Microphone SNR
Compare a signal level to a microphone's noise floor as SNR.
About Microphone SNR
The signal-to-noise ratio is simply how far the wanted sound sits above the equipment's own hiss in decibels. A higher SNR means cleaner recordings, so comparing mics and preamp gain against it protects the quiet parts of a take.
Formula
Microphone SNR
SNR = signal level - noise floor
- noise floor
- The microphone's own inherent hiss level
Worked example
With the default values below, Microphone SNR returns Signal to Noise of 52.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Signal levelaccepts 0–150 dB
- 70 dB
- Mic noise flooraccepts 0–150 dB
- 18 dB
Results
- Signal to Noise
- 52.0 dB
- Dynamic Range
- 52.0 dB
- Linear Ratio
- 398.1
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Microphone SNR
- 3Signal to Noise= 52.0 dB
- 4Dynamic Range= 52.0 dB
- 5Linear Ratio= 398.1
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Microphone SNR calculated?
SNR = signal level - noise floor The signal-to-noise ratio is simply how far the wanted sound sits above the equipment's own hiss in decibels.
Why does Microphone SNR matter?
A higher SNR means cleaner recordings, so comparing mics and preamp gain against it protects the quiet parts of a take.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Signal level, Mic noise floor. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.