VU Meter: What It Does and Why It's Essential for an Amazing Sound Mix?
In this digital age, metering options have be complex and modern. However, several of those modernistic meters might appear as over-the-top and silly. To prevent such problems with your VU meter, below are some points that will allow you to with deciding on the best type. Read on to find more.
What is this actually?
Before going any more, you have to know the fundamentals first. VU means volume unit. However, that is different as a gain reduction meter that might appear as similar but observed in compressors. Furthermore, they are completely different from peak meters such as those present in digital audio workstation (DAW) mixers.
Its main purpose is to visualize the common volume or loudness of analog signals. Hence, that is ideal for measuring the intensity and power of music. In mixing, on one other hand, the VU meter displays the specific mixing level. More information optical audio splitter
Why should you need this in mixing music?
Technically, this equipment provides a healthy border when you're mixing music. Professional mixers will understand that when mixing the amount should not exceed the zero mark. Moreover, the limits would typically be around 2 to 3 VUs. Anything beyond that could make the sound mixing suffer.
Hence, using this metering option is essential as it helps you with becoming consistent with the sound levels and loudness of the music you are producing. This really is attained by calibrating the audio VU meter to have the required results.
How do calibrate correctly?
In order to do this, ensure that you've decided about what the nominal operating level will be. This should be equal to 0 volume units on the meter.
For an insight, a healthier degree of signal should be just around -20dB on an average. This can, obviously, peak above these mark. However, just to be safe, you've to keep these from peaking above -6dB.
When calibrating for the stereo mix bus, imaging sending a natural sine wave that is gain-staged to -20dB on the external VU meter you have. Ensure that the needle should remain stationary at 0 volume units.
When that is calibrated in a low degree of just around -20dB or -18dB, this permits the system to make a sound with little to no digital distortions. Furthermore, ensure that you also adjust the in-patient faders so the meter's needle wouldn't be dancing round the zero mark.
In conclusion…
This electrical component could have a slow response time. However, that is ideal for sustained sounds. Sub bass, as an example, are difficult to hear as a result of a number of reasons including bad acoustics and small speakers. However, with an excellent VU meter, you can tell that there surely is something amiss with the sound mixing as the needle is pinned to the right.
Hence, this equipment is a good help for anyone into live performance and sound mixing business. Furthermore, this can be used along with peak meters to reach a much better sound mix and gain-stage.
Regardless of its analog origin, this still includes a great purpose in today's digital era. To learn more concerning this fascinating tool, check out pro audio and visual equipment stores such as 3DHD Gear or visit them through this link: https://3dhdgear.com/collections/audio-vu-meters.
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