• Event Videographers

  Format Conversion – Audio settings (-6 or 0?)

  Posted by Miles King on April 12, 2005 at 12:56 pm

  Hi everyone,

  I’m converting some VHS tapes to mini-DV. The VHS deck I’m using gives me the option to output at -6db or 0db or +6db. I know +6db is too loud, but I’m not sure if I should be dubbing these new copies using 0db or -6db. I would assume 0db so it is an indentical copy, correct? Thanks!

  -Limelite

  Doug Graham replied 21 years ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Peter Ralph

  April 12, 2005 at 9:57 pm

  It really depends on where the levels are on the original tape, and how much dynamic range there is within the audio track. If you know that +6 is too high then I would go with -6. You might check a section or two after dubbing and to compare how close you are to clipping and versus much noise you are picking up.
• 

  Doug Graham

  April 13, 2005 at 4:15 pm

  Yeah, definitely check a bit first. “0dB” is different for consumer and pro equipment, which is why your deck has that switch.

  Regards,
  Doug Graham

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