When setting the volume in an effect, the value may be interpreted as a relative level or an absolute level. When changing the volume, it is usually relative. When specifying a threshold, it is usually absolute. Relative changes are cumulative. So if you apply a volume change with 0.5 amplitude (50% or -6.02dB), then the amplitude decreases to half its current level. If you apply that change again, then it decreases to one quarter of its original level. In other words, the change is relative to its current level. Given an original amplitude of A, the first change yields a result of A x 0.5 and the sample is replaced by that value. The second change takes that value and multiplies it by 0.5 again, so we get the final result of (A x 0.5) x 0.5 or A x 0.25. Most of the effect settings in GoldWave are cumulative. For relative changes, using 1.0, 100%, or 0dB does not alter the sound at all.

Absolute levels are user for thresholds, such as in , or in rare cases were the absolute level is set directly, such as . Absolute changes are not cumulative. If you maximize the sound with 0.5 amplitude (50% or -6.02dB), then that is what the peak level will be no matter how many times the effect is used. For absolute changes, using 1.0, 100%, or 0dB may alter the sound if it is not currently at that level.