[linux-audio-user] Fwd: [Jamin] Re: soft clip: Achieving Gain, inconsequential overloads

[Steve Harris]

On Sun, Apr 11, 2004 at 04:29:26 -0500, Martin McCormick wrote:
> 	I am new to this list and got in in the middle of this
> discussion, but Here are some thoughts on 0 VU and what it means in
> the digital domain.
> 
> 	You probably already know that an A/D converter when fed
> silence normally produces an output that is exactly halfway between
> the number 0 and 0xFFFF for a 16-bit converter.  For a converter with
> more or less bits, the maximum reading is all bits on so it is 2^N
> power.
>
> 	The halfway point makes the D/A converter output a voltage
> that is halfway between 0 and the maximum peak voltage that particular
> A/D converter can put out.

Actually thats not quite right - AD converters generally work in 1's or
2's complement, depending on the brand/variety, so the middle point is at
0, and the range is slightly larger in the -ve voltage range.

- Steve