Unity Audio Volume Calculator
Convert between linear volume, decibels, and perceived loudness. Preview the curves and grab engine-ready code.
Game audio volume is confusing because there are three different scales: linear (0 to 1), decibels (logarithmic), and perceived loudness (how loud it actually sounds to the player). A linear value of 0.5 is not half as loud. This calculator converts between all three scales and shows you the curves so you can set volume levels that feel right.
Volume Converter
0.5000
-6.0 dB
0.7071
Volume Curves
LinearDecibel (normalised)Perceived loudness
Common Volume Presets
Code Output
audioSource.volume = 0.5000f; // Linear
// Or using AudioMixer (dB):
audioMixer.SetFloat("MasterVolume", -6.0f);Reference Table
| dB | Linear | Perceived | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | Maximum |
| -3 | 0.708 | 0.841 | Barely noticeable reduction |
| -6 | 0.501 | 0.708 | Noticeable reduction |
| -10 | 0.316 | 0.562 | Half as loud (perceived) |
| -20 | 0.100 | 0.316 | Quiet |
| -40 | 0.010 | 0.100 | Very quiet |
| -60 | 0.001 | 0.032 | Nearly silent |
| -80 | 0.0001 | 0.010 | Silence threshold |
Frequently asked questions
Why does 0.5 linear volume not sound half as loud?
Human hearing is logarithmic, not linear. A linear volume of 0.5 corresponds to roughly -6 dB, which sounds about 70% as loud, not 50%. To sound half as loud, you need approximately -10 dB, which is a linear value of about 0.316. This is why most audio systems use a decibel scale.
How do I convert linear volume to decibels in Unity?
Use 20 * log10(linear). For an AudioMixer Volume parameter, expose it and call audioMixer.SetFloat("MasterVolume", Mathf.Log10(linearValue) * 20f). Be sure to clamp linearValue above 0 (e.g. 0.0001f) to avoid log10(0) returning negative infinity.
Should I use AudioSource.volume or AudioMixer for game volume sliders?
Use AudioMixer with exposed Volume parameters. It gives you music/SFX/voice grouping for separate sliders, snapshot transitions, and applies effects per group. AudioSource.volume is fine for one-off effects but does not scale to a full audio system.
What is perceived loudness vs decibels?
Decibels measure sound pressure. Perceived loudness (measured in sones or LUFS) measures how loud a sound feels to a human, accounting for frequency response. A bass-heavy clip at -10 dB can feel as loud as a treble-heavy clip at -6 dB.
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