diff --git a/src/AudioIO.cpp b/src/AudioIO.cpp
index aa2ca29f1..223ff1d64 100644
--- a/src/AudioIO.cpp
+++ b/src/AudioIO.cpp
@@ -295,11 +295,11 @@ writing audio.
 #include <wx/txtstrm.h>
 
 #include "AudacityApp.h"
-#include "Envelope.h"
 #include "Mix.h"
 #include "MixerBoard.h"
 #include "Resample.h"
 #include "RingBuffer.h"
+#include "prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "Prefs.h"
 #include "Project.h"
 #include "TimeTrack.h"
@@ -1529,11 +1529,11 @@ int AudioIO::StartStream(WaveTrackArray playbackTracks,
    int silenceLevelDB;
    gPrefs->Read(wxT("/AudioIO/SilenceLevel"), &silenceLevelDB, -50);
    int dBRange;
-   dBRange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+   dBRange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
    if(silenceLevelDB < -dBRange)
    {
       silenceLevelDB = -dBRange + 3;   // meter range was made smaller than SilenceLevel
-      gPrefs->Write(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), dBRange); // so set SilenceLevel reasonable
+      gPrefs->Write(ENV_DB_KEY, dBRange); // so set SilenceLevel reasonable
       gPrefs->Flush();
    }
    mSilenceLevel = (silenceLevelDB + dBRange)/(double)dBRange;  // meter goes -dBRange dB -> 0dB
diff --git a/src/Envelope.h b/src/Envelope.h
index 7f359438a..c4c08b3e2 100644
--- a/src/Envelope.h
+++ b/src/Envelope.h
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ class Envelope;
 
 class ZoomInfo;
 
-#define ENV_DB_RANGE 60
-
 class EnvPoint : public XMLTagHandler {
 
 public:
diff --git a/src/FreqWindow.cpp b/src/FreqWindow.cpp
index 7e942a920..943623134 100644
--- a/src/FreqWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/FreqWindow.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ and in the spectrogram spectral selection.
 #include "Audacity.h"
 #include "FreqWindow.h"
 
+#include <algorithm>
+
 // For compilers that support precompilation, includes "wx/wx.h".
 #include <wx/wxprec.h>
 
@@ -71,12 +73,12 @@ and in the spectrogram spectral selection.
 
 #include <math.h>
 
-#include "Envelope.h"
 #include "ShuttleGui.h"
 #include "AColor.h"
 #include "FFT.h"
 #include "Internat.h"
 #include "PitchName.h"
+#include "prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "Prefs.h"
 #include "Project.h"
 #include "WaveClip.h"
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ FreqWindow::FreqWindow(wxWindow * parent, wxWindowID id,
 
    gPrefs->Read(wxT("/FreqWindow/FuncChoice"), &mFunc, 3);
    gPrefs->Read(wxT("/FreqWindow/AxisChoice"), &mAxis, 0);
-   gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
+   gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
    if(dBRange < 90.)
       dBRange = 90.;
 
@@ -546,7 +548,7 @@ bool FreqWindow::Show(bool show)
 
    if (show && !shown)
    {
-      gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
+      gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
       if(dBRange < 90.)
          dBRange = 90.;
       GetAudio();
@@ -1079,7 +1081,7 @@ void FreqWindow::OnExport(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 
 void FreqWindow::OnReplot(wxCommandEvent & WXUNUSED(event))
 {
-   gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
+   gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, &dBRange, ENV_DB_RANGE);
    if(dBRange < 90.)
       dBRange = 90.;
    GetAudio();
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index c8125846c..6bad9ff68 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -456,6 +456,7 @@ audacity_SOURCES = \
 	prefs/ExtImportPrefs.h \
 	prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp \
 	prefs/GUIPrefs.h \
+	prefs/GUISettings.h \
 	prefs/ImportExportPrefs.cpp \
 	prefs/ImportExportPrefs.h \
 	prefs/KeyConfigPrefs.cpp \
diff --git a/src/SoundActivatedRecord.cpp b/src/SoundActivatedRecord.cpp
index 671380b96..29f896e17 100644
--- a/src/SoundActivatedRecord.cpp
+++ b/src/SoundActivatedRecord.cpp
@@ -19,14 +19,12 @@
 *//********************************************************************/
 
 #include "Audacity.h"
+#include "SoundActivatedRecord.h"
 
-#include <wx/dialog.h>
-
-#include "Envelope.h"
 #include "ShuttleGui.h"
 #include "ShuttlePrefs.h"
 #include "Prefs.h"
-#include "SoundActivatedRecord.h"
+#include "prefs/GUISettings.h"
 
 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE(SoundActivatedRecord, wxDialog)
    EVT_BUTTON(wxID_OK, SoundActivatedRecord::OnOK)
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ void SoundActivatedRecord::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
    {
       S.StartMultiColumn(2, wxEXPAND);
          S.SetStretchyCol(1);
-         dBRange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+         dBRange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
          S.TieSlider(_("Activation level (dB):"), wxT("/AudioIO/SilenceLevel"), -50, 0, -dBRange);
       S.EndMultiColumn();
    }
diff --git a/src/SoundActivatedRecord.h b/src/SoundActivatedRecord.h
index 71fef4d75..a7397f3e0 100644
--- a/src/SoundActivatedRecord.h
+++ b/src/SoundActivatedRecord.h
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@
 
 ********************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef __AUDACITY_SOUND_ACTIVATED_RECORD__
+#define __AUDACITY_SOUND_ACTIVATED_RECORD__
+
+#include <wx/dialog.h>
+
+class ShuttleGui;
+
 class SoundActivatedRecord : public wxDialog
 {
 public:
@@ -27,3 +34,4 @@ private:
    DECLARE_EVENT_TABLE();
 };
 
+#endif
diff --git a/src/TrackArtist.cpp b/src/TrackArtist.cpp
index 3119e5bac..ffbcf23f3 100644
--- a/src/TrackArtist.cpp
+++ b/src/TrackArtist.cpp
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ audio tracks.
 #include "LabelTrack.h"
 #include "TimeTrack.h"
 #include "Prefs.h"
+#include "prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "prefs/SpectrogramSettings.h"
 #include "prefs/WaveformSettings.h"
 #include "Spectrum.h"
@@ -3108,7 +3109,7 @@ void TrackArtist::DrawTimeTrack(TimeTrack *track,
    double lower = track->GetRangeLower(), upper = track->GetRangeUpper();
    if(track->GetDisplayLog()) {
       // MB: silly way to undo the work of GetWaveYPos while still getting a logarithmic scale
-      double dBRange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+      double dBRange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
       lower = LINEAR_TO_DB(std::max(1.0e-7, lower)) / dBRange + 1.0;
       upper = LINEAR_TO_DB(std::max(1.0e-7, upper)) / dBRange + 1.0;
    }
@@ -3118,7 +3119,7 @@ void TrackArtist::DrawTimeTrack(TimeTrack *track,
 
 void TrackArtist::UpdatePrefs()
 {
-   mdBrange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), mdBrange);
+   mdBrange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, mdBrange);
    mShowClipping = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/ShowClipping"), mShowClipping);
 
    gPrefs->Flush();
diff --git a/src/ViewInfo.cpp b/src/ViewInfo.cpp
index fabe7d8df..7746b297b 100644
--- a/src/ViewInfo.cpp
+++ b/src/ViewInfo.cpp
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ Paul Licameli
 
 #include <algorithm>
 
-#include "Envelope.h"
 #include "Internat.h"
+#include "prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "Prefs.h"
 #include "xml/XMLWriter.h"
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ ZoomInfo::~ZoomInfo()
 
 void ZoomInfo::UpdatePrefs()
 {
-   dBr = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+   dBr = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
 }
 
 /// Converts a position (mouse X coordinate) to
diff --git a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
index 61e54f1f1..8c148a2d0 100644
--- a/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/GUIPrefs.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 *//*******************************************************************/
 
 #include "../Audacity.h"
+#include "GUIPrefs.h"
 
 #include <wx/defs.h>
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
 #include "../Prefs.h"
 #include "../ShuttleGui.h"
 
-#include "GUIPrefs.h"
+#include "GUISettings.h"
 
 GUIPrefs::GUIPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
 :  PrefsPanel(parent, _("Interface"))
@@ -99,9 +100,10 @@ void GUIPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
 
       S.StartMultiColumn(2);
       {
+         const wxString defaultRange = wxString::Format(wxT("%d"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
          S.TieChoice(_("Meter/Waveform dB &range:"),
-                     wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"),
-                     wxT("60"),
+                     ENV_DB_KEY,
+                     defaultRange,
                      mRangeChoices,
                      mRangeCodes);
          S.SetSizeHints(mRangeChoices);
diff --git a/src/prefs/GUISettings.h b/src/prefs/GUISettings.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df0ad6a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/prefs/GUISettings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**********************************************************************
+
+Audacity: A Digital Audio Editor
+
+GUIPrefs.h
+
+Paul Licameli
+   Moved a constant here from Envelope.h where it did not belong
+   Define the key string in one place here too
+
+**********************************************************************/
+#ifndef __AUDACITY_GUI_SETTINGS__
+#define __AUDACITY_GUI_SETTINGS__
+
+#define ENV_DB_KEY (wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"))
+#define ENV_DB_RANGE 60
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
index 393f2f113..fcc054c0c 100644
--- a/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/RecordingPrefs.cpp
@@ -19,18 +19,17 @@
 *//********************************************************************/
 
 #include "../Audacity.h"
+#include "RecordingPrefs.h"
 
 #include <wx/defs.h>
 #include <wx/textctrl.h>
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include "../AudioIO.h"
-#include "../Envelope.h"
+#include "../prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "../Prefs.h"
 #include "../ShuttleGui.h"
 
-#include "RecordingPrefs.h"
-
 using std::min;
 
 RecordingPrefs::RecordingPrefs(wxWindow * parent)
@@ -113,7 +112,7 @@ void RecordingPrefs::PopulateOrExchange(ShuttleGui & S)
       {
          S.SetStretchyCol(1);
 
-         int dBRange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+         int dBRange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
          S.TieSlider(_("Sound Activation Le&vel (dB):"),
                      wxT("/AudioIO/SilenceLevel"),
                      -50,
diff --git a/src/widgets/Meter.cpp b/src/widgets/Meter.cpp
index c593e550b..18aee1f51 100644
--- a/src/widgets/Meter.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/Meter.cpp
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@
 
 #include "../AudioIO.h"
 #include "../AColor.h"
-#include "../Envelope.h"
 #include "../ImageManipulation.h"
+#include "../prefs/GUISettings.h"
 #include "../Project.h"
 #include "../toolbars/MeterToolBar.h"
 #include "../toolbars/ControlToolBar.h"
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ Meter::~Meter()
 
 void Meter::UpdatePrefs()
 {
-   mDBRange = gPrefs->Read(wxT("/GUI/EnvdBRange"), ENV_DB_RANGE);
+   mDBRange = gPrefs->Read(ENV_DB_KEY, ENV_DB_RANGE);
 
    mMeterRefreshRate = gPrefs->Read(Key(wxT("RefreshRate")), 30);
    mGradient = gPrefs->Read(Key(wxT("Bars")), wxT("Gradient")) == wxT("Gradient");
diff --git a/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj b/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj
index 44e173a79..b81bfcd78 100755
--- a/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj
+++ b/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj
@@ -536,6 +536,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\import\SpecPowerMeter.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\ModuleManager.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\NumberScale.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\prefs\GUISettings.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\prefs\SpectrogramSettings.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\prefs\WaveformPrefs.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\prefs\WaveformSettings.h" />
diff --git a/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj.filters b/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj.filters
index aa98284ae..019fe9361 100755
--- a/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/win/Projects/Audacity/Audacity.vcxproj.filters
@@ -1705,6 +1705,9 @@
     <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\WaveTrackLocation.h">
       <Filter>src</Filter>
     </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="..\..\..\src\prefs\GUISettings.h">
+      <Filter>src\prefs</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Image Include="..\..\audacity.ico">