[ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD

  • From: "luis elorza" <luiselorza@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:14:53 -0700

sorry, i disagree. when i am recording   2 mikes into the same stereo channel i 
need to know the level independently so i can adjust  each one separately by 
adjusting levels on my mixer or mike pre.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bryan Smart 
  To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 5:06 PM
  Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


  Though, if you're recording that instrument in stereo, and one of the 
channels clips, you'll need to lower the volume on both channels by the same 
amount to preserve the stereo image, right? If you'll be lowering them both by 
the same amount, it doesn't seem to matter which one clipped. If either of them 
clip, then they both need to be reduced by the same amount.

  If you're metering a stereo submix, and the submix clips, you have the 
individual track meters to rely upon.

  Same thing for the master bus.

  Stereo meters might be interesting tools, but I can't imagine any common 
scenarios where they're uniquely suited.

  Bryan



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of luis elorza
  Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:28 PM
  To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


  i agree entirely Brian, but there is a very common situation where you have 2 
 mikes to record a single instrument and if you want to record it to a single 
track then you should be able to read both input channels. as every mike has a 
different output level.


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Bryan Smart 
    To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:14 PM
    Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


    Maybe I misunderstood what he wants, or maybe you misunderstood. Anyway...

    If you release the lock and hold, then you have a mostly instantaneous 
report of the current signal strength. You are right that this isn't the 
traditional definition of a VU meter, but you are wrong that a VU meter 
measures "loudness".

    The difference between the instantaneous report and a traditional VU meter 
is that a VU meter is designed with a lag to eliminate abrupt changes. Roughly 
speaking, a VU meter will trend toward the average input over the last 300Ms or 
so. Sonar's meters don't respond in this way by default, but you can easily 
make them respond with any curves that you'd like by using the Audio Meter 
options dialog in the options menu.

    As to "loudness", the concept of loudness is very vague when we're talking 
about a recording, since we could be listening to that recording on tiny 
headphones or a huge PA. The only factors that matter in gauging the level of a 
recording is its relative strength when compared to another signal of fixed 
strength, and the dynamic range of the material (difference between the most 
quiet and most loud parts of the recording). In digital audio, the maximum 
signal strength is 0DB, so the peak of your recording matters, and you'd use a 
peak meter for that. However, more important is the dynamic range of the 
recording. A narrow dynamic range makes the recording seem louder, and you'd 
measure that with an RMS meter. You can switch between these meter modes in the 
meter's context menu.

    CakeTalking is not able to report separate meters for the left and right 
channel of a stereo track. Instead, you hear a single meter that represents the 
summed signal. In most situations, that is what most people care about, since, 
if you're establishing level for a stereo signal, you rarely, if ever, wish to 
distort the stereo image by independently adjusting gain on the individual 
channels.

    Bryan









----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Studio Montebello
    Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 5:17 PM
    To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


    Unlocking the peak meter hold  doesn't make a peak meter a VU meter!
    A peak meter is what it says it measures the peak signal whereas a VU meter 
measures the loudness, two different things.
    Jean

    Visitez mon site / Visit my site at http://www.studiomontebello.com


      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Bryan Smart 
      To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
      Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 3:34 PM
      Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


      But it can. If you open the meter context menu and deselect hold and lock 
peeks, then you'll have a continuously fluctuating, and mostly useless, vu 
meter.

      Not sure why people want a non-peek meter when it isn't possible for any 
screen reader to report every value that appears without driving you crazy with 
non-stop speech, but this method will let you have the experience of trying.

      Bryan



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
      From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
On Behalf Of Phil Muir
      Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 2:39 PM
      To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
      Subject: [ddots-l] Re: VU meters in DD


      No it doesn't.



      Regards, Phil Muir
      Accessibility Training
      Telephone: US (615) 713-2021
      UK+44-1747-821-794
      Mobile: UK +44-7968-136-246
      E-mail:
      info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
      URL:
      www.accessibilitytraining.co.uk/
        -----Original Message-----
        From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Christopher Bartlett
        Sent: 21 October 2009 18:37
        To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Subject: [ddots-l] VU meters in DD


        Previous iterations of Dancing Dots would report peak meters but not 
the running VU meters.  Since Jsonar can do this, does Cake Talking do it now?

         

                        Chris Bartlett

         



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