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Math question: Where is zero gain on the Windows 10 level slider?

Hello all. I'm using a Benchmark ADC1 USB to rip vinyl. It uses the generic Windows 10 "USB microphone" driver. I want to set this to zero gain per advice from Benchmark. Unfortunately the levels setting in Windows 10 is calibrated in percent, not dB.

It seems like we should be able to figure out the exact setting for 0dB gain in the Windows 10 sound control panel. I discovered that the "0" level in the Windows sound control panel for the "USB microphone" corresponds to -96dB and the "100" level corresponds to +30dB. However, being a sound level setting, I'm guessing it's logarithmic and not linear. (If it were linear, 0dB would be 76%, which seems too high.)

Does anybody know the math well enough to derive the 0dB setting? I'd really like Windows to just leave the signal completely alone, and use the Benchmark to set the level.
gweadock

Showing 4 responses by gweadock

gweadock OP
5 posts
 
But 100% on the slider is a 30dB boost. Benchmark says the Windows driver ideally should be at zero gain.
So, the question is, if 0% is -96dB, and 100% is +30dB, where is 0dB on this slider?
gweadock OP
5 posts
 
To close out the topic, I was advised that the best approach is to bypass the Windows volume control altogether by using ASIO4ALL, which passes the signal with zero gain. That method seems to be working well. Hope this helps anyone who might have this question in the future.
gweadock OP
5 posts
 
Thank you chocman, you are absolutely right! I never knew that option existed.
The award for "most non-obvious setting in Windows" goes to the microphone level slider.
I also got +0.1dB at 54 percent with the Benchmark ADC. I may still keep using ASIO4ALL though because it seems to bypass the Windows volume control entirely.
Many thanks for the tip!
gweadock OP
5 posts
 
100% agree. Terrible user-interface design.
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