Audio Level Meters

Level Meters 

- A visual representation of the electrical strength of an audio signal

- For measurement of External Level Variation 

1. VU Meter

- Volume Unit

- 0 vu = +4 dBm (dBu)

- An 'averaging' meter reads the average levels 

- Like our hearing, indicates the average loudness

- Not the actual level of the signal (VU meter is strength meter)

▲ VU Meter

2. Peak Meter

- Read absolute level (Not an average level)

- Track all transients

- Indicates the true electrical peak

- Must use for digital recording

- Most peak meters are L.E.D. (Light Emitting Diodes) 

- Type of meter: individual lights, bar graph

▲ Peak Meter

3. PPM

- Peak Program Meter

- -12 = +4 dBm

- Fast Rise Ballistic

- Slow Fall off Ballistic 

- Read both absolute & average level

▲ Peak Program Meter

4. Digital Meter

- Digital ‘0’ = MOL (Maximum Operating Level)

- Accepted ROL Level (Reference Operating Level) = -18

- Digital level gives more freedom than analog does in controlling

▲ Digital Meter

*Basically 2 ~ 4 are same things (except VU meter)

[side trip]

▲ Range of analog & digital meter © The Music Telegraph

▲ Dynamic Range (*Refer to range of Headroom (0 vu ~ 18 vu; +4 dBu ~ +24 dBu, ROL ~ MOL)) © The Music Telegraph

▲ Audio signal and noise waveform © The Music Telegraph

Accentize

German company which provides cutting-edge audio plugins based on machine learning techniques

www.accentize.com

ConnectionOpen

Online communication platform developer providing real-time creative collaboration experiences over the internet based in Nevada, United States

www.connectionopen.com

Function Loops

Israeli sound design company offering ultimate resources for DJs, producers and musicians

www.functionloops.com

Imaginando

Portuguese audio-software developer creating inspiring musical experiences by combining music with technology

www.imaginando.pt

Inouï Samples

Virtual Instrument Developer with the aim of pushing forward artistic creations based in France

www.inouisamples.com

Mathew Lane

Innovative spatial processor plug-ins and hardware manufacturer based in Belgium

www.mathewlane.com

Oeksound

Finnish audio plug-in company bringing innovative sound for mixing and mastering based in Helsinki

oeksound.com

Sound Magic

Founded in 2007, One of the Primary Pioneers in Virtual Instruments and DSP Software based in Beijing, China

neovst.com

United Plugins

Software Developer for Professional Audio Processing based in Prague, Czech Republic

unitedplugins.com