What is a Line Level?

Line level is a standard signal strength used to transmit audio signals between professional and consumer audio equipment. It represents a stronger signal than microphone level but weaker than speaker-level signals.

Line level signals are commonly used to connect devices such as audio interfaces, mixers, synthesizers, effects processors, and recording equipment. Because the signal is already amplified to a usable level, it usually does not require additional preamplification before being processed or recorded.

There are two common line level standards. Consumer line level is typically around -10 dBV, while professional line level is usually +4 dBu. These standards help ensure compatibility between different types of audio equipment and maintain consistent signal levels throughout an audio system.