Req: LED - Levelmeter and Real VU-Meter

AngularMomentum · 12 Sept 2006

I think platinum ears had a compressor with a VU meter. I do not think it is online anymore, but I have it around somewhere. Will see if I can skin that VU meter.

AngularMomentum · 12 Sept 2006

http://www.amvst.com/synthmaker/VU-LR-Meters.osm

There needs to be some more work done on this, as the VU Dial doesn't respond correct, so hope that someone else will pick this up.

sunsynth · 12 Sept 2006

Yeah these looks perfect - but the VU Dials stays at -20dB and do nothing...

Param changes needed?

Sunsynth

AngularMomentum · 12 Sept 2006

They just respond very minimal...I think the signal needs to be multiplied, but it also needs to show the true output value, that is where we need help. At least the basics are down now.

jobro · 13 Sept 2006

Add a multiplier and multiply the signal with 24. That makes the signal allmost normal AFAIK. But there is another problem when doing that: The meter jolts between 0 and the current value. It seams like an array is needed to store the previous value to make the meter go smoother.

AngularMomentum · 13 Sept 2006

I think a smooth module would help. I will experiment with that today.

stefan · 13 Sept 2006

AngularMomentum wrote: I think a smooth module would help. I will experiment with that today.

I think it could be a good idea to: Use a envelope follower Mono2float linear to decibels conversion in green maths

AngularMomentum · 13 Sept 2006

Updated the schematic...doesn't respond yet correctly to decibels (it's about 11 to 12 decibels to high), but now it runs smooth. Built a little synth with it to show it works (sort of)

sunsynth · 13 Sept 2006

looks Great - but how can i use the Level-meter with my mono Stream?

SUN

Dave B · 13 Sept 2006

AngularMomentum wrote: Updated the schematic...doesn't respond yet correctly to decibels (it's about 11 to 12 decibels to high), but now it runs smooth. Built a little synth with it to show it works (sort of)

I started looking at this after you had suggested "someone pick it up". You must have a lot of time on your hands because you're still working on it anyway! 😈

Anyway, I've been playing with it a bit. I was working on an interpolation scheme to take the input directly in voltage (sample value) and convert that to angular motion. One problem I seem to be having is that the scale on the picture doesn't seem to map accurately to a db scale. I was able to line up the needle for the extremes of the range (because I used them as the reference points), but using voltages in between and converting to db does not match the value pointed to on the scale.

I have plenty of things going on so I may or may not work on this since others may be also, but a couple of questions:

Are you looking for peak, average, or RMS readings? Peak and average are both easily obtained and could be selectable. RMS is a little more involved.

Are you hoping for actual VU ballistics emulation or just interested in the nostalgic feel of the meters? In reality a lot of meters on old gear did not necessarily exhibit VU ballistics.

I actually think I have a pretty simple solution but I think it requires correcting the meter scale with a new picture.

sunsynth · 14 Sept 2006

Hi Dave B,

yes please: optimize this great looking VU-Meters!!!

If AngularMomentum dosn't have time 4 making the changes in the Pictures and he allows it, i will try my best... 😉

btw.: i found Unkargherth's "lvlmeter.osm" but - this thingy also dosn't work in the newest Trial... :-(

edited: I found it: UNK's lvlmeter uses an old "Mono to Graph" -Tool, now it's working fine! (After many crashes while editing) 🙂 🙂 🙂

P.S.: can't sleep last night - now i go to bed... 😉

Dave B · 14 Sept 2006

I've been working in Photoshop to correct the scale of the background. I almost have it but still have some work to do.

AngularMomentum · 14 Sept 2006

Heheh, whatever I post here is there to alter and mangle...so go right ahead...I was already happy if it where scaled to 0 decibel, so one could at least see when a digital clip occurs. Better of course if it has true response.

sunsynth · 14 Sept 2006

Hmm, just an idea...

remember the good old VU-Meter of Philips with a Red LED as a Clip Indicator???

This addon would be fine 😉

SUN (always shine on you and me)

Dave B · 14 Sept 2006

First things first! 😇

Let me get it working then this should be trivial.

Dave B · 15 Sept 2006

Update:

I believe I now have the scale pretty close for accuracy but I'm not at all happy with the meter movement. I'm experimenting with a few approaches to get it working better. I'm hoping that the graphics update isn't contributing to the problem. At the moment I don't believe that's the case.

sunsynth · 8 Oct 2006

Hi ,

i look 4 a very good VU-Meter... something like unkargherth's

I need this 4 my new project so:

Please help me in optimising that this beauty needs less cpu-power!

Here one from my great KX-Driver as an example:

Greetings, Walter alias SUNsynth