $

and $ 20\log_{10}(10) = 20$, of course. A function $ f(x)$ which is proportional to $ 1/x$ is said to ``fall off'' (or ``roll off'') at the rate of $ 20$ dB per decade. That is, for every factor of $ 10$ in $ x$ (every ``decade''), the amplitude drops $ 20$ dB. Similarly, a factor of 2 in amplitude gain corresponds to a 6 dB boost:

$\displaystyle 20\log_{10}\left(\frac{2 \cdot A}{A_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) =... ...2)}_{\mbox{$6$\ dB}} + 20\log_{10}\left(\frac{A}{A_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) $

and

$\displaystyle 20\log_{10}(2) = 6.0205999\ldots \approx 6 \;$   dB$\displaystyle . \protect$

A function $ f(x)$ which is proportional to $ 1/x$ is said to fall off $ 6$ dB per octave. That is, for every factor of $ 2$ in $ x$ (every ``octave''), the amplitude drops close to $ 6$ dB. Thus, 6 dB per octave is the same thing as 20 dB per decade. A doubling of power corresponds to a 3 dB boost:

$\displaystyle 10\log_{10}\left(\frac{2 \cdot A^2}{A^2_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\righ... ...{\mbox{$3$\ dB}} + 10\log_{10}\left(\frac{A^2}{A^2_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) $

and

$\displaystyle 10\log_{10}(2) = 3.010\ldots \approx 3\;$dB$\displaystyle . \protect$

Finally, note that the choice of reference merely determines a vertical offset in the dB scale:

$\displaystyle 20\log_{10}\left(\frac{A}{A_{\mbox{\small ref}}}\right) = 20\log_... ...(A) - \underbrace{20\log_{10}(A_{\mbox{\small ref}})}_{\mbox{constant offset}} $

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Specific DB Scales
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Logarithms of Negative and Imaginary Numbers