|
|
|
05-05-2010, 01:46 AM
|
#1
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 68
|
What are the best, most accurate Reaper meters?
I record and then use backing tracks as a solo musician when the gigs require it and because all my tracks have been created over several years, several computers and several DAW programs they're pretty inconsistent in their "sound", which isn't a bad thing really.
And a consistent volume gets tricky also, because of "perceived" volume or bass-heavy (bass guitar) mixes for example can sometimes trick compressors or limiters into too much gain reduction.
My best process for averaging out the tracks volume-wise is to simply listen to them and compare them, but even then my ears get tired and play tricks. So finally trusting a good set of meters helps.
Can anyone recommend a setting or plug-in in Reaper that will give me the best volume indicators? I'm talking about importing my backing tracks individually into a project, maybe ten at a time, for general comparison, so I mean a track meter, not a master meter. (or then again, soloing and checking the masters level would work, too...)
Cheers, Bag.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 01:57 AM
|
#2
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: frankonia
Posts: 1,996
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bagwhan
I record and then use backing tracks as a solo musician when the gigs require it and because all my tracks have been created over several years, several computers and several DAW programs they're pretty inconsistent in their "sound", which isn't a bad thing really.
And a consistent volume gets tricky also, because of "perceived" volume or bass-heavy (bass guitar) mixes for example can sometimes trick compressors or limiters into too much gain reduction.
My best process for averaging out the tracks volume-wise is to simply listen to them and compare them, but even then my ears get tired and play tricks. So finally trusting a good set of meters helps.
Can anyone recommend a setting or plug-in in Reaper that will give me the best volume indicators? I'm talking about importing my backing tracks individually into a project, maybe ten at a time, for general comparison, so I mean a track meter, not a master meter. (or then again, soloing and checking the masters level would work, too...)
Cheers, Bag.
|
Well, I am trusting REAPER's built in meters. Are you aware that the default setting for those is -12 dB (or something)? You can check by right-clicking...
__________________
------------------------------------------
Don't read this sentence to it's end, please.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 02:17 AM
|
#3
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 68
|
I suppose I should have asked... are the JS, Liteon or Stillwell meter plug-ins any better or perhaps do they have a neat trick up their sleeve?
I've just been experimenting and yes, the standard built-in meters look pretty good anyway. But meters can be a very subjective thing and you never know if someone can shed some more technical light on the question.
Cheers, Bag.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 02:29 AM
|
#4
|
Mortal
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Wickenburg, Arizona
Posts: 14,047
|
FreeG or psp vintage meter are neat
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 03:31 AM
|
#5
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Greece
Posts: 3,553
|
There was an old discussion about how it would be beneficial to have RMS tracks meters (and merely an indicator for peak-clips).
RMS meters should be more indicative of the perceived loudness of a track. I don't recall how that discussion went, so I am raising this question in this thread.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 05:32 AM
|
#6
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: memory
Posts: 633
|
js:schwa statistics.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 05:50 AM
|
#7
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1,388
|
I think my favorite meter is actually the one on Izotope's Ozone but it's not free unfortunately.
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 06:04 AM
|
#8
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Miami
Posts: 2,298
|
I use a couple of different meters in addition to the REAPER ones:
Naiant Studios has a VU meter whose behavior reminds me an awful lot of the real VU meters I used to use. They're way too small, unfortunately, but when I want to read a VU meter on something, I find them to be very good (and the ballistics are tweakable). IMO much better than the PSP behavior (although it's usable too).
Blue Cat Audio Digital Peak Meter Pro is a basic meter that does peak/RMS/K- metering but is also skinnable (XML); I made a loudness skin that I can see easily across the room (there's actually a loudness only, peak only, loudness + peak skin).
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 06:49 AM
|
#9
|
Human being with feelings
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 178
|
Not that I know anything, but I have come to trust a combination that I have access to from PC to MAC platforms. Helps me SEE everything the same and I get commercial level sound out of it.
1. REAPER Meters setup how I want, showing peak RMS and peak overs - I think you right click to adjust
2. RNDigital INSPECTOR shows me the freq., rms, peak, and width (FREE)
3. SSL X-ISM intersample meters showing intersample issues and overages based on errors (FREE)
4. used to use DR Dynamic Range meter but now it's payware - which seems odd since it such a small, limited tool (Used to be free)
5. OZONE 4 meters on as the final, but I seem to rely on the previous meters more than the OZONE ones (PAYWARE)
If there are more accurate freebies out there for meters, I want to know too.
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:37 AM.
|