+4 dBm = -18dBFS or -20dBFS or -16 dBFS (ARGH!!)

[McMasters]

Why does there seem to be no industry standard dBFS level?

---Digi 192 (factory set) trimpot A at -18dBFS.
---Digi 192 trimpot B at -20dBFS. For analog in on the external L2.

---Now I just read my Tascam CD player/recorder specs and they are at -16dBFS. So when I A/B a store bought mix against a current mix the input levels are......ummm......hmmm.....-16dBFS from Tascam into the C/24 external source inputs.......Can't find specs for the C/24 analog section.....(argh) [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] ......How can I A/B if I don't know?.....UMM.....well, f*ck it.....How many CD's do you want?

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Calling AES, calling SPARS, calling all industry organizations and manufacturers....Can we please settle on a standard amount of headroom for digital recordings.

Is there some reason for all these differing levels? Or is this just a pain in the arse with no reasoning?