Console emulator's "VU" meters... can we actually use those?

Hello guys.
 
I'm wondering if we can use the "VU" meters in the console emulator's pro channel module. I did some quick tests using tone generators, and it seems to me that these are using the DBFS scale... (tone gen at -6 DBFS hits -6 in the emulators' VU...)
 
So I guess these are not really vu meters...
 
 

It would be nice to see Sonar add VU meters, but first I would like to see a large jumbo meter with different RMS/Peak values. How is anyone supposed to do any serious mixing and mastering without a good meter ?
Im not knocking Sonar because a lot of DAWs are like this, they expect you to buy 3rd party meters.
Well give us a good meter (detailed with color levels) and a good set of VU meters.
This would make my day.
 
To answer your question, I believe they are VU meters but were not ever intended to be used for metering individual signals, just what's passing through the Console Emulator.
I recommend Klanghelm VU meters.
However there is a free one here made by ISR but I haven't tried it:
http://www.lsraudio.com/lvlmeter.html

Agreed, Chuck, for the metering. I am using Brainworx meters and I am quite pleased by it: 
https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_meter.html
Currently, you can get it for a special price of 19$...
 
But then again, there is still our friend's ANDERTON tip of using a dedicated screenset to configure very long meters to obtain high resolution metering (I think the article was named "the over achieving meters...)
 
About VU meters, I've downloaded the LSR vu meters, http://www.lsraudio.com/lvlmeter.html
 
but I noticed something strange with their DUAL VU... it seems to have a 3 db difference between your calibration GOAL vs the reading you get... (IE, using a -12 dbfs tone to hit 0 VU, i had to trim the plugin at -15 db... in other words, the -12db tone was hitting the vu at -3db if I trimmed the plugin at -12db...). I first thought it had something to do with SONAR'S panning laws (but no matter what mode I selected, i could see no difference on SONAR'S meters when panning the test track hard left or hard right... so I am not getting something important about pan laws...)
 
Anyway... main conclusion here: be aware that what seems to be VU meters in the console emulators are not actual vu...

stickman393
Klanghelm VUMT is awesome and well worth the €14, seriously.

Yeah... maybe soon i'll give in...  ;-)
 

Bump for this, prochannel needs a VU!

chuckebaby

tnipe
Bump for this, prochannel needs a VU!

Bumping this thread wont help, you need to put in as a feature request in the Bakery and users will vote on it.
http://bakery.cakewalk.com/

http://bakery.cakewalk.co...nels-console-emulation

I'm pretty sure (though maybe I'm wrong here) that the console emulator was actually made by Softube. I'm guessing that the bakers would have to work with Softube to change the metering on the CE.

what is the difference between a VU meter and the meters in Cakewalk?   Is 0.0 db in Sonar not actually 0.0db?

AdamGrossmanLG
what is the difference between a VU meter and the meters in Cakewalk?   Is 0.0 db in Sonar not actually 0.0db?

There's a lot of articles and stuff out on the web that recommend mixing with VU-meters instead of the standard dbfs meters that come included with DAWS, to help with gain staging.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px-r3HHV6aA&t=132s
http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/gain-staging-your-daw-software
 

I use this, many setups and it gives you lots of data...

Pragi
Yes,
metering seems to be the  far better option as VU `s for measurement.
I learned in the tape recording days that 
VU is a contraction for Very Useless,
 

 a VU meter shows the average loudness of a signal. It shows the energy and intensity of the music. In mixing, a VU meter shows the actual level of the mix.
 
Sometimes modern meters can be a bit too much in the visual and numerical sense.
 
Its great to reference your work on detailed (digital)meters, as I mentioned earlier in this thread.
However, myself personally... to find the correct energy, balance of a mix and especially gain staging a mix, I much prefer a VU meter over a "Detailed analysis meter". (I use that later to make sure everything is within specs).
 
They are very useful and by reading your comment (Very Useless) I can tell either
A- you have never used one to its potential.
B- You haven't figured out how to use one in the correct setting.
 
We all have our opinions and choices. so I respect your opinion. Im just not sure you have tried to explore the options of VU meters. they can be very healthy and real. <- and that is something we need very much so in a digital world.

chuckebaby

Pragi
Yes,
metering seems to be the  far better option as VU `s for measurement.
I learned in the tape recording days that 
VU is a contraction for Very Useless,
 

a VU meter shows the average loudness of a signal. It shows the energy and intensity of the music. In mixing, a VU meter shows the actual level of the mix.
 
Sometimes modern meters can be a bit too much in the visual and numerical sense.
 
Its great to reference your work on detailed (digital)meters, as I mentioned earlier in this thread.
However, myself personally... to find the correct energy, balance of a mix and especially gain staging a mix, I much prefer a VU meter over a "Detailed analysis meter". (I use that later to make sure everything is within specs).
 
They are very useful and by reading your comment (Very Useless) I can tell either
A- you have never used one to its potential.
B- You haven't figured out how to use one in the correct setting.
 
We all have our opinions and choices. so I respect your opinion. Im just not sure you have tried to explore the options of VU meters. they can be very healthy and real. <- and that is something we need very much so in a digital world.

I have many plugins with UV meters on them, I use them as well. My Art Channel Strip has UV and a meter. I think I just use every option at the end of the day but the IK Meter was my 1st plugin so... I know how to use it the best. It goes last in the chain.  Have a good one... :)  

chuckebaby

tnipe

chuckebaby

tnipe
Bump for this, prochannel needs a VU!

Bumping this thread wont help, you need to put in as a feature request in the Bakery and users will vote on it.
http://bakery.cakewalk.com/

http://bakery.cakewalk.co...nels-console-emulation

I just voted it up (now theres 6)

I have added 1 to it.
Thanks

 
You know its funny, back when I was mixing analog only using VU meters, I remember the first digital meter I got, I was so excited and fascinated by its pin point precision.
When I started using digital, I got my first VU meter and I was just as excited .
 
Funny how everything goes full circle .
 
Peace
Chuck



And to make the circle complete for myself
I will give the VU meters  a try.