VU meters and peak meters should be used in conjunction with each other. They monitor audio in two completely different ways and one should not be neglected over the other. The V in VU literally stands for voltage, although these days it generally stands for volume. A bit like the simpletons that changed the V in DVD to mean versatile. How can one distinguish between high and low frequencies and relative volume with a peak meter? They cannot. It is a fantasy. Just like the fantasy of waking up next to Jessica Alba. It will never happen. Peak meters simply show when you have exceeded the bandwidth of the digital medium, not when distortion occurs. Even if the red light appears that does not necessarilly mean you have 'gone over.' It may mean you have simply met your mark. And just because the peak meter did not flash red is no indication there is no ugly distortion like Julian Clarey going on. All a peak meter can accomplish is displaying transients. That is it. It will never identify the contour or relative volume of a sound. Sure some VU meters operate with LED’s but they have VU ballistics and not to be confused with peak meters. Ears are analagous to VU meters and move with the power of the sound. Do not listen to the down and out pill popping junkie bums that think a VU needle is something you stick in your arm or that DC regulated means they copped a court order to wear an ankle bracelet. Use a peak meter. Use a VU meter. Use them both. Know what they can accomplish and what they cannot. And most of all…know the difference between the two and never use the term VU loosely. There is a big difference between VU meters and peak meters just like peanuts and cashews.
Dowdall, Peter. 2008. “Forum.” Seminar presented at the University of Adelaide, 8th May.
Dowdall, Peter. 2008. “Forum.” Seminar presented at the University of Adelaide, 8th May.
3 comments:
You spent all that time talking about VUs and failed to mention Britney.
Pfft. I'd rather add the fact that Peter stated that he is of the opinion that Cher cannot sing and needed to use Autotune, or the oversight that there is no Autotune on that track anyway. Or the issue of copyright and reusing a song or tune over and over again for different products or advertisements. Anyone ever heard of Exclusivity Agreements??? And who the hell keeps a database of people saying the letter T or any other letter for that matter and how does this database stay organised so a particular T can be found??? These are all pressing issues that needed to be addressed, but I went over the word count with my opinion as it was. Please stay tuned on The Wisdom Channel.
Will do! Actually, it would be interesting to delve into those points you mentioned, because they did leave me wondering. His database of "consonants" was intriguing to say the least.
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