""" in a studio, 0dB full-scale meter redline is calibrated to a standard voltage reference, and both consumer and professional audio has equivalent standard le

""" in a studio, 0dB full-scale meter redline is calibrated to a standard voltage reference, and both consumer and professional audio has equivalent standard levels for the loudest level possible""" This is only minor nitpicking, but the standard 0dB levels for professional audio (0dB reference at +4dBu == 1.23Vrms) and consumer audio (0dB reference at -10dBV == 0.32Vrms) are not meant to indicate the maximum ("loudest level possible") but just serve at a reference point, for e.g. the 1kHz sine you inject when setting up your gain throughout the signal chain. On most studio gear, you'll easily have +15dB headroom left. AD/DA converters haven't really standardized on a full-scale level and there are quite a few different definitions in use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBFS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DBFS. Most "line level" ADC/DACs will have switches or jumpers to select between two or so settings. You'll choose them so that you are not likely to clip your ADC, and will only playback on your DAC with an appropriate level trimmed to not clip your analog gear.