HoRNet VU Meter MK4, digital VU Meter with automatic gain staging updated
HoRNet Plugins is excited to announce the release of HoRNet VUMeter MK4 4.1.1, the latest update to our powerful digital VU meter plugin designed to offer automatic gain staging and advanced grouping functions. This update focuses on improving the user experience, providing both functionality and reliability to users working in both recording and mixing stages. With a variety of new features and fixes, HoRNet VUMeter MK4 continues to serve as a vital tool in your audio production workflow.
The 4.1.1 version of VUMeter MK4 is a significant update that includes several important fixes, improvements, and new features. As part of our continuous effort to refine and enhance the functionality of our products, this update addresses several key issues that were reported by users, while also introducing new features that improve the overall experience.
One of the most important fixes in this release is the resolution of the crash issue that occurred in Cubase on macOS and GarageBand when closing the plugin window. This issue caused some users to experience unexpected behavior or crashes, which interfered with the stability of their workflow. With this update, we have ensured that VUMeter MK4 works seamlessly in these DAWs, offering a crash-free experience when closing the plugin window.
The VU meter bar has been redesigned with a new color scheme, making it easier for users to visually monitor their signal levels. The updated colors provide a clearer and more intuitive view of your audio’s loudness and signal strength, ensuring that you can make more informed decisions during both recording and mixing.
Several other improvements have been made to the plugin’s usability, including fixing an issue where draggable controls were incorrectly set to the lowest value on the first click. This bug sometimes caused users to experience difficulties when trying to adjust certain parameters, but it has now been resolved, allowing for smoother control adjustments.
In addition, the update introduces a new reset feature that lets users quickly reset controls to their default settings by using the alt+click shortcut. This feature is especially useful for users who need to return to default settings quickly while experimenting with different adjustments.
Another highly requested feature that has been added to VUMeter MK4 is the ability to save the plugin window size with the project. Previously, users had to manually resize the plugin window each time they loaded a session. Now, the window size is preserved across project sessions, saving you time and ensuring consistency in your workflow.
We’ve also addressed a minor but important bug where plugin names were not being removed from the display dropdown after you removed the plugin from the session. With this update, the plugin list is now properly updated when plugins are removed, keeping your session clean and organized.
HoRNet VUMeter MK4 is much more than just a digital VU meter. It is an essential tool for managing and optimizing the gain staging process in both recording and mixing. The plugin offers a host of features that make it incredibly versatile and useful for music producers, engineers, and sound designers.
One of the standout features of VUMeter MK4 is its automatic gain staging functionality. This feature is designed to help you maintain a balanced and controlled signal throughout your production. By activating the auto gain function, the plugin automatically adjusts the internal gain to ensure that your signal peaks at the desired level, between -3 and +3 VU. This ensures that your levels remain optimal without the need for constant manual adjustments.
Additionally, VUMeter MK4 includes a max peak ceiling, which prevents your signal from exceeding the set peak value, ensuring that clipping is avoided, especially during transient-heavy sounds that might otherwise cause distortion.
The plugin provides an easy-to-read loudness indicator that allows you to track your signal’s perceived loudness. With its 300ms integration time, the VU meter effectively measures your signal’s loudness, giving you a reliable tool for adjusting levels. This can be especially useful when recording tracks or setting up proper gain levels for your session.
The calibration setting in VUMeter MK4 is another crucial feature. The plugin lets you adjust the 0VU point to match the optimal level for your A/D converters. By default, the calibration is set to -18dBFS, but you can adjust this based on the specifications of your converter’s internal headroom. Proper calibration is important because it prevents overloading the analog front-end of your A/D converters, which can lead to distortion and poor sound quality.
The grouping function in VUMeter MK4 is designed to save you time and streamline your workflow. You can group instances of the VU meter together, allowing you to apply changes to all instances within the group at once. For example, you can group all your drum tracks and apply auto gain, reference, and color settings to every instance with just one click. The “Send to all” option also allows you to quickly copy parameters to all VUMeter MK4 instances across your project, regardless of whether they are in the same group.
VUMeter MK4 also lets you name your tracks and groups, making it easier to keep track of different elements in your project. You can assign a unique name to each instance of the plugin, allowing you to quickly identify which track or group each meter is monitoring. This organization is especially helpful for larger projects with multiple tracks.
The HoRNet VUMeter MK4 4.1.1 update is free for existing users of the plugin, and you can download it directly from the user area of the HoRNet website. If you are currently using VUMeter MK3, you can upgrade to the latest version for just €1.99. This upgrade ensures that you get access to all the new features, bug fixes, and improvements, keeping your toolset up-to-date and improving your workflow efficiency.
The HoRNet VUMeter MK4 4.1.1 update brings several useful enhancements and fixes to the VU meter plugin, ensuring it continues to be a highly valuable tool for audio professionals. Whether you’re in the recording stage, mixing, or performing gain staging, VUMeter MK4 offers a comprehensive set of features to help you achieve optimal results.
From automatic gain staging to loudness measurement and the ability to group tracks, this plugin is designed to give you greater control over your mix and improve your workflow. With the new features and bug fixes in this update, VUMeter MK4 remains one of the most reliable and versatile tools for managing audio levels in your sessions.