Convert decibels to a linear gain multiplier (and back) — for scripting audio processing, plugin automation, or just understanding what a dB change actually does to amplitude.
The dB to Linear Gain Calculator converts between decibels and the numbers audio software multiplies by: amplitude (voltage) ratio, power ratio and percent. Know that −6 dB is ×0.501, that +20 dB is ×10 and what ×0.25 is in dB — instantly.
It also shows the equivalent RMS voltage using the professional 0 dBu = 0.7746 V reference.
Decibels are logarithmic: dB = 20·log₁₀(amplitude ratio) for voltage-like quantities such as audio samples, and 10·log₁₀(power ratio) for power. Inversely amplitude = 10^(dB/20). Because power is amplitude squared, a +3 dB change is a doubling of power but only ×1.414 in amplitude. Percent is amplitude ×100.
Translate dB moves into gain factors.
Apply gain in code.
Convert thresholds.
Build intuition for dB.
| Conversions | dB ↔ amplitude ↔ power ↔ percent |
|---|---|
| Reference | 0 dBu = 0.7746 V RMS |
×0.708.
×1.995 (≈ double) in amplitude.
linear = 10^(dB/20) for amplitude (voltage/sample) gain — the standard conversion used throughout digital audio.
Decibels for power ratios use 10×log10, but audio amplitude (which is what a gain control changes) is proportional to the square root of power, so the amplitude formula uses 20×log10 instead.
This tool runs entirely in your browser using the Web Audio API. Nothing is uploaded, stored or shared — there is no server to send your file to, so it works offline once the page has loaded.
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