How to "read" VU meters

[Fletcher]

Well Otto... you do have a point on the integration of "-10" and "+4" stuff... though the operating headroom of an analog unit doesn't really come into play here as we're talking about "0"... but you're right, there is -10 "semi-pro" stuff all over the place and it can be a bitch to interface that with +4 "pro" stuff... but, even the lowly RNC runs at +4 [going to +28 before clipping even though it runs on a "wallwart"... which is again why the 'internal headroom discussion is off the table].

Jay also has a point that there is damn little "semi-pro" hardware I've seen where you could actually calibrate the meters so the point is essentially moot in that relm. My point in the tech "waka/waka" talk was that there is a standard for calibrating meters, that they aren't set arbitrarily... nothing more, nothing less.

 

[ofajen]

My point in the tech "waka/waka" talk was that there is a standard for calibrating meters, that they aren't set arbitrarily... nothing more, nothing less.

A good point, that is the standard for meters. About the only gear I have that can easily change is my old Altec 1567a. It has VU range settings from 0 to +12. It's the exception that proves the rule. The fact that most meters can't be recalibrated just adds to the complexity if you're gear isn't quite up to the +4 dBu challenge.

I just wanted to make sure that folks here using a mixture of gear understand that +4 dBu might be too high of a studio operating level for some of their gear to provide and still have the headroom to perform up to spec. Kind of a digression from the calibration issue, but also important for folks to understand.

BTW, the RNC spec sheet online claims a clip level of +22.5 dBu, which is about what I always assumed it was. It does have an unbalanced signal path, after all.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[Fletcher]

OK... +22.5 is still pretty damn healthy when you're talking about most project studio hardware... the desk in my room only does +24 and it's class A discrete running on bi-polar 24 volt rails [with a 15 amp PSU]...

As for playing "mix and match" with +4 and -10 gear... you really shouldn't do it without "bump boxes" unless you're looking for VERY compromised results from all of the involved equipment... and yeah, I know not everybody knows about this kind of crap but it does make a difference... it should probably be part of the training for the Banjo Mart sales mooks that pimp the great majority of the mis-matched crap on the planet but alas it is not... on the bright side, that's why there are information sites on the subject such as this one... knowledge is power and all that.

Peace.