dB — Decibel Reference Suffixes (dBu, dBFS, dBSPL, dBm, dBV)
Decibel suffixes define the reference point for audio level measurements — confusing dBu with dBFS or dBSPL is one of the most common errors in gain structure setup.
glossaryaudiofundamentalsdecibelsgain-structuremetering
Gain Structure — Setting Levels Through the Signal Chain
Gain structure is the systematic setting of amplification and attenuation at every stage in an audio signal chain to maximize signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining adequate headroom before clipping.
glossaryaudiofundamentalsgain-structuredspdecibels+1
SNR — Signal-to-Noise Ratio
SNR quantifies how much stronger the desired signal is than the noise floor — a fundamental specification for microphones, preamps, DSPs, and amplifiers that determines how quiet a system can be before background noise becomes audible.
glossaryaudiofundamentalssnrnoise-floormicrophones+2