EEVblog #49 - Decibels (dB's) for Engineers - A Tutorial

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 20 авг 2024
  • Are you a pessimist or an optimist?
    Dave explains dB's and how they are useful for us engineering types.

Комментарии • 321

  • @mrex5769
    @mrex5769 2 года назад +54

    I'm literally 4 classes away from an electrical engineering degree and this video is the first time anyone's ever explained to me what db actually are

  • @kartikeyak3425
    @kartikeyak3425 2 года назад +21

    13 years old but still helping so many students. I'm so glad i came across your channel!!

  • @selvakumarr6672
    @selvakumarr6672 4 года назад +29

    Wow, I never imagined that I will get so real meaning of dBs. Thank you so much for this.
    Recently i came across working with dBs in my profession, I asked many of my friends on what is the real world meaning of dBs, Frankly nobody able to explain anything closer to this. Keep up your wonderful work.

    • @AlienRelics
      @AlienRelics 3 года назад +2

      Are you trying to use a plural of dB by adding an "s"? That doesn't really work, I don't think there is a plural for a symbol. I was thinking you were trying to say dBspl or dBm or something like that.

    • @selvakumarr6672
      @selvakumarr6672 3 года назад +4

      @@AlienRelics . Yup that was my mistake on adding 's.

  • @ShizzleMyChizzle
    @ShizzleMyChizzle 9 лет назад +80

    So passionate about teaching, absolute must watch channel for any electronic engineer.

  • @HamedAdefuwa
    @HamedAdefuwa 3 года назад +9

    dave, ur approach is just genius, everytime I watch your videos I get filled with "dont worry about it, its easy to understand" - all other engineering videos fill me with despair, like I've got to go back and complete 50 physics text books before I can do EE.

  • @retrobrw919
    @retrobrw919 8 лет назад +29

    I'm so glad I found the EEVBlog. It's such great supplement to my college studies in Electronics Engineering Technology!

  • @EscapeMCP
    @EscapeMCP 7 лет назад +17

    Should have included how to work out dB's inbetween decades e.g.:
    20:1 is +6dB for x2 and +20dB for x10 = +26dB
    1:50 is -40db for /100 and then +6dB for *2 = -34dB
    Such an elegant system. You can always get pretty accurate ballpark figures without any need for calculators.

  • @coyohti
    @coyohti Год назад +1

    "Because it's nicer when things get more complex."
    This video has not only helped me understand dB better but the above quote has helped me understand why my dad (an electrical engineer) was the way he was. 😉

  • @1SmokedTurkey1
    @1SmokedTurkey1 11 лет назад +2

    Better than my Communication Theory prof's explanation, which took more than 2 classes and I still didn't get it.
    Thanks!

  • @eighthourlunch
    @eighthourlunch 8 лет назад +8

    Excellent explanation, thank you. I wish my college professors had been as competent at distilling ideas like these into something understandable.

  • @andymouse
    @andymouse Год назад

    13 years and still cool and relevant....cheers.

  • @fuahuahuatime5196
    @fuahuahuatime5196 6 лет назад +2

    Thank you for the video! I learned about dB back in school but never grasped the idea, and it's always been my biggest weakness.

  • @abberdakas6294
    @abberdakas6294 8 лет назад +1

    Thanks Dave!! Some subjects in class leave me more confused than i was when I started, so I come home and watch your videos and it all becomes clear. Excellent video

  • @RW1701
    @RW1701 11 лет назад +1

    This guy is so enthusiastic!! How can you not get excited about electronics listening to that voice!! This has really tickled me haha

  • @kevinchau5336
    @kevinchau5336 4 года назад +2

    I'm about to graduate from college with an EE degree, I've learned more from your channel than the UofA has taught me.

    • @BariumCobaltNitrog3n
      @BariumCobaltNitrog3n Год назад

      You just weren't paying attention. Also you can't pause and replay a college prof thousands of times.

  • @forhadahmed4643
    @forhadahmed4643 11 месяцев назад

    this man is one of the best teacher on EE on youtube. Hats off

  • @hoofbags
    @hoofbags 3 года назад +2

    For some reason, as with quite a few amateur electronics hobbyists, I had a blind spot for dB. As usual, your explanation is hugely helpful. Many thanks. (o:

  • @tushar8133
    @tushar8133 Год назад

    9:11 - "It's less than the width of the one fibre on the tip of this pen"
    This shows the perspective of how an experienced person visualize 😊

  • @Richard_Broom_Photography
    @Richard_Broom_Photography 9 лет назад +4

    An excellent video. Swept away years of misunderstanding.

  • @JennyEverywhere
    @JennyEverywhere 8 лет назад +5

    If someone wants to really understand logarithms, they should study how to use a slide rule. It gets the concept of logs deep into how you calculate things. There's even dedicated rules designed with radio, electronics, or engineering in mind.

  • @user-ie8yc6ex5s
    @user-ie8yc6ex5s 11 месяцев назад

    Episode 49! My how far you have come. Watched you for close to a decade now.

  • @salat
    @salat 13 лет назад +1

    @shodanxx: I'm a ham too and I it's easy to rembember: If you double the voltage in a circuit,the current doubles too and since P=I*U we get: 3 db(V) which leads to a an increase of 3db(W)
    e.g. with a 1 Ohm circuit:
    from 1V to 2Volts there's a ~6db(V) gain
    from 1W (1V * (1V/1Ohm)) to 4Watts (2V * (2V/1 Ohm)) we get 6b(W) gain
    that's the reason for 10*log(p1/p2) for power and 20*log(v1/v2) for voltage..
    73, DO9SAS

  • @AndresMilioto
    @AndresMilioto 11 лет назад +1

    I'm on the 4th year of engineering school (here on argentina the career is 5 years long), and I have to say you are totally ruining my education, because now all my teachers seem REALLY boring. THANK YOU!! YOUR BLOG IS THE BEST, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS VIDEOS!!!

    • @scottpelletier1370
      @scottpelletier1370 Год назад

      What are you working on now?

    • @AndresMilioto
      @AndresMilioto Год назад +2

      @@scottpelletier1370 I ended up getting a PhD in Robotics. It was a wild 9 years lol

    • @scottpelletier1370
      @scottpelletier1370 Год назад

      @@AndresMilioto haha that's awesome! Congrats and thanks for the quick reply.

  • @zanfr123
    @zanfr123 11 лет назад +1

    Thanks to this I finally understand (at my age lol) how dBs work and how they can come in handy.

  • @HighestRank
    @HighestRank 9 лет назад +3

    Here's the straight forward equation minus the derpworthy typos and readability issues:
    (V.out/V.in)·Log(20)=dB.V.
    (P.out/P.in)Log(10)=dBm.
    •Inverse formula:
    dB.V/20=V.out.
    dBm/10=P.out.
    •Here is the -3dB. that you hear so much about:
    0-3.dBx./20=0.707.
    0.707Log(20)=0-3dBx.

    • @2013Aleksey2013
      @2013Aleksey2013 9 лет назад

      I'm still not quite used to describing electrical quantities in terms of decibels. The input signal has an amplitude of 500mV while the output signal is 1 Volt, so the input signal gets amplified by a factor of 2 or +6.0206dB. I was curious as to how the equation dB = 20*(log Vout/Vin) could be rearranged to solve for Vout assuming dB and Vin are known. So, dB/20 = log Vout/Vin; Vout/Vin = 10^dB/20; Vout = Vin*(10^dB/20); Vout = Vin/10^-dB/20

  • @sbrscoading801
    @sbrscoading801 6 лет назад

    no one told me why to use DB in Bode Plot....
    it's you sir who made me understand..
    thanq

  • @dylan_king1870
    @dylan_king1870 6 лет назад +2

    this was such a great explanation and your excitement made it really enjoyable. thanks.

  • @marshallnmoonshine
    @marshallnmoonshine 4 года назад

    My great great great great great great (plus however many more) grandfather invented logarithms.
    Dig your channel, man! Thanks!

  • @srira7910
    @srira7910 Год назад

    Wow, this was really helpful, great perspective. Gifted teacher.

  • @ForViewingOnly
    @ForViewingOnly 14 лет назад

    Great video, very clearly explained. I've only watched 3 of these blog vids and I'm hooked! Dave's enthusiasm is infectious!

  • @patrickwall144
    @patrickwall144 7 лет назад

    Thanks. all I was looking for was what was being measured in respect dBm. After the last guys video what I had was 10log10 something over .001 = Powerin over Power out and he finally just gives the 6dB 20dB 30dB says thats what it works out to and informs you you understand dBM. I started out knowing the majority of it. found myself a little cobfused and simply wanted to know what I was measuring. I ended up knowing less than I did when I started. You answer the question in the first min. then bring some sanity and structure back to my thinking with the rest. Thank you.

  • @ri438j
    @ri438j 11 лет назад

    I was introduced to db's (analyzing filters) in my electronics class last semester, but now I have a much better understanding thanks to you Dave! Great Job!

  • @aerohk
    @aerohk 9 лет назад +166

    Something my professor tried to hide from me.

    • @jcx5750
      @jcx5750 8 лет назад +2

      +Aerohk Loooooool yes same here

    • @joshuaengay1350
      @joshuaengay1350 7 лет назад +6

      Something my professor so lazy to teach thats why im here teaching myself

    • @IbrahimAli-kx9kp
      @IbrahimAli-kx9kp 5 лет назад +1

      Same here :D

  • @oobihdahboobeeboppah
    @oobihdahboobeeboppah 12 лет назад

    Great tutorial on decibels for anyone getting started in technology; highly recommend this video for anyone studying for their Technician Amateur Radio license.

  • @josediaz85
    @josediaz85 6 лет назад

    Another engineering example: it is common practice to use Decibel scale to represent harmonics signals, for example in power quality when representing the fundamental voltage together with the harmonic content of a signal, normally the fundamental is much much bigger. Thank you Dave for your videos!!!

  • @diogenes9991
    @diogenes9991 5 лет назад

    It's easy to get the idea, but I love the way him explaining. Congratulations and Electronics for all!!!!!!!!

  • @electra
    @electra 14 лет назад +1

    Great videos. Please continue to do these traditional electrical engineering topics/issues and ignore the people that request simpleton versions or projects and hacks. There's plenty of that junk on the internet already.

  • @ericjw7
    @ericjw7 10 лет назад +3

    Thanks for all your videos, I've gotten something out of all of them

  • @rockydogsdad
    @rockydogsdad 7 лет назад +1

    Have used dBohms before. Since I=E/R, then in log format, dBuA=dBuV-dBohms. Used to calculate current when measuring voltage with a current probe - probe cana correction factor vs. frequenct in dBohms! Nice and easy.

    • @rockydogsdad
      @rockydogsdad 7 лет назад

      Sorry about the typos. The current probe has a correction factor in dBOhms.

  • @aceboogiebooyah4278
    @aceboogiebooyah4278 4 года назад

    I hope this guy comes knocking on my door one day as a dB salesman, and I can thank him greatly for selling me on dB's long ago, and to sign me up for more! HaHA
    You rock guy! Power to the people!!! (dB's)

  • @LuisFZ
    @LuisFZ 9 лет назад

    Your channel is awesome. there are few like you in the internet, and when I say "like you" I mean trustable people when it comes to scientific debate

  • @martinda7446
    @martinda7446 10 лет назад +29

    That glass is -3dB down, it had PowerAde in it.

  • @markfinkbeiner3034
    @markfinkbeiner3034 Год назад

    Thank you. What a practical use of the log scale.

  • @EdMatzenik
    @EdMatzenik 11 лет назад +2

    Here's a formula I use to mix music. 1. mix it quick and rough. 2. round everything to the nearest round figure of dBs (-7.9 becomes 8.00). Now if you accidently bump a fader, you'll know. 3. Every time you listen to the music remix it in even dB terms to the following: 1 dB up or down is the difference when a musician played note a little different, 2 dB sounds like you turned it up or down a little bit, + or -3 db is a lot. Any more than 3... must have been ridiculous to start with.

  • @garypoplin4599
    @garypoplin4599 11 месяцев назад +1

    20:25 - For years, I’ve had the same answer to the “Is the glass half full or half empty?” rubbish: there’s not enough information to answer the question. The correct answer is “It depends!” Now had you started with a full glass and drank half of it before this shot, I would agree. However, if you started with an empty glass from the cupboard (which is more likely what happened here) and filled it it half way just for this shot, as an engineer, I would have to say it’s +6dB. btw, this video is the most concise explanation of dBs I’ve seen!

  • @PileOfEmptyTapes
    @PileOfEmptyTapes 13 лет назад

    Since it seems to be a common question: dBs in sound are easy.
    dB SPL (sound pressure level) is dB relative to 20 µPa, a value close to the mid-frequency human hearing threshold. (It's AC, so probably an RMS value.)
    Now sound pressure is analogous to voltage, and sound particle velocity relates to current in the same way. Hence, it's "voltage dBs".
    A microphone will usually have a spec'd sensitivity in dBV / 1 Pa = dBV / 94 dB SPL. This directly links the sonic to the electrical side.

  • @hynekboruvka8346
    @hynekboruvka8346 6 лет назад

    Nicely explained, thanks a lot! Longer than other useless explanation videos, but short enough to be able to stay focused whole way.

  • @ddemon4406
    @ddemon4406 10 месяцев назад

    very helpful video. felt like you were going to poke my eye out with that marker.

  • @simonndungu1196
    @simonndungu1196 5 лет назад

    This guy has great sense of humour, nice explanation

  • @sidpryce
    @sidpryce 11 лет назад

    best dB explanation on the Internet

  • @JimmyTheShell
    @JimmyTheShell 8 лет назад

    This is just brilliant! You have a gift explaining things!!

  • @stevetobias4890
    @stevetobias4890 4 года назад

    Thanks Dave, loved the explanation. Helped heaps mate! 👨‍🎓
    I can't go by rule of thumb, half of it is amputated, lol

  • @bennyattar8862
    @bennyattar8862 5 лет назад

    No one has ever explained this more clearly.

  • @rehmanzed
    @rehmanzed 3 года назад

    this channel deserve million subscribers ...

  • @krish2nasa
    @krish2nasa 8 лет назад +1

    Excellent explanation, Thanks Dave

  • @fardellp
    @fardellp 5 лет назад

    What an outstanding tutorial. I would say that Dave is unique in his ability to explain electronics. My only concern is for his health. He is so passionate about explaining concepts (especially BS) that I fear he might be heading for a stroke.

  • @PileOfEmptyTapes
    @PileOfEmptyTapes 13 лет назад

    Oh, and: Nice tutorial, Dave!
    I'm not sure I could explain it that well, dBs have been with me since my teens. The problem below still had me scratching my head though. It's amazing how these supposedly basic things can still trip you up at times.

  • @RecordingStudio9
    @RecordingStudio9 9 лет назад

    Wish I had you as my electronics teacher some 30 years ago! I would have lived at TAFE!

  • @italicus84
    @italicus84 11 лет назад

    Remember that also dBi uses the 10* Log formula. dBi is a value for antenna gain. The gain is the power radiated per solid angle / power received from the transmitter per solid angle. When the ratio is 1, we have an isotropic radiator (which is ideal). Since it's a ratio between powers, the 10* Log formula shall be used.

  • @mikedemoore6670
    @mikedemoore6670 7 лет назад

    Great Dave!!! Perhaps there would be more engineers around if we were taught by people like you?

  • @goofyahhslimjackson1942
    @goofyahhslimjackson1942 2 года назад

    Take a shot everytime he says "db"
    Life insurance ad intensifies

  • @87knox
    @87knox 11 лет назад

    Decibels were originally designed for power, so the formula for power is 10*log(a/b). However, power is proportional to the square of voltage. Therefore, if you double the voltage, the power will quadruple. Based on the algebraic rules for logarithms, if you take that power of two out of the argument, it will multiply the result. 10x2=20, so the formula for voltage is 20log(a/b).

  • @teddyr101
    @teddyr101 9 лет назад +35

    "-6dbr", the industry standard for half a rabbit?

    • @CairosNaobum
      @CairosNaobum 5 лет назад +2

      is "rabbit" a power or a magnitude ?

  • @2ndlars
    @2ndlars 11 лет назад +1

    When you're talking percieved volume you're talking psycho acoustics. Twice the amplitude of sound will not sound twice as loud. That's (if I remember correctly) because it's not twice as far above your hearing threshold. AND it only holds true for what's called "normal hearing" because people with a hearing loss will have a smaller range of hearing.

  • @stokes111111
    @stokes111111 6 лет назад +1

    awesome video and I love your energy, thanks for this!

  • @yogishgajadur2513
    @yogishgajadur2513 6 лет назад

    Perfect for measuring my stress level during exams

  • @pgadams1
    @pgadams1 Год назад

    Love it. So easy to learn this way.

  • @kchididdy
    @kchididdy 14 лет назад

    Correct me if I'm wrong Dave....
    I generally don't like to memorize formulas. I would probably go one step further and state that power is proportional to the square of magnitude. In high school math, we learned that (assume log base 10): log (v^2) = 2 log(v). Since we are dealing with "deci" Bels, we multiply both sides by 10 to yield: 10 log (v^2) = 20 log (v). In other words, dB values are indeed ratios, but it's implied that the ratio is in terms of power/intensity.

  • @zilym
    @zilym 14 лет назад

    Nice lecture. Makes sense. Hopefully I'll remember it next time I run into dB's.

  • @bp968
    @bp968 9 лет назад

    Interesting. I've always thought of dB's as a measurement of sound level. It's interesting in the gun world to see how confused people get when talking about dB sound levels. People see the sound level of a silenced/suppressed gunshot (136-138dB for a 5.56mm) and say "well that's not quiet, that's as loud as a jet engine!". Which is only partially true. The gunshot is an impulse sound and an extremely short one (microseconds I believe) while the jet or jackhammer is continuous. Once you see how the human ear "hears" you quickly grasp that the 136dB is actually pretty quiet. Especially when compared to the original sound level of 160-168dB!

  • @dug86f
    @dug86f 8 лет назад

    This guy is the king!

  • @V109FM
    @V109FM 3 года назад

    Thank you, very well done video and helped me understand it much better.

  • @garryjones2482
    @garryjones2482 9 месяцев назад

    Brilliant and enlightening.

  • @MrMexUniversal
    @MrMexUniversal 11 лет назад

    Hey brother, thanks for your passion and your time.

  • @markuscwatson
    @markuscwatson 6 лет назад

    Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.... using the dB scale on a FT allows you to view small and large signals on the same scale: good for seeing the noise floor. I always set the scale to Linear because it’s easier to understand. Now I will keep this video in mind.

  • @johnmanzang7272
    @johnmanzang7272 2 года назад

    Thank you very much for a very good explanation!

  • @willowillotech7029
    @willowillotech7029 3 года назад +1

    thanks LOL LOL
    you are very encouraging, well done

  • @pvbinoyable
    @pvbinoyable 13 лет назад

    @yeoldeengineer the value will be same. for calculating power in decibel you have to use 10 log (P2/P1) and for voltage 20log(V2/V1) . you might have used same formula for both. thank you

  • @vk3hau
    @vk3hau 7 лет назад +4

    And don't forget dBi " decibel over isotropic Antenna"

  • @abuzarramli2510
    @abuzarramli2510 4 года назад

    I'm really loving the explanation. thank you mister. also enjoyed it as well :)

  • @user-zu1zb8zu6d
    @user-zu1zb8zu6d 7 лет назад

    outstanding lecture!

  • @garynorthtruro
    @garynorthtruro 7 лет назад

    Thanks, this does make it a little better understood.

  • @unitedelectrician4334
    @unitedelectrician4334 7 лет назад

    Great Video clear my abstract thinking

  • @xoox870
    @xoox870 5 лет назад

    The reason why voltage is 20 times the ratio compared to power which is 10 times the ratio; is because the derivative of V^2 (used to calculate power) is 2*V - - - there is significant confusion with dB, dBm, dBw, dBi, dBd, and others if you don't know the 'context of the application', especially with voltages or powers. 6dB is double for voltage , but 3dB is double for power !! it is better to use dBW or dBmW for watts and dBV or dBmV for volts to avoid confusion. - - - decades are relative to 10's of dBs not scales as mentioned. - - - negative decibels are simply the reciprocal of positive decibels. @ 19:45 he has it backwards !! - volts are a power since they are squared and watts are a magnitude since they are NOT squared. this is why for volts there is 20X the log since V^2 is used in power formulas. - - - FYI 555 timers are one of the worst crappy electronic parts there ever invented. - please research monostable multivibrators for much better parts ; at least they can produce a 50 % waveform; a 555 cannot since at 50% both comparators would trigger !!

  • @mohammedfaizan6197
    @mohammedfaizan6197 8 лет назад +1

    Started loving db's

  • @sherifnegm9046
    @sherifnegm9046 7 лет назад

    thanks so much. Your tutorials are very useful to high school physics students too xD

    • @fuahuahuatime5196
      @fuahuahuatime5196 6 лет назад

      Lol. Doubt you'd learn this in high school physics. You don't even learn it in college physics.

  • @DianneStudio
    @DianneStudio 4 года назад

    Very nice informative video!! Cant digest!! lolz! how to calculate the fan's sound! that's y I am here! I am like doped .. lolz!! DB in audibility ... thank you

  • @Interdiffusion
    @Interdiffusion 14 лет назад

    Brilliant presentation, really useful stuff!!!

  • @drdave1947
    @drdave1947 11 месяцев назад

    We need an engineer to invent a decibel-controlled TV so that programs don't try to damage my hearing with loudness, AND so I can hear the soft sounds. About 7.0 would be great, but it needs to be adjustable.

  • @LIM_Khuan
    @LIM_Khuan Год назад

    great presentation

  • @selinamutalimanja3660
    @selinamutalimanja3660 8 лет назад

    cool stuff learnt a lot,had problems with Dbs merci beaucoup

  • @LynkedVideos
    @LynkedVideos 10 лет назад +2

    Why should we care about the "ancient" unit of Bel? In 1920, Bell Telephone created the Bel to represent the base10 log of a power ratio. The name of the new standard for measurement was a dedication to Alexander Graham Bell. Decibel was the recommended unit.
    Since the decibel is an exponential unit of power measurement, its use with potential is a derivation. Assuming that a change in potential results in a linear current response, then we can derive a measurement in decibels to describe the voltage change in this ideal system; however, the measurement still defines a power ratio. Thus, I suggest that we should care about the Bel and its creation.
    In regard to your glass of milk, I will assume that the vessel is a perfect cylinder. You now have more power than you need, because with only half the columnar height (potential), you will consume fluid at half of the rate (current) as full. Next time I suggest buying proper conical glassware so that you can supply power at a rate that is commensurate with its remaining potential. Do you like martinis? ;oP
    Party on, Dave!

  • @KostadinIVKostadinov
    @KostadinIVKostadinov 9 лет назад

    Water is closer related to power than voltage. Filling with water requires potential energy, which can be achieved by power (voltage and current over time). According to that, your glass is (approximately) only 3dB down! (discuss)

  • @PileOfEmptyTapes
    @PileOfEmptyTapes 13 лет назад

    Now if you want something *hairy*, try calculating the voltage and power gain of a unity gain buffer (with an actual source and load). Hint: You can express both in dB, but the value will not be the same. Why?

  • @futurederrick
    @futurederrick 2 года назад

    Fantastic video

  • @mike-yp1uk
    @mike-yp1uk 11 месяцев назад

    Awesome material

  • @ANproCUBE
    @ANproCUBE 10 лет назад +1

    Very educating! Thank you!

  • @andrewchoi2780
    @andrewchoi2780 3 года назад

    god this channel is so good

  • @miki333sp
    @miki333sp 5 лет назад

    fucking love u man, u susccefully teached me in 20 minutes whole dB stuff, that teachers tried to teach me over 6 hours

  • @jpmcbride
    @jpmcbride 12 лет назад

    The 20log and 10log formulas really confuse people. Its easy to explain though ...
    First, the dB is defined in terms of power as dB = 10 log (P1/P2)
    If you want to solve for voltage, you substitute into the above formula P=V^2/R to get,
    dB = 10 log [(V1^2/R) / (V2^2/R)]
    Now cancelling the R's above gives us, dB = 10 log (V1/V2)^2,
    And the rules of logarithms let us move the 2 down like this,
    dB = (2) 10 log (V1/V2) which gives us our dB formula for voltage,
    dB = 20 log (V1/V2)