adding VU-meters in the audio chain?

[simbloke]

Went to visit an AM transmitter as a student back in the 80's. The kind that covered a good portion of the country (England). Everything was BIG!

 

[soundwave76]

Look what I found. What should I build inside this thing?

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/alum...x-case-with-vu-meter-320x246x83mm-p-9959.html

 

[Phorize]

Looks like a prime candidate for a SECA headphone amp.

 

[Tool]

How about Denon Poa 8000? Meter's fine and it weighs only 25kg:

 

[jdolecki]

I picked up these at our local surplus store 7.50 each. Got one of them cheap vu meter driver from china. Cad the eclipse opening in cad and cut it on my mill. Now i just watch the meters its mesmerizing. Don't care about accuracy cause I'm half deaf anyways.

 

[watchnerd]

I picked up these at our local surplus store 7.50 each. Got one of them cheap vu meter driver from china. Cad the eclipse opening in cad and cut it on my mill. Now i just watch the meters its mesmerizing. Don't care about accuracy cause I'm half deaf anyways.

How are they wired to the rest of your system?

 

[DrDardis]

Maybe not the aesthetic you were after, but is as requested by O.P. . Their XLR switch was reviewed well by Amir recently FWIW

 

[bigbag34]

Maybe not the aesthetic you were after, but is as requested by O.P. . Their XLR switch was reviewed well by Amir recently FWIW

View attachment 50904

Saw this one earlier today on Amazon. Looked interesting I wonder if would have any impact on sound quality if implemented?

 

[digitalfrost]

How about Denon Poa 8000? Meter's fine and it weighs only 25kg:

Power consumption
330W (Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law)
160W (at the time of a non-signal)

https://audio-database.com/DENON-COLUMBIA/amp/poa-8000-e.html

160W idle

 

[wje]

Luxman or McIntosh should release a simple VU meter only hardware device

McIntosh did offer such a device in the past. Model # MPM4000. You can find them used on Ebay for $400+, but the condition isn't the best.

 

[leftside]

I had vu meters installed on my custom headphone amp.

 

[dkinric]

I posted this much earlier in the thread, but I really like using this vu spl meter app on the same iPad I run Roon on - easy to switch back and forth, and it's right there next to me at the listening position to keep an eye on listening volume. I'm usually upper 80 dbs when listening loud for me.
I recently compared it side by side with a more professional spl meter and they were basically in synch. Love the adjustable 0db target.
Best of all - FREE to scratch that vu meter itch. Highly recommended!

 

[Sal1950]

I had vu meters installed on my custom headphone amp.

That's a great looking box in a steampunk kind of style!
An awful lot of components to create a simple couple of watts for a set of cans.

 

[Mimizone]

I posted this much earlier in the thread, but I really like using this vu spl meter app on the same iPad I run Roon on - easy to switch back and forth, and it's right there next to me at the listening position to keep an eye on listening volume. I'm usually upper 80 dbs when listening loud for me.

How do you get the sound into the iPad? What's the stereo input?

 

[dkinric]

How do you get the sound into the iPad? What's the stereo input?

It uses the built in mic of the iPad. So, it's an SPL meter to measure volume at a spot, not amp output, and it works really well in this regard. I set a more professional $50 SPL meter right next to it to compare, and they were within a couple dbs of each other, so accuracy is good enough for anything outside a recording studio.

I actually preferred the app over the more expensive device due to the larger display, simpler look, and even the action of the needle. I had some question about how loud I was listening at times due to neighbors, hearing health, etc. and it's great to have that knowledge instantly.
Plus it's cool to watch while listening!

Here is the one I use and recommend. I guess it's 99 cents instead of free.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spl-meter/id309206756

 

[gauc93]

There's ready made boxed VU meter with parallel RCA input/output for about 25-40USD.

You can also buy them individually, they take 5v-12v for power.
I got a kit that comes with 2 VU meters and a board for Left-Right metering, controlling the brightness, and the amplitude of each VU meter individually. It cost me about 15USD, can be powered via USB.
Easy to adjust, play a tone sine wave and adjust the amplitude with a screwdriver until it matches 0 on each side. The board comes with 3 dials (screw type) to adjust the amplitude of each VU meter and one for the brightness of both meters.
Attached below the picture of the kit, and the picture of the working VU meter.


You can build a pretty neat one for about 30USD with a rotary tool or drill in a plastic enclosing. Aluminum would be awesome but you'll need access to proper machinery to drill the holes. It's pretty straightforward, I had never done this before and I don't know anything about wiring stuff like this, took me about 30min drilling the hole in an enclosure and wiring it.

 

[Feljor]

Con micrófono

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m04rJlf

 

[ajawamnet]

I just bought a coupla these. I'm running them off a sub mix so they aren't in the chain. Read some comment on Youboob where some guy mentions hearing some noise using it in line. Dunno. The one I'm using at my cad station (which i use to do a lot of mixing at, 'cause I'm a lazy fuq) I'll modify if I have to to isolate any of the meter crap that might influence the audio pass thru.

 

[ajawamnet]

Well, the two Little Bear Douk units I bought don't quite follow the panning - Here's a G rated Video review of how screwed up these things are.

Yea there's another review I did with F bombs galore.

If you pan while they are running - and as I show you can see (and hear) that the output is definitely going to either the Left or Right but Douk seems to think no. But if you interrupt the signal (ie. shut off the output) when you bring it back NOW the Douk shows the stereo panorama correctly.

Now as I mentioned, I bought two of these things. So I get to replace the guts in both and do it right.

Interesting -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/upgraded-edition-OF-TA7318P-VU-Meter-Driver-PCB-Board-Stereo-module/254680003618?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

It replaces the old Toshiba TA7318P driver with what looks to be an opamp just like we used to do in multitrack recorders and typical console meter bridges tho those were a bit more tweak.


The Led Zep remix I mention - see the VU meter vid with my remix
http://www.ajawamnet.com/ajawamnet/remixoflz.html

These suck.

 

[gauc93]

Well, the two Little Bear Douk units I bought don't quite follow the panning - Here's a G rated Video review of how screwed up these things are.

Yea there's another review I did with F bombs galore.

If you pan while they are running - and as I show you can see (and hear) that the output is definitely going to either the Left or Right but Douk seems to think no. But if you interrupt the signal (ie. shut off the output) when you bring it back NOW the Douk shows the stereo panorama correctly.

Now as I mentioned, I bought two of these things. So I get to replace the guts in both and do it right.

These suck.

If it helps, I got these off TaoBao and they actually seem to be the same meters in those little bear douk.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.61632e8dchb3cZ&id=38286868276&_u=d2099jdhn4513c

Not sure what software you're using to test but this VU meter set (2 VU meters plus board and cables) is 15 USD and the amplitude can be adjusted manually for each channel.
They work a treat, nearly foolproof to get them running. I run it off an USB cable into any USB port/charger.

The right channel is a bit off but it's because I didn't adjust it properly and I am too lazy to open back the case, I just wanted to have a dancing VU meter... If you wanna get fancy you can wire a knob to adjust them externally.

They're pretty responsive and both channels work accurately. I just played two quick tracks with clear audio separation, Los from Rammstein at 15 seconds is pretty clear how responsive they're and that both channels are displayed accurately.

You can buy a nice small case similar to the Little Bear Douk for it for 5-8 USD in aluminum, plastic or combined. The one in the video I got it for 12 USD. But it is BIG, made in aluminum with a rubber handle on top and hard plastic front cover. A small one is less than 6 USD. Don't ask me what's this frankenbox, makes me feel ashamed. I just made it to make my setup easy to transport, even drilled the holes by hand with a rotary tool.

The sockets I got them from JiaSound in TaoBao, they work a treat. Nice to install and have even nice panels. They're about 1 USD per piece.

They even sell plates to mount these sockets, for like 1 USD per piece. All sorts of designs: 2,3,4,6,8,16+ holes, mixed up sizes, weather proof seals, covers, etc. I used this one since I used parallel output RCA so needed 4 holes. Also 1 USD.

Throw in a soldering kit (even with screwdriver, multimeter, and a bunch of stuff) and it's gonna be like 30 USD.