ABSTRACT
With the advent of digital audio, the CD, newer microphone technologies and surround-sound home theaters, an increase in dynamic range and a demand for better quality sound have been on the rise. Because of this, it’s more important than ever for those in audio production to pay close attention to the background noise levels that are produced by amplifier self-noise, analog magnetic tape and the like. Although the overall dynamic range of human hearing roughly encompasses a full 140 dB, this often can’t be fully captured by a recording or delivery medium for several reasons:
n An acoustic or electronic weak link in the chain might be introducing noise and/or restricting the program’s dynamic range.
