How much headroom should I leave when recording?

Aim for peaks around -12 to -18 dBFS. This leaves 12-18 dB of headroom before digital clipping. With 24-bit recording, there is no audible noise penalty for recording at lower levels. The extra headroom prevents clipping from unexpected loud transients.

What is the relationship between dBFS and dBu?

It depends on the converter calibration. Common standards: +18 dBu = 0 dBFS (EBU standard), +24 dBu = 0 dBFS (SMPTE standard). So at +18 dBu calibration, 0 dBu in analogue corresponds to -18 dBFS in digital. Check your interface specifications.

Does headroom matter in a 32-bit float DAW?

Within the DAW (32-bit float processing), you cannot clip — the format handles enormous dynamic range. However, headroom still matters at the input (A/D converter) and output (D/A converter), which are typically 24-bit. Internal clipping indicators in DAWs flag exceeding 0 dBFS for this reason.

What happens when I clip a digital recording?

Digital clipping is harsh and unpleasant — the waveform is literally chopped flat at the maximum value. Unlike analogue tape saturation (which can sound musical), digital clipping produces odd harmonics and intermodulation distortion. Once clipped during recording, it cannot be undone.

AudioCalcs

Headroom Calculator — Peak Level to dBu Conversion

Calculate available headroom from peak level, and convert between dBFS and dBu.

Peak Level

Converter Alignment (0 dBFS =)

+18 dBu (EBU) or +24 dBu (SMPTE)

How We Calculate This

Headroom

Headroom (dB) = 0 dBFS − Peak Level (dBFS)

dBFS to dBu Conversion

dBu = dBFS + Converter Alignment

Where converter alignment is the dBu value that corresponds to 0 dBFS (typically +18 or +24 dBu).

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify results for critical applications.