Adding a VU to an effect

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iheartmeek

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Im new to modding and electronics. I was wondering if its possible to add a VU meter to just a regular old effect pedal. If so, is it difficult and what all goes into adding it?

Thanks for any help.
 
In general it's not too difficult. Also, depends on your practical experience in diy electronics, of course.
Are you thinking about LEDs type vu-meter or a Needle Meter Movement type?
The meter's "circuit" in general is an "input" buffer amplifier, some sort of meter sensitivity adjustment "facility" and the circuit accociated with LEDs (usually op-amps or a dedicated IC) or some components associated with The Needle Meter.
In your situation, I'd imagine, The first "challenge" would be actually about how to fit it into a pedal. There's not much space there.
The other thing to consider is that VU-meter circuit will suck some life out of Batteries (especially LEDs meter), if your pedals are powered by battery.
If you use power supply, then this would not be a problem.

You can buy a "ready to put together" (or even pre-assembled) LED VU-Meter electronic kit. Search for "LED VU-Meter Kit" or something like that.

I've build few units with VU-meters, and I must say, even though I used pretty much very similar basic circuit configurations for meter sections, but I always had to do some experimenting with components values to get it working "right", depending on specific unit and especially for a specific meter-movement unit. In general I always had to deal with levels and "action".
 
Vu

I was referring to the needle type VUs.

Basically this is what im looking to do: take either prebuilt effects pedals, or pedals ive built from kits, and put them into rackmount style chassis and add VUs.

As dumb as this probably sounds, its just something ive always wanted to be able to do, so i thought id ask around before trying it.
 
iheartmeek said:
.. take either prebuilt effects pedals, or pedals ive built from kits, and put them into rackmount style chassis and add VUs.

As dumb as this probably sounds, its just something ive always wanted to be able to do....
Click to expand...
I've done such dumb thing. :p
Not exactly as you described the "situation" but technically speaking it's the same idea. I've built a rack unit, that is based on TS-808 overdrive pedal's circuit, but it is somewhat different with "special" features and it has spring reverb in it.
Here's the page link with all the details: http://www.mzentertainment.com/studio_workshop_silicon_driver_guitar_overdrive_spring_reverb_unit.html. See the schematics link there, the VU-meter section is in the top/to-the-right side of the diagram. Well, there you see the circuit that I've ended up with after experimenting with the specific meter I had. This would work with various meters BUT you'll have to adjust some values of components, you can use adjustable potentiometer in the place of opamp's feedback 10K resistor (so you can adjust the level for the meter you are using). You can use most common opamp there and a general purpose npn transistor.
The circuit I've used there may not be suitable if the frequency response, metering accuracy and precise calibration is important. In this specific "device", for me, "monitoring activity" was the only purpose, but not really "measuring / monitoring the exact signal level.
I've used different circuit for "dedicated" VU-meter unit (you can check out the details here: http://www.mzentertainment.com/studio_workshop_vu_meter_unit.html )
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The ESP site/projects is a GOOD one, as pointed by Blue Jinn. And it's a good read too! I personally have never tried ESP's VU-meter circuits. So can't comment on it.
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