2 files, same db, different volume

I guess I don't understand the difference between db and volume

I've got one file that peaks at -3db, and one file that peaks at -12db, but the one that peaks at -12db is louder.

I guess I just don't understand, and anything I find on the web is either contradictory to itself, or an ad for software.

Peak level(volume) has no relation to average level(volume). If you have a file that peaks a a particular level, that means somewhere in there you hit that particular level.

More than likely the file with the lower peak had a higher average volume.

I guess I meant to say average volume, but that's after messing around with it.

Here are links to the two files, the are about the same db levels but one is obviously louder:

http://www.box.net/shared/r5tik2yefr

This is the one that was recorded earlier this week:
http://www.box.net/shared/gl8yktky81

I guess I meant to say average volume, but that's after messing around with it.

Here are links to the two files, the are about the same db levels but one is obviously louder:

http://www.box.net/shared/r5tik2yefr

This is the one that was recorded earlier this week:
http://www.box.net/shared/gl8yktky81

Compare the raw wave files. The earlier one sounds like it's been run through some type of compression/limiting or a normalization. Also, there's noticeable roll off of the high frequencies on the earlier file. More so than the usual high frequency smearing you usually get from mp3.

Thanks!

Yeah, there was a bit of processing...here is the new file I recorded, it sounds much cleaner. This had some processing done to get rid of the hum from the old mixer, I can't wait to do this again with the new one!

http://www.box.net/shared/zesdopplkv