Noise floor
The noise floor is the constant background level present in a recording when nobody is speaking — room tone, electronics hiss, HVAC rumble — measured in dBFS.
The gap between speech level and noise floor is the signal-to-noise ratio; a floor 40+ dB below speech feels professional. A high floor is the single most common defect in amateur recordings, and quieting the room beats fixing it in software.
Related terms
Frequently asked
What is Noise floor?
The noise floor is the constant background level present in a recording when nobody is speaking — room tone, electronics hiss, HVAC rumble — measured in dBFS.
Why does Noise floor matter?
The gap between speech level and noise floor is the signal-to-noise ratio; a floor 40+ dB below speech feels professional. A high floor is the single most common defect in amateur recordings, and quieting the room beats fixing it in software.
What terms are related to Noise floor?
Closely related concepts: Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), Room tone, Speech enhancement — each has its own entry in this glossary.