AnsweredWhat are the record and playback meter options?

Author
vladasyn
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1092
  • Joined: 2005/02/05 00:33:23
  • Status: offline
2017/05/11 04:32:04 (permalink)

What are the record and playback meter options?

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.

https://soundcloud.com/vlada-astral 
http://vladasyn.wix.com/astral#
I am a female. Windows 8.1
Custom DAW Intel Core I7 3770K, 16 Gb memory, SSD+ 2 x 2 Gb storage. Presonus StudioLive 24.
  Multiple keyboards and modules, software synths.  
#1
The Grim
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 724
  • Joined: 2016/04/19 02:31:06
  • Location: hades
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 05:04:59 (permalink)
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
 
 
post edited by The Grim - 2017/05/11 06:46:50
#2
vladasyn
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1092
  • Joined: 2005/02/05 00:33:23
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 05:35:01 (permalink)
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...

https://soundcloud.com/vlada-astral 
http://vladasyn.wix.com/astral#
I am a female. Windows 8.1
Custom DAW Intel Core I7 3770K, 16 Gb memory, SSD+ 2 x 2 Gb storage. Presonus StudioLive 24.
  Multiple keyboards and modules, software synths.  
#3
The Grim
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 724
  • Joined: 2016/04/19 02:31:06
  • Location: hades
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 06:18:38 (permalink)
for me the visual scale of the meters change when you click and select between the options.
#4
The Grim
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 724
  • Joined: 2016/04/19 02:31:06
  • Location: hades
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 06:37:03 (permalink)
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?
 
#5
vladasyn
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1092
  • Joined: 2005/02/05 00:33:23
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 11:36:49 (permalink)
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...

https://soundcloud.com/vlada-astral 
http://vladasyn.wix.com/astral#
I am a female. Windows 8.1
Custom DAW Intel Core I7 3770K, 16 Gb memory, SSD+ 2 x 2 Gb storage. Presonus StudioLive 24.
  Multiple keyboards and modules, software synths.  
#6
JohnEgan
Max Output Level: -80 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 543
  • Joined: 2014/10/21 10:03:57
  • Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 12:58:30 (permalink)
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      
 
   

John Egan
Sonar Platinum (2017-10),RME-UFX, PC-CPU - i7-5820, 3.3 GHz, 6 core, ASUS X99-AII, 16GB ram, GTX 960, 500 GB SSD, 2TB HDD x 2, Win7 Pro x64,  O8N2 Advanced, Melodyne Studio,.... (2 cats :(,  in the yard).
 
#7
The Grim
Max Output Level: -76 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 724
  • Joined: 2016/04/19 02:31:06
  • Location: hades
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 13:24:46 (permalink)
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
 

#8
musicjohnnie
Max Output Level: -86 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 227
  • Joined: 2009/09/20 18:38:43
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 13:53:51 (permalink)
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

Dell XPS 9100 Studio
I7 930.....16G ram
Win 10 anniv.(now back to win 7)
Sonar Platinum (lifer)
#9
thedukewestern
Max Output Level: -83 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 387
  • Joined: 2008/04/14 12:06:59
  • Location: NY
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/11 13:59:27 (permalink)
Heres an idea for console view - lets get more landscape for the meters as an option... like - horizontal meters in track view

Be the first one who thinks that you can
 
Sonar Platinum, Windows 7 64 bit - clean install January 2016, Focusrite Pro 40, Outboard Pres, Native Instruments Komplete, Izotope, PSP, Melodyne, Vegetarian
#10
vladasyn
Max Output Level: -69 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 1092
  • Joined: 2005/02/05 00:33:23
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/12 03:14:13 (permalink)
Ok, I see that it changes- thank you. Strange that I did not see it changing in other project. BUT
 
I need to know how it switches from solid numbers to decimal numbers (from 10, 11, 12... to 10.1, 10.2, 10.3...)
 
This older project that I started way back when I had Sonar X2 or may be X1 or ever 8.5 has Plus sign next to Db reading. For example  it shows vocal track is currently at -2.8+. What in the world does it means? Does it mean that there are smaller increments that I can not see? It does not have + sign in my other projects. Another anomaly is that this project shows different numbers at the Meter and at the Automation. At the meter it says that my Vocal track is at -2.8+, but the green automation line shows 0.0. Usually the meter shows the same number as automation line. Also if I make a curve, the meter slider supposed to follow it but it does not. Nothing. I just made drop to Zero (not 0.0 Db but like -33Db), but fader does not respond to it. Ok- the volume drops, the Meter drops but the fader does not move. Still shows -2.8+. I have Automation Read Enabled.  Can anyone explain this? Thank you.

https://soundcloud.com/vlada-astral 
http://vladasyn.wix.com/astral#
I am a female. Windows 8.1
Custom DAW Intel Core I7 3770K, 16 Gb memory, SSD+ 2 x 2 Gb storage. Presonus StudioLive 24.
  Multiple keyboards and modules, software synths.  
#11
scook
Forum Host
  • Total Posts : 24146
  • Joined: 2005/07/27 13:43:57
  • Location: TX
  • Status: offline
Re: What are the record and playback meter options? 2017/05/12 03:37:31 (permalink) ☼ Best Answerby vladasyn 2017/05/16 11:43:01
The + sign after a value indicates offset mode is enabled
#12
Jump to:
© 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1