TubeNet

Does anyone know of a table or chart somewhere that shows the equivalents between the various dynamic markings (pp ppp f ff mf, etc.) and sound pressure levels in db for various individual musical instruments?

I know this is also a function of frequency and distance from the sound source, but I'm just looking for somewhat of a guideline to use with an SPL meter I have.

I spent a while googling around, but only found a few references to the typical upper end in db for a few instruments.

Don't over think why I'm asking this or what I want to do with the information. I'm not trying to launch a discusion on absolute db levels to dynamic markings or make a case for a conductor using an spl meter. Or any other purpose beyond my own curiosity.

To answer my own question, after more googling:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

Interesting info on my question and more.

Years and Years ago, Popular Mechanics published an article on this subject and determined most people (like an audience is made up of "most people") don't distinguish much less than a 5db difference in sound. Using this as a guide, set pp as the softest and FF as the loudest, and you get 25 db different from softest to loudest. The article also said that the loudest of instruments (the tuba of all things - think of it) excluding percussion, had a range of about 35 db. I don't know how exact this is but I have found it a useful scale with which to operate over the years. I know it ignores other factors, like intensity of sound, but, as a "rule of the thumb," it is a place to start.

Robert,

The URL of the Yeo article has some junk at the end that keeps it from working. You might want to edit it. Great article, by the way.

tuben wrote:Full article by Doug Yeo, http://www.yeodoug.com/resources/faq/fa ... evels.html here.

Very interesting! Good information -- thanks for the link.