64 Level Meters

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
thunderkyss
Max Output Level: -66 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1207
  • Joined: 2003/11/12 12:10:59
  • Status: offline
2013/04/19 11:17:36 (permalink)

64 Level Meters


Do you know if you can easily view 64 level meters at one time in any version of Sonar?
For example



Wouldn't it be nice to work on such a striped down interface? Or am I alone in this? To adjust individual track layers, you could click on a meter & drag up or down, left or right, whatever. Is there really a reason to "see" a virtual fader?

That's a screenshot of a very striped down DAW, not as flexible as most others. It doesn't allow you to adjust levels by clicking on the meters. I was just thinking it would be nice.

Here's an alternate view.



Simple, clean. Wouldn't you love to work on something like that? It looks so much like my AW4416.

If I had the know how, that's the GUI I would design for my DAW. You want to add affects, double click on the track, either on the meter, or in the arrange view. Or right click & chose from a context sensitive menu; effects, clip edit, wave edit, midi edit, event list, track properties, etc...

Or is it just me? 

#1

4 Replies Related Threads
    iTiDav
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 30
    • Joined: 2009/02/08 12:38:53
    • Location: France
    • Status: offline
    Re:64 Level Meters 2013/04/19 12:32:14 (permalink)
    Hello, what is your screen resolution ?
    #2
    John
    Forum Host
    • Total Posts : 30467
    • Joined: 2003/11/06 11:53:17
    • Status: offline
    Re:64 Level Meters 2013/04/19 12:51:03 (permalink)
    How do you know which level is which?  I don't see labels that would tell me what needs adjusting. 

     

    Best
    John
    #3
    thunderkyss
    Max Output Level: -66 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1207
    • Joined: 2003/11/12 12:10:59
    • Status: offline
    Re:64 Level Meters 2013/04/19 16:21:20 (permalink)
    iTiDav


    Hello, what is your screen resolution ?

    John


    How do you know which level is which?  I don't see labels that would tell me what needs adjusting. 


    Those screenshots aren't mine, I found them on the internet. I chose the smallish ones to post here, because it's a pain to read a thread when someone posts a picture that is too big. 


    You can zoom in to "life" size if you wish, <ctrl+"+"> or <ctrl + mouse scroll wheel..... with today's resolution, even on a laptop you can get a pretty defined screen that's easy to read. 


    Here is a link to one that is 1673x1226 pixels, looks great. I've set it as the desktop on my laptop, 1280 x 800, still enough for me to see fine. There are numbers there on the bottom of the meters, & they're clearly labeled in the arrange view. Maybe a bit of a hassle for some, but others are probably still used to working this way.... I mainly use an AW4416 now for multitracking & mixing & this is what I do. 


    Personally, I think today's DAWs are a little overdressed, with their icons & their loud colors. I'll need to replace my AW4416 soon, & I don't like what's out there now. 


    These screenshots are from PreSonus's Capture I would get it if I were to buy one of their StudioLive mixers, which I am considering. It would probably the closest solution to my AW4416, & still be an upgrade. I'd use the power of the computer for basic editing, cutting & pasting. The tracks would play through the StudioLive mixer & I could record a stereo mixdown. 

    There are some definite drawbacks though. No midi, so I wouldn't have any track automation (I'll have to look to see if it's an option on any of their mixers, right now, I don't think so). There are no provisions for third party effects... no VST inserts. So I'd be stuck with their effects. Probably as good as anything I've used on my AW4416, but even then I could buss tracks out through SPDIF or ADAT go through a DAW hosting VSTs, then back. It was a pain to do, only did it a few times, but worked well. 

    I also wouldn't have any midi sequencing. Right now, I use either an MV-8800 or a Fantom-S to sequence a few sound modules & samplers. I've got a laptop that I use as a soundmodule with Kontakt & Sonar5.... but I don't want to have two computer setups... (truth is I already have two computers running in my studio & a third I'm trying to get up & running, so I can do it, just don't want to...... yet, I'm still looking at options). 

    It would be nice, if I could get that minimalist look in Sonar. I know it's most likely not possible (can't do it in 5) but I thought I'd ask. 





    #4
    Jeff Evans
    Max Output Level: -24 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5139
    • Joined: 2009/04/13 18:20:16
    • Location: Ballarat, Australia
    • Status: offline
    Re:64 Level Meters 2013/04/19 16:51:38 (permalink)
    Capture is a very stripped down program designed to just do the job of 'capture'. Nothing else. It does work in conjunction with the digital mixer. There is more information in the mixer. It's simplicity makes it bullet proof and ultra reliable in a live multi track recording situation which is exactly what you want and need.

    Studio One is the program you may need to be able to do everything you want. It also has very stripped down GUI's on mixer and main arrange pages so you can see all the meters etc.. For me it has the nicest look and very organised, uncluttered and very clean looking. With simple fast one stroke fast keys you can expose as much of the mixer as you need to see sends and FX etc

    (I have just done a meter check in Studio One and on the mixer page with the narrow views, most stuff to the left removed and even the master fader removed I can see about 56 mixer channels with their meters at once on a widescreen monitor. Not bad I suppose. With a little scroll to the right of course the rest are easily revealed.)

    Cubase 7 is another DAW that has developed its mixing pages. You can also see a lot in Cubase 7 at once too. Lots of channels and meters etc.. 
    I think seeing all your metering at once is not a bad idea from the perspective that although you may not be able to see what the individual meters are representing, you can still see if any channels are hitting too close to or going over 0dB FS. It is easy to zoom in and adjust relevant tracks as necessary.

    If you apply the K System metering and recording approach, none of your channels or busses will ever actually hit 0dB FS so then the need to see all those meters at once is gone. The most important stereo buss (ie your main buss) just needs a pair of VU meters over that buss for constant level checking. 



    post edited by Jeff Evans - 2013/04/19 17:12:49

    Specs i5-2500K 3.5 Ghz - 8 Gb RAM - Win 7 64 bit - ATI Radeon HD6900 Series - RME PCI HDSP9632 - Steinberg Midex 8 Midi interface - Faderport 8- Studio One V4 - iMac 2.5Ghz Core i5 - Sierra 10.12.6 - Focusrite Clarett thunderbolt interface 
     
    Poor minds talk about people, average minds talk about events, great minds talk about ideas -Eleanor Roosevelt
    #5
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1