diff --git a/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
index 08e6e029a0..40e22f855a 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 #include "AudioMixer.h"
 
 const float LOUDNESS_TO_DISTANCE_RATIO = 0.00001f;
-const float DEFAULT_ATTENUATION_PER_DOUBLING_IN_DISTANCE = 0.18f;
+const float DEFAULT_ATTENUATION_PER_DOUBLING_IN_DISTANCE = 0.5f;    // attenuation = -6dB * log2(distance)
 const float DEFAULT_NOISE_MUTING_THRESHOLD = 0.003f;
 const QString AUDIO_MIXER_LOGGING_TARGET_NAME = "audio-mixer";
 const QString AUDIO_ENV_GROUP_KEY = "audio_env";
@@ -141,13 +141,14 @@ float AudioMixer::gainForSource(const PositionalAudioStream& streamToAdd,
     }
 
     if (distanceBetween >= ATTENUATION_BEGINS_AT_DISTANCE) {
-        // calculate the distance coefficient using the distance to this node
-        float distanceCoefficient = 1.0f - (logf(distanceBetween / ATTENUATION_BEGINS_AT_DISTANCE) / logf(2.0f)
-                                            * attenuationPerDoublingInDistance);
 
-        if (distanceCoefficient < 0) {
-            distanceCoefficient = 0;
-        }
+        // translate the zone setting to gain per log2(distance)
+        float g = 1.0f - attenuationPerDoublingInDistance;
+        g = (g < EPSILON) ? EPSILON : g;
+        g = (g > 1.0f) ? 1.0f : g;
+
+        // calculate the distance coefficient using the distance to this node
+        float distanceCoefficient = exp2f(log2f(g) * log2f(distanceBetween/ATTENUATION_BEGINS_AT_DISTANCE));
 
         // multiply the current attenuation coefficient by the distance coefficient
         gain *= distanceCoefficient;
diff --git a/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json b/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
index 948c6ddc18..e1334ee46f 100644
--- a/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
+++ b/domain-server/resources/describe-settings.json
@@ -589,8 +589,8 @@
           "name": "attenuation_per_doubling_in_distance",
           "label": "Default Domain Attenuation",
           "help": "Factor between 0 and 1.0 (0: No attenuation, 1.0: extreme attenuation)",
-          "placeholder": "0.18",
-          "default": "0.18",
+          "placeholder": "0.5",
+          "default": "0.5",
           "advanced": false
         },
         {
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@
               "name": "coefficient",
               "label": "Attenuation coefficient",
               "can_set": true,
-              "placeholder": "0.18"
+              "placeholder": "0.5"
             }
           ]
         },
diff --git a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
index 7a24832ea0..b5a7c8c0cf 100644
--- a/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio-client/src/AudioClient.cpp
@@ -1308,7 +1308,7 @@ float AudioClient::gainForSource(float distance, float volume) {
 
     // attenuate based on distance
     if (distance >= ATTENUATION_BEGINS_AT_DISTANCE) {
-        gain /= distance;   // attenuation = -6dB * log2(distance)
+        gain /= (distance/ATTENUATION_BEGINS_AT_DISTANCE);  // attenuation = -6dB * log2(distance)
     }
 
     return gain;