Hey there
I was looking for the meter scales because my partner keeps saying something needs to be at -12 Db and I don't understand why I would want it to be that low. I mix to Zero, after 0, the meter gets red, number readings turn red and I know it clipping. -12 is like way down there. So I am guessing- there some setting I would change to make 0 to be at the top because right now I have 60 at the top.
 
But I found these record and playback meter options when clicking on meter itself- it offers -12, -24, -42, -60 and so on. What are those and what should it be set to? I have it set to -42. I never looked at it before. Would my sound be different if it was set to -12/ And this is not -12 for broadcasting, is it? Thank you.

vladasyn
Hey there
I was looking for the meter scales because my partner keeps saying something needs to be at -12 Db and I don't understand why I would want it to be that low. I mix to Zero, after 0, the meter gets red, number readings turn red and I know it clipping. -12 is like way down there. So I am guessing- there some setting I would change to make 0 to be at the top because right now I have 60 at the top.

what he is talking about here is like setting your meters to show 0 at -12, like the k system, k12, k14 etc. ensures  you have headroom, you bring it back up in the mastering process. i don't think sonar has this, but you can achieve it with 3rd party metering solutions, klanghlems vu is good and reasonably cheap
 

vladasyn
 
But I found these record and playback meter options when clicking on meter itself- it offers -12, -24, -42, -60 and so on. What are those and what should it be set to? I have it set to -42. I never looked at it before. Would my sound be different if it was set to -12/ And this is not -12 for broadcasting, is it? Thank you.

no that i believe is just setting the visual scale of the meters
 
 

No, the visual does not change when you select -12 or -24 or any other, this is why I am wondering what it is for. Also I believe there are some meter options- at least between going from 1 to 127 and in Dbs like  2.3, 2.4, 2.5...

for me the visual scale of the meters change when you click and select between the options.

this is what you are referring to?
 

 

 

 
note the change in scale on GUITAR L and GUITAR R in the last image
 
the 1 to 127 thing you talking about is like on the BFD3 midi track on the left?
 

Thank you for the reply. I don't see change on the Guitar L+R. Where is the change? Stll gos from -36 to +6.
 
The MIDI goes from 1 to 127, but the Audio also can be set to go whole numbers, not 2.2, 2.3 and so on. I cant find how to change it but I have some projects that just go 100, 101, 102...

The Grim
for me the visual scale of the meters change when you click and select between the options.

I agree this is only the visual range of meters, the more relevant question may be what level does the 0 dB represent, in Sonar and/or can 0 be changed to visually represent say like -12 dB, which I believe is an optimal/ideal peak level analog recordings should be made within?.
I know I had some uncertainties about what actual levels Sonar meters indicate. It may also be worth seeing if your audio interfaces software mixer meters indicate more or less the same levels as in Sonar. I know the preamp input levels indicated in my TotalMix (RME UFX), may not peak out in red/overload (using peak Autoset function), but Sonar meters may still overload, so usually I need to back off gain a bit in TotalMix, so Sonar meters dont indicate overloads, but then recorded levels sometimes seem somewhat low, (i.e., I have to somewhat boost my listening levels for mixing).
 
Cheers      
 
   

vladasyn
Thank you for the reply. I don't see change on the Guitar L+R. Where is the change? Stll gos from -36 to +6.
 
The MIDI goes from 1 to 127, but the Audio also can be set to go whole numbers, not 2.2, 2.3 and so on. I cant find how to change it but I have some projects that just go 100, 101, 102...

yes the -36 to +6 is the same, that will always be the same, but look at the actual meter increments right beside where you would see the led meters
 

Good day,
Somewhere there was a discussion about this, but don't  remember  where. I kinda look at it like looking at a wave file and enlarging it or shrinking it in a track. Nothing changes except for the sizing of the items. Looking at something closer let's you get closer to what you are looking at. Kinda like opening a window and closing it if it were painted black. What you see is the outside more or less. Same with the setting in sonar. Changes meter speed also (side note). Hope this helps.
MJ

Heres an idea for console view - lets get more landscape for the meters as an option... like - horizontal meters in track view