VU Meters: Let's See 'Em!!

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Deltaman]

I have a few VU meters myself.

 

[Ramon Cota]

Speakers with built-in meters . how cool is that ? ( lol )

 

[Broadcast_Eng]

Lost in the days after full album covers is perhaps the meaning of the title, "Red", King Crimson, heaviest album—here opened to view the back cover:

View attachment 219822

OK, it's not precisely a VU meter, but they made their point. My only VU meters these days are on the pro audio side, one each on a Focusrite mic pre and Klark Teknik compressor/limiter, and most on old gear, no longer used (18 VU meters between mixer, and 8-ch and two stereo tape decks).

It's an IEC 60268-10 spec quasi-peak program meter (PPM) with the traditional British scale. SIFAM (sifam.com) and possibly others still make them. Tightly specified and more useful in my opinion (and that of many of my former colleagues) than many other level displays including true VU meters. Like most tools, however, one must learn how to use and properly interpret them. The last time I had analog broadcast consoles customized to my specifications I had true VU meters and PPMs mounted side-by-side monitoring multiple mix buses, including the 'cue/PFL' (pre-fade listen) bus.

The PPM is driven by a circuit that largely controls the meter's displayed ballistics. Calibrating one involved adjusting three or four interactive trim pots, if I recall correctly slightly more tedious than the electronic alignment of a single analog tape recorder channel. I understand some early meter movements used for PPMs had the needle rest at the full-scale position when unpowered as shown on the King Crimson album cover.

 

[dualazmak]

I have a few VU meters myself.

I have 12 (twelve) pieces of large glass-face VU meter (the glass-face size W100mm x H40mm), they are compatible with IEC 60268-17 VU specification including the ballistic behavior, DIY installed in an array cabinet. Please refer to post #396 on this thread.

 

[dualazmak]

As for the compatibility with IEC 60268-17 VU specification, our discussion on this thread "Do software VU meters react the same as hardware versions?" would be nice reference, I believe.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[formdissolve]

Used to own an Onkyo Integra M-5060R Dual Mono Amp.. had these awesome green VU meters. It was single-ended but had this weird "servo" tech.

 

[Gary_G]

 

[MadMaxx]

 

[Deltaman]

VU1 - Dynamic Analogue Dials

NOTE: Please do not order a VU1 "DIAL" unless you already have a VU1 "HUB". If you are unsure about the difference, please check the product page or contact support. Moving coil dials are nothing new, they have been around since the invention of galvanometer devices in the 1800s and are more...

shop.streacom.com

 

[dualazmak]

VU1 - Dynamic Analogue Dials

NOTE: Please do not order a VU1 "DIAL" unless you already have a VU1 "HUB". If you are unsure about the difference, please check the product page or contact support. Moving coil dials are nothing new, they have been around since the invention of galvanometer devices in the 1800s and are more...

shop.streacom.com

It seems a little bit of similar concept as I proposed/suggested to NEOHIPO people in my post here; it would be still very much out of my spec demands, though.

 

[Deltaman]

Says they work off of usb?

 

[dualazmak]

Says they work off of usb?

Who do you mean by "they"?

 

[Deltaman]

See the picture. One two three, four? They as in plural? What am I missing? I guess you could buy as many as you like?

 

[linuxfan]

As I read it, the VU1 hub model connects to your computer via USB, then additional VU1 dial models can be daisy-chained via USB from the hub.

Deltaman while you're here, what device did you decide to use as NAS?
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/old-server-to-use-for-nas.56689/

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Toslink input