Microphone Sensitivity Calculator — dBV/Pa ↔ mV/Pa

Convert microphone sensitivity specs instantly and see whether a mic is hot, average, or gain-hungry. Everything runs locally so you can sanity-check preamp gain on set or in the booth.

dBV/Pa → mV/Pa

Dynamics often sit around -55 to -60 dBV/Pa; condensers are hotter (e.g., -32 dBV/Pa). Less negative = louder output.

0.00 mV/Pa

mV/Pa → dBV/Pa

1 Pa ≈ 94 dB SPL. Manufacturers sometimes publish only one of these units—this converts the other instantly.

-40.00 dBV/Pa

Quick interpretation

A hotter mic (less negative dBV) needs less preamp gain; quieter dynamics need more clean gain.

How to read mic sensitivity numbers

  • -30 dBV/Pa (≈32 mV/Pa): hot stage condensers and many shotguns. Expect low preamp gain; watch for clipping on close sources.
  • -40 dBV/Pa (≈10 mV/Pa): typical studio condensers. Works with most interfaces at moderate gain.
  • -50 dBV/Pa (≈3 mV/Pa): broadcast/boundary mics and some dynamics. Needs a healthy, clean preamp.
  • -60 dBV/Pa (≈1 mV/Pa): low-output dynamics/ribbons. Inline boosters or high-gain, low-noise pres keep noise in check.
  • Every 20 dB change equals a 10x voltage change. A -40 dBV mic is ten times hotter than a -60 dBV mic.

Tip: If you know your interface’s max input level in mV, compare it to the converted value to see how much headroom remains at loud SPLs.

5 Fun Facts about Mic Sensitivity

94 dB SPL is the reference

Sensitivity specs always use 1 Pascal (94 dB SPL) as the pressure reference, so numbers from different brands are directly comparable.

Shared baseline

Voltage, not loudness

Sensitivity measures the voltage a mic outputs for a given pressure, not how “loud” it sounds in a room. Gain staging bridges the gap.

Electrical view

Capsule size matters

Large-diaphragm condensers tend to be hotter than small-diaphragm pencil mics, which are often a few dB quieter and need more gain.

Diaphragm physics

Active ribbons cheat the math

Active ribbon mics add internal preamps, pushing sensitivities into condenser territory while keeping the ribbon tone intact.

Boosted ribbons

dBV vs. dBu

dBV references 1 volt, while dBu references 0.775 volts. Mic sensitivity almost always uses dBV—don’t mix them up when reading specs.

Units count

About this microphone sensitivity calculator

This calculator translates mic spec sheets into actionable numbers. Enter either dBV/Pa or mV/Pa to see the other unit, plus a quick interpretation of how much clean gain your preamp will likely need. The math is straightforward: dBV converts to millivolts with 10^(dBV/20) * 1000, and millivolts convert back with 20 * log10(mV / 1000).

Use it when auditioning a rental locker, pairing a ribbon with a field recorder, or deciding whether an inline booster helps keep noise down. Because everything runs in your browser, you can use it offline at a venue, on a stage, or in a truck without leaking session details.

Pair the results with your interface’s max input level and gain range to estimate headroom. If the converted mV value is close to your interface ceiling, back off placement or insert a pad; if it’s tiny, add clean gain early to avoid noise buildup later.

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