diff --git a/components/recording/InputLevelMeter.tsx b/components/recording/InputLevelMeter.tsx
index 9bc80f2..8a6e669 100644
--- a/components/recording/InputLevelMeter.tsx
+++ b/components/recording/InputLevelMeter.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 
 export interface InputLevelMeterProps {
-  level: number; // 0.0 to 1.0
+  level: number; // 0.0 to 1.0 (normalized dB scale)
   orientation?: 'horizontal' | 'vertical';
   className?: string;
 }
@@ -17,15 +17,16 @@ export function InputLevelMeter({
   // Clamp level between 0 and 1
   const clampedLevel = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, level));
 
-  // Calculate color based on level
-  const getColor = (level: number): string => {
-    if (level > 0.9) return 'bg-red-500';
-    if (level > 0.7) return 'bg-yellow-500';
-    return 'bg-green-500';
-  };
-
   const isHorizontal = orientation === 'horizontal';
 
+  // Professional audio meter gradient:
+  // Green (0-70% = -60dB to -18dB)
+  // Yellow (70-90% = -18dB to -6dB)
+  // Red (90-100% = -6dB to 0dB)
+  const gradient = isHorizontal
+    ? 'linear-gradient(to right, rgb(34, 197, 94) 0%, rgb(34, 197, 94) 70%, rgb(234, 179, 8) 85%, rgb(239, 68, 68) 100%)'
+    : 'linear-gradient(to top, rgb(34, 197, 94) 0%, rgb(34, 197, 94) 70%, rgb(234, 179, 8) 85%, rgb(239, 68, 68) 100%)';
+
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
@@ -34,15 +35,15 @@ export function InputLevelMeter({
         className
       )}
     >
-      {/* Level bar */}
+      {/* Level bar with gradient */}
       <div
         className={cn(
           'absolute transition-all duration-75 ease-out',
-          getColor(clampedLevel),
           isHorizontal ? 'h-full left-0 top-0' : 'w-full bottom-0 left-0'
         )}
         style={{
           [isHorizontal ? 'width' : 'height']: `${clampedLevel * 100}%`,
+          background: gradient,
         }}
       />