Linjatasojärjestelmät

Linjatasojärjestelmät, often translated as line level systems, refer to a standard nominal signal level used in audio engineering. This level is a measure of the electrical power or voltage output from audio devices like preamplifiers, effects units, and most output stages of instruments. The purpose of a standard line level is to ensure that different audio equipment can be interconnected and produce a consistent and usable signal without excessive noise or distortion.

There are two main types of line level signals: consumer line level and professional line level. Consumer line level typically operates at a nominal voltage of around -10 dBV, which corresponds to approximately 0.316 volts RMS. Professional line level, on the other hand, is set higher, at a nominal voltage of +4 dBu, which translates to about 1.23 volts RMS. This higher level in professional systems helps to overcome noise in longer cable runs and provides more headroom before clipping occurs.

Understanding line level is crucial for proper audio signal flow and gain staging. When connecting different audio devices, it's important to match the output level of one device to the input sensitivity of the next. Incorrectly matching levels can lead to weak signals that are susceptible to noise, or overly strong signals that cause distortion and clipping. Audio interfaces, mixers, and amplifiers are designed to accept and process signals within specific line level ranges.