In audio production, what does a higher decibel level indicate?

A higher decibel level indicates increased loudness in audio production. The decibel (dB) scale is a logarithmic unit used to measure sound intensity, where an increase of about 10 dB typically represents a sound perceived to be twice as loud to the human ear. This means that when the level is raised, the sound becomes more pronounced and easier to hear over background noise.

While clarity can be impacted by various factors such as mixing and frequency response, it does not correlate directly with decibel levels. Likewise, the concepts of noise reduction and frequency are independent of loudness measurements; higher decibel levels do not inherently mean there is less noise or a change in frequency. Rather, decibel levels primarily measure volume, indicating how loud or soft a sound is heard relative to other sounds.