Here’s a link to some nifty software VU meters.
http://www.darkwood.demon.co.uk/PC/meter.html#PPM1
Here’s a link to some nifty software VU meters.
http://www.darkwood.demon.co.uk/PC/meter.html#PPM1
One which I find particularly useful has a built in audio test generator. The bad news is that they only respond to the input to a sound card and not to the output but I found a workaround. On my computer’s volume control panel>options>properties>recording I can enable a panel called “What U Hear”. This loops the sound card output back into the input and, when selected, causes the VU meters to display the volume of what is playing on the sound output. The down side to the volume control change is that the card output becomes the input for recording which means that the output adjustments will be applied when recording (source, volume, tone controls). I have to remember to set it back for line input when recording from external sources.
For use with a transmitter, VU meter calibration is needed but that is not too hard since they can be internally calibrated. The author provides a -4dB test tone which helps establish the digital “red line”.
For those of us who miss the good ole days when analog VU meters ruled, here’s one:
http://wareseeker.com/Audio-Multimedia/vumeter-1.1.zip/336997
Have fun playing with these.
Neil
VU Meters Rule!!
LOL Thank you for sharing your find.
I am one of those that miss the analog day’s.
Rotary controls, toggle switches, cart machines, turntables and yes analog VU meters. I have a hard time trusting the meters on my compact Behringer mixing board. These meter’s may confirm my suspicions that the l.e.d meter is slightly off.
Not to mention they just look cool.
Eight Big Real VU Meters
In previous life our recording studio had four stereo Tapesonic Reel to Reel machines with two large size VU meters on the amps. Now these are in junk storage, and of course I could never dispose of such beautiful meters. I love them in an abnormal way and may install them on the refrigerator or couch just to see them.
I also love big meters on transmitters, and we’ve talked about rigging meters with part 15 transmitters, but the size difference makes it like putting a truck tire on a mini-car.
VU Analog Meters and Tools
Carl, I know what you mean about the analog meters. I have used them in my part 15 escapades dating back to 1959. In college I sometimes ran a board (Gates I think) with the big knobs and meters.
I now have two vintage meters (circa 1949) one of which I am mounting in a box so I can monitor my AM tx. input. 0 dB on this is a higher voltage than a line level 0 dB at 100% modulation so I have built an IC amplifier to boost the meter signal and provide for calibration. Using a VU meter for this is a bit silly since the SSTRAN has compression but I like the visual effect of the meter moving….it makes the otherwise “just sitting there” electronics appear to be doing something. It is mainly for looks but it will give an indication that things are working properly and won’t tie up my computer with displaying the software meters.
One of the best features of the meters and test tone file linked in my first post is that they enable the setting of levels, especially for recording. Digital audio is unforgiving if the levels get too high since hard clipping occurs. You can’t push the level just a bit higher as was possible in analog systems. I have calibrated one of the meters with the -4dB tone and set the red OVER indicator to 0 dB. This way I know if I botched the levels and can start over. It is also useful for normalizing digital audio recordings. I have found that automatic software normalization sometimes causes clipping and don’t trust it for high quality work. One thing remains to be checked out though. The author of the meter software states that he has applied analog meter ballistics which may prevent the peak detectors from catching high frequency peaks. Perhaps not since analog meters didn’t have peak indicators and maybe he means he applied the ballistics to the level bars. I’ll update when I know for sure.
It is interesting to play with the signal generator/level meter app. I have found that my audio chain in the computer is far from flat in frequency response. This, in conjunction with preemphasis and treble boost in the transmitters, could lead to problems though to my ear my signals sound good. But I have high frequency hearing loss and may not be hearing distorted audio if it exists. As they say in reporting on funded research “this study suggests that more investigation is needed”. (Read “give us more $$$.)
Neil