Measuring dB on a computer

[Pretzel-Whore]

Right now I'm on Vista Ultimate. I'm using Winamp, and I'm wondering if there was a way to measure how many dB are being pumped out of my headphones. Any possible way?

[nal1200]

At 12/16/08 12:06 AM, Pretzel-Whore wrote: Right now I'm on Vista Ultimate. I'm using Winamp, and I'm wondering if there was a way to measure how many dB are being pumped out of my headphones. Any possible way?

I've never used winamp, but if there is a sound meter in the master volume panel, it should light up red when you've peaked.

You may want to check the help tool, as I'm not sure how many people here use winamp as a DAW.

[joshhunsaker]

dB is a relative unit of measurement that can apply to sound pressure as well as voltage so this all depends on what you wish to figure out. It only has meaning relative to a "reference level" (think when you see the meters clip at "0 db" on your favorite DAW).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel

[Mich]

At 12/16/08 12:12 AM, nal1200 wrote:

At 12/16/08 12:06 AM, Pretzel-Whore wrote: Right now I'm on Vista Ultimate. I'm using Winamp, and I'm wondering if there was a way to measure how many dB are being pumped out of my headphones. Any possible way?

I've never used winamp, but if there is a sound meter in the master volume panel, it should light up red when you've peaked.

You may want to check the help tool, as I'm not sure how many people here use winamp as a DAW.

Winamp is not a DAW actually... It's just a media player with loads of features, you can't use it as a DAW.
As to the OP: It really depends on your speakers you're using, your software can't measure the sound pressure, you'll need something external for that.

[loansindi]

At 12/16/08 12:06 AM, Pretzel-Whore wrote: Right now I'm on Vista Ultimate. I'm using Winamp, and I'm wondering if there was a way to measure how many dB are being pumped out of my headphones. Any possible way?

it sounds like you mean SPL, a physical measurement. This isn't something your computer can do, being that it doesn't have an SPL meter built into it (if it does, neat.)

you're going to need an external device of some sort.

[joshhunsaker]

SPL meters can actually be picked up from most larger general electronic stores such as Fry's in the car audio section (as normally it the car audio bassheads that also extremely interested in figuring out how loud their systems are). Behringer also makes a very economical measurement microphone - the ECM8000 for $50 (which is also supposedly an incredible mic for instruments) that you can use with the free TrueRTA Spectrum Analysis software to gauge the eq response of your headphones if desired.

There's really quite a few fun options available in that respect for not that high of an entry price...

[Envy]

... I came into this thread hoping to read something interesting.

This thread is WAY too smart for me. I don't think I understood anything except for the word "winamp"

[Krank]

At 12/17/08 03:31 PM, Envy wrote: This thread is WAY too smart for me. I don't think I understood anything except for the word "winamp"

^^^